Encampment near Hameln, 1741

PROSPECT VON DEM CAMPEMENT BEŸ HAMELN / Anno= 1741

A view of the Hanoverian encampments near Hamelin in 1741. War of the Austrian Succession (1740-48). Oriented with east to top.

A middle oblique view, taken from the Ohrer Berg (now a suburb of Klein Berkel 52°04'38"N 09°20'34"E) on the west side of the Weser, with an old entrenchment from the Thirty Years War (1618-48) in the foreground, of the 1741 Hanoverian camp across the river south of Hamelin. Hastenbeck (52°04'44"N 09°25'07"E), the site of the battle which would be fought in 1757 is in the background, with the meadows or commons (anger) in between. A line of foragers on horseback can be seen returning to the camp from Hamelin. The position of the Hessian camp (Hessische lager) is indicated in the distance upstream beyond Gronde (Grohnde 52°01'04"N 09°25'08"E). This view compliments de Bonnivet's plan of the two camps at RCIN 728048.

George II visited Hamelin at the beginning of October 1741 in order to review his Hanoverian troops and also the Hessian troops who were in his pay at that time. Another manuscript example of this view, also by von Persson, is in the British Library (K.Top.C.66), entitled Prospekt von dem Campement beÿ Hameln. It is evident, therefore, that the king was taken to the top of the Ohrer Berg, shown in the foreground of this view, which was a perfect vantage point from which to see the Hanoverian encampment.

Accompanying the British Library depiction of the encampments is a beautifully drawn and coloured view of Hamelin in 1741, with an inset map and dedication to George II, also by von Persson, and entitled Perspektivischer Grund und Stand Riss von Hameln (BL K.Top.C.67). It is probable that both views were made for presentation to George II. A second manuscript copy of the Perspektivischer Grund und Stand Riss, lacking the little town map, and with a different cartouche, is in the Hameln Museum (Stadtarchiv Hameln Best.601-Bilder 1.1 D Nr.4; this is a photographic copy of the original citing the location of the manuscript). The examples of both views which are in the British Library are more polished than those which are in K.Mil and the Hameln Museum and were, therefore, probably the presentation copies.

The draughtsman, von Persson, was a Hanoverian military engineer who is buried in the garrison graveyard at Hamelin.

A map of Ratzeburg (in Schleswig Holstein) is recorded by a C.F. von Persson (presumably the same man), dated 1714 (last accessed 30 June 2016).

Condition: one fold line. Verso: surface dirt along left edge.