Bilder François Valentijn – View of the Castle of Batavia Seen from the Sugar Warehouse – Copperplate Engraving – 1726

Beskrivning

This finely executed copperplate engraving presents a view of the Castle of Batavia (modern-day Jakarta, Indonesia) as seen from the vantage point of the Dutch East India Company’s sugar warehouse. The scene captures the fortified walls of the castle, flanked by canals and numerous native boats navigating the waterway. In the background are the inner gardens, colonial buildings, and defensive bastions, laid out with classical Dutch precision. The caption and legend at the bottom identify specific buildings and fortifications, offering insight into VOC colonial infrastructure in the early 18th century.

François Valentijn (1666–1727) was a Dutch Calvinist minister, historian, and official of the Dutch East India Company (VOC). He is best known for his monumental work Oud en Nieuw Oost-Indiën (Old and New East Indies), published in Amsterdam in the 1720s. This encyclopedic series detailed the geography, natural history, and colonial enterprises of the VOC in Asia. His writings, accompanied by numerous engravings and maps, remain a key source for the visual and historical study of Dutch colonialism.

Artist or Maker:
François Valentijn

Dimensions:
33 cm x 51 cm

Medium:
Copperplate Engraving

Date:
1726

Condition Report:
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.