Belgium - Antwerp (Antwerpen); Georges-Louis Le Rouge (1712–1790) - PLAN des ATTAQUES D'ANVERS en 1746. - 1721-1750

Splendid and spectacular eighteenth-century military and topographic map of the siege of Antwerp, literally titled "PLAN des ATTAQUES D'ANVERS en 1746." This extraordinary copper-engraved print on copper was conceived by the famous royal geographer Georges-Louis Le Rouge (1712–1790) and masterfully cut by the renowned Parisian engraver Jean Lattré (1705–1791) — as evidenced by the signature "Lattré Paris Sculp." in the lower right corner — to be included in 1746 within the military work Théâtre de la dernière guerre en Flandres. The work fully exploits at the highest quality the elegant Baroque trompe-l'oeil visual effect: a section of the majestic outer bastions of the Citadel appears magnificently drawn on a large sheet of parchment that unrolls and floats at the center of the plate, overlapping the main map. The cartography offers an accurate geometric panorama of the trench lines, of the French assault approaches excavated during the War of the Austrian Succession, of the course of the Scheldt River and of the complex star-shaped curtain wall that protected the historic core of the city. In the lower left corner stands a figurative cartouche of exceptional artistic and decorative value, depicting a masonry arch and a scaling ladder animated by soldiers, sappers and pioneers engaged in military operations and excavations, framing the official title. In the upper right there is the plate reference "Pl. 12." Printed on sturdy contemporary laid paper, this sheet is beautifully enriched with period watercoloring that lights the isolated citizens in pink and gray and emphasizes the defensive systems. An absolute elite piece, ideal for discerning collectors of military history and Benelux cartography. Dimensions 23 x 35 cm. Will be shipped by courier.