Mapping collected by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland
Mapping collected by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland
Pencil, pen, ink and watercolour on paper; laid down on linen | Scale: 1:42,200 approx. | RCIN 730133
A map of the Battle of Lafelt, fought on 2 July 1747 between the French army, commanded by Marshal Maurice Saxe (1696-1750) and the Allied army (Great Britain, Hanover, Austria, Dutch Republic), commanded by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland (1721-65), Karl Josef Batthyány (1697-1772) and the Prince of Waldeck (1704-63) resulting in a French victory. War of the Austrian Succession (1740-48). Oriented with south to top (compass rose).
The draughtsman appears to have signed himself ‘J.G. Mercker’ and not ‘Merckens’, as the George III catalogue entry states.
Johan Gottfried Mercker (active 1747) (draughtsman) [bottom right, inside text panel:] J.G. Mercker.
Watermark: Fleur-de-lys in crowned shield, a ‘4’ suspending the letters WR below; countermark: IV
Mark, stamped: 626
Condition: no fold lines. Verso: top left, water-stained patch and shadow from the removal of Cumberland's cipher label: the linen backing has shrunk as a result of the soaking
Scale: 1:42,200 approx. Scale bar: Echelle d'une lieu de Braband [97 mm =] 5000 pas.
22.1 x 37.5 cm (neatline)
30.3 x 38.0 cm (image)
31.9 x 39.5 cm (sheet)
Manuscript title:
PLAN / De l'Action de Lafeld, donnée le 2me Juil 1747. [bottom centre, below map, in rectangular panel]
Additional text:
[bottom, below title, in title panel, a key, A-I, K-U, W-Ÿ, to the positions and movements of the armies during the battle.]
Annotations:
George III heading: Battle of Laffeldt 2 July 1747.
Other annotations: (Recto) none. (Verso) [bottom left, black pencil, in [Schultz's or Mason's hand]: 28; [top right, ink or black pencil, crossed out in red pencil and obscured by white paper strip:] Laffeldt; [centre, red pencil:] 28.
George III catalogue entry:
Laffeldt Plan dessiné de l'Action de Lafeld donnée le 2 Juillet 1747: par J.G. Merckens Ing.r
From the collection of military and naval maps and prints formed by Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland (1721-65), third son of George II; subsequently acquired by George III (1738-1820)
Lafelt, Limburg, Belgium (50°49'49"N 05°36'43"E)