The Aftermath of Battle for Oudenaarde in the Eighty Years' War Engraved in 1632

Rare engraving depicting a battle in the Eighty Year' War. The Battle of Rijmenam took place on July 31, 1578, during the early stages of the Eighty Years' War. It was a conflict between the States-General of the Netherlands and the Spanish governor-general, resulting in a Spanish defeat. The forces of the States-General set up camp at Rijmenam under the overall leadership of the Count of Boussu. Their army consisted of 12,000 infantry and 7,000 cavalry. The English mercenaries were led by Sir John Norris and Sir Richard Bingham, the Scottish mercenaries by Robert Stuart, and the French Huguenots by François de la Noue. Don Juan of Austria, the Spanish commander, commanded an army of 12,000 infantry and 5,000 cavalry. He planned to attack before reinforcements from Zutphen could arrive. His subordinates, Alexander Farnese and Gabrio Serbelloni, considered this too risky, but Don Juan proceeded with his plan and launched an early morning attack on July 31. He attempted to draw Boussu out for an open field battle, but Boussu stayed behind the dug trenches. After three hours of waiting, Don Juan ordered a company of musketeers under Alonso de Leyva and three groups of cuirassiers under the Marquis del Monte to stage a feigned attack on the village's rear. In response, Boussu sent Norris to confront them. Following the initial skirmish, Scottish forces under Stuart and Spanish infantry under Fernando Álvarez de Toledo...

The engraving depicts the assault and capture of the Danish fortress Friderichsodde (now known as Fredericia) located on the island of Fyn. The scene, captured on October 24, 1657, vividly illustrates the Swedish main army's takeover under the command of General Carl Gustaf Wrangel. This historical event is meticulously documented in the artwork, which showcases not only the military action but also the strategic landscape and fortifications characteristic of the time. Erik Jönsson Graf von Dahlberg, the artist behind this work, was a prominent Swedish field marshal, architect, and fortress builder. Born in 1625 and passing in 1703, Dahlberg's contributions to military and architectural fields were significant. He was renowned for his detailed and artistically valuable drawings which served as the basis for large-scale copperplate engravings. These engravings are of substantial topographical and architectural historical importance as they provide a detailed visual account of Swedish territories during the era. In 1661, Dahlberg began work on his magnum opus—a comprehensive geographical and historical depiction of Swedish territories, which received royal privileges. His journey in 1667-1668 to Paris for the engraving of the initial plates reflects the international scope and ambition of his project. However, the work was intermittently paused when Dahlberg was tasked in 1674 with overseeing all Swedish fortress constructions, a role that significantly impacted his career and works. The project resumed and was published in 1684, highlighting a significant period of Swedish history and military achievements under his visual documentation. MORE ABOUT THE BATTLE: The image is an intricate engraving depicting a battle scene. Based on the details and the text in the cartouche, the scene illustrates a significant historical battle involving Prussian forces. The presence of multiple ships and extensive fortifications suggests a combined land and naval engagement. Key Features in the Engraving: 1. Land Battle: The forefront of the image shows numerous troops, artillery pieces, and cavalry in action, depicting the intensity and scale of the land combat. 2. Naval Elements: Ships in the background indicate that this battle had a naval component, which would have been crucial for controlling trade routes or strategic waterways. 3. Fortifications: Extensive fortifications, including bastions and protective walls, suggest a well-defended location, possibly a city or a significant stronghold. Historical Context: From the text, it appears the battle involves "Prinz Heinrich," referring to Prince Henry of Prussia, who was an influential military leader during the reign of his brother, Frederick the Great. Under Frederick’s rule, Prussia engaged in several key conflicts, including the Seven Years' War (1756-1763), which saw major battles across Europe and involved complex alliances. Given the level of detail and the era suggested by the style of ships and fortifications, the battle was of the significant engagements during the Seven Years' War, where Prince Henry played a critical role. His campaigns often involved maneuvering to protect Prussia from multiple fronts, including naval engagements in the Baltic. Interpretation: This engraving serves not only as a historical document but also as a piece of propaganda, likely glorifying the prowess and strategic capabilities of the Prussian military...

Old print of the Battle of Marengo (14 June 1800): here in Italian language, etching by Romanil. That's rare, but I had all the collection about Napoleon. ref. ST/722.

A fine example of a large engraving assembled from six printing plates, by well known German artist Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640). Rubens was born in Siegen, Westphalia, Germany and ...