Bilder Lodovico Guicciardini (1521–1589) – Map of the City of Walcourt (Walcovrt) – Engraving (17th Century)

Beskrivning

This topographical engraving presents a detailed bird's-eye plan of the fortified town of Walcourt, located in the Namur province of present-day Belgium. The composition captures the town's strategic layout atop a hill, surrounded by a defensive circuit of walls and towers, with a winding river—likely the Eau d'Heure—flowing around its base. The urban interior is densely packed with gabled houses and dominated by the prominent spire of the Basilica of Saint-Materne rising from the center. In the lower right corner, a decorative strapwork cartouche displays the title WALCOVRT along with the plate number 97. This work is derived from the pocket editions of the Descrittione di tutti i Paesi Bassi, a seminal historical and geographical survey of the Low Countries that was widely published in various formats throughout the late sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

Lodovico Guicciardini was an Italian merchant, historian, and writer who spent the majority of his life in Antwerp, the commercial hub of northern Europe. He is best known for his magnum opus, Descrittione di tutti i Paesi Bassi (Description of All the Low Countries), which provided an unprecedented and comprehensive account of the region's geography, history, and economic prosperity. Guicciardini’s work, illustrated with numerous maps and city views, served as the definitive guide to the Netherlands for over a century, offering invaluable insights into the urban and cultural landscape of the Dutch Golden Age.

Artist or Maker: Lodovico Guicciardini.

Dimensions: Approximately 16 cm x 18 cm.

Medium: Engraving.

Date: (17th Century).

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.