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Mapping collected by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland

J.W.H (active 1747)

Oudenbosch, 1747

Plan / Du Retrenchement de / Vieux Bois. / Qui a étté comançe le 21. Set / 1747 c.1747

Pencil, pen, ink and watercolour on paper; pricking through | Scale: 1:4,500 approx. | RCIN 730177

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A map of the fortified lines at Oudenbosch, 21 September 1747. War of the Austrian Succession (1740-48). Oriented with north-east to top (compass rose).

It is possible that further explanatory material is missing: there is no key to the numbers 1-19 which appear in the salient angles of the perimeter fortified line, and which possibly represent armed observation positions. Three categories of land use appear to be shown: ornamental or domestic gardens (diamond lattice with central dots); cultivated land (ochre stripes at alternating angles); and grazing or pasture (greenish wash with rough hump tussock symbols). The boundaries of the fields to the north-west and south-west of the town appear to be ditches which would have made the flooding of the area easy by means of opening the sluices marked by a ‘d’. The use of a grey wash to give a three-dimensional shadow to the masonry buildings (coloured carmine), is an early precursor of the Ordnance Survey's ‘shaded line’ which was adopted in the later nineteenth century. Lines yet to be constructed are shaded yellow.

  • J.W.H (active 1747) (draughtsman) [bottom left:] Par J.W.H.

     

  • Watermark: Fleur-de-lys; countermark: IV

    Mark, stamped: 700

    Condition: one fold line; induced discolouration on verso

  • Scale: 1:4,500 approx. Scale bar: Echelle de 400. Pas [71 mm =].

    22.2 x 34.7 cm (neatline)

    22.5 x 35.1 cm (image)

    25.9 x 38.9 cm (sheet)

  • Manuscript title:

    Plan / Du Retrenchement de / Vieux Bois. / Qui a étté comançe le 21. Set / 1747. [top left, in trompe l'oeil scroll]

    Additional text:

    [bottom left, in trompe l'oeil scroll, a key, a-i, k, to the military field fortifications and local landmarks:] Renvoy.

    Annotations:

    George III heading: Oudenbosch 21 Sept.r 1747.

    Other annotations: (Recto) none. (Verso) [centre, red pencil:] 45.

    George III catalogue entry:

    Oudenbosch Plan dessiné du Retranchement de Vieux Bois (Oudenbosch) qui a eté commencé le 21 Sept.re 1747: par J.W.H.

  • Probably 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)

     

  • Subject(s)

    Oudenbosch, North Brabant, Netherlands (51°35'18"N 04°32'05"E)

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