"Die Belegerung von Middelburg", Hogenberg, Frans

Finely engraved bird’s-eye plan of the city, which is completely encircled by a canal. The scene depicts the Siege of Middleburg (1572-74), which was a two year battle during the Dutch War of Independence. The panoramic view displays the fortified city, surrounding farms, soldiers and numerous boats and ships in the harbor. The plan of the city is a reduced version of a similar map in Civitates Orbis Terrarum, which depicts the city at a time of peace. This engraving was included in Hogenberg's Geschichtsblatter, or history broadsheets, which was a series of several hundred prints depicting various battles during the Dutch War of Independence, published between 1569 to 1637. After Frans Hogenberg's death in 1590, his publishing firm was continued well into the 17th century by his son, Abraham.

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Condition: A

A dark impression on watermarked paper with minor printer's ink residue.