Belgium - Antwerp; Jacobus Harrewijn (1660 – 1727) / Jacques Le Roy (1633 – 1719) - La Citadelle d'Anvers - 1721-1750

Magnificent and sharp architectural and military plan of the famous Citadel of Antwerp, titled "La Citadelle d'Anvers Batie par le Duc d'Albe L'An M.D.LXVIII.". The work was engraved by the renowned Flemish master Jacobus Harrewijn (1660–1727), whose signature "J. Harrewijn fecit" is clearly legible in the lower right corner, and it was published within the celebrated historical and chorographic chronicles of Baron Jacques Le Roy, aimed at illustrating the monuments and fortifications of the Duchy of Brabant. The plate illustrates with absolute geometric rigor the famous pentagonal star-basted fortress, designed by Italian architect Francesco Paciotto and erected in 1568 by the Duke of Alba for Philip II of Spain, considered for centuries one of the absolute masterpieces of modern military architecture in Europe. The engraving minutely describes the internal arrangement of the military quarters, powder magazines, the external defensive Bastions, the water moats and the access bridges, with the celebratory French title integrated at the top. The sheet presents in genuinely excellent preservation conditions, with strong ink, optimal contrast of the stroke and wide original margins intact. An exceptional historical collectible piece, perfect for enthusiasts of military history, Baroque fortifications, and the cartography of the Southern Netherlands.

Dimensions 15.5 x 18 cm
It will be shipped by courier