"Ypre", Priorato, Galaezzo Gualdo

Uncommon and decorative bird's-eye fortification plan of Ypres oriented with north at right. The unusual plan emphasizes the military rather than the internal layout of the city depicting only the churches, windmill and the interior and exterior walls and canals. The surrounding countryside is graphically depicted and there is a view of the city inset at upper left.

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

Small manuscript ink page number at upper right.