Prague, 1742

Grundriß der Königl Bohmischen Haupt Stadt / PRAG / mit der Königl. Ungarschen Belagerung und Atta / quen A 1742

A medium-scale map of Prague and surrounding areas showing the encircling encampments of the Austrian army under the command of Charles, Duke of Lorraine, Marshal Bathiani, and Prince Lobkowitz in 1742. War of the Austrian Succession (1740-48). Oriented with north to top (cardinal points).

The Austrians besieged the fortified city of Prague, held by France under the command of de Broglie and Belle-Isle, between June and December 1742. The French withdrew from Prague on 16 December. The siegeworks, trenches, parallels and batteries with their line of fire are shown to the north-west and south-west of the city.

The view is taken from behind the batteries (seen in the middle foreground) which are exchanging fire with the French batteries in the city which, here, is identified as the ‘Alt Stadt’. The Old City was on the east bank of the Moldau, whereas the attacks took place on the ‘Kleine Stadt’ on the west bank. Scenes of daily camp life in the foreground are set against the roar and turmoil of the cannon bombardment in the background. At the right edge of the view, an officer has climbed a tree, using the height as a vantage point from which to spy out the land with his telescope; mortar bombs fly through the air following their typical curved trajectory; a sutler provides food in a tent to the right of the view, in the foreground two soldiers sit and play cards, another smokes his pipe with one hand, holding a jug of ale with the other.

Additional text: [bottom left of map, a key, 1-20, to different parts of the city, batteries, troops, headquarters.]

Condition: six fold lines; water-stained patch, bottom centre, from the removal of Cumberland's cipher label; several repairs to tears made by pasting paper over the damaged areas. Some offsetting to verso.