Belgium - Flanders

Splendid and spectacular eighteenth-century military and topographic map of the siege of Ath, literally titled "PLAN des ATTAQUES D'AHT en 1745." This exceptional copper-engraved print on copper was conceived by the renowned Royal geographer Georges-Louis Le Rouge (1712–1790) and finely engraved by the well-known Parisian engraver Jean Lattré (1705–1791) — whose signature "Lattré Sculp. Paris" is clearly legible in the lower right corner — to be inserted in 1745 within the renowned military work Théâtre de la dernière guerre en Flandres. The work describes with absolute geometric rigor the extraordinary star-shaped defensive structure of the fortress in Belgian territory, originally designed by the famous military engineer Vauban. The cartography clearly highlights the complex trench lines, the French assault approaches dug during the Austro‑Hungarian War? (Austrian Succession War), the nearby waterways and the historic roads leading toward Brussels, Mons and Tournai. The plate is adorned in the lower-left corner with a fine Rococo cartouche shaped like a rocky spur and a naturalistic waterfall, surmounted by a winged putto. In the upper right there is the original typographic reference "Pl. 10." Printed on sturdy contemporary laid paper, the exemplar stands out for a beautiful and delicate period watercolor wash that lights the isolated towns in pink and emphasizes the decorative impact of the fortifications. An elite collectible piece, ideal for experts in military architecture and the history of the Benelux. Dimensions 23 x 35 cm Will be shipped by courier

Estimate:$225.04

View all items fromCatawikiorBooks, Maps & Manuscripts