"Lovagno", Priorato, Galaezzo Gualdo

Very uncommon and decorative bird's-eye fortification plan of Leuven. The unusual plan emphasizes the military rather than the internal layout of the city depicting only the cathedral, churches, military barracks, and the interior and exterior walls and canals. The surrounding countryside is graphically depicted with fields, forests and villages and a military encampment is shown on a hillside overlooking the city.

Gualdo Priorato entered military service at a very young age and served in Flanders under the Prince of Orange. During his varied military career he was knighted by the King of France and the Venetian Republic, the Pope made him a Roman noble, Christina of Sweden named him First-Gentleman, and Emperor Leopold I appointed him counselor and historiographer. After his retirement, he authored several historical accounts including the Teatro del Belgio, which described the Catholic/Protestant wars in Belgium and Netherlands during the seventeenth century.

References: Pollak #48.

Condition: B

Light surface soil and a few unobtrusive spots with an printer's ink smudge at center. Manuscript page number at upper right.