Bilder Sébastien de Beaulieu (1612–1674) – Map of the City of Charlemont – Engraving (1667)

Beskrivning

"Plan de la ville de Charlemont." This engraving presents a detailed bird's-eye view and architectural plan of the fortress of Charlemont and the adjacent town of Givet. The composition highlights the complex star-shaped bastions and defensive fortifications situated atop a steep cliff overlooking the Meuse River. A comprehensive key titled "Table" is positioned in the upper left corner, providing an index for significant locations including the church, imperial bastions, and various gates. This work was published as part of the "Les Glorieuses Conquêtes de Louis le Grand," a monumental series of military maps and plans commissioned to document the territorial expansions of King Louis XIV. The plate serves as a primary cartographic record of seventeenth-century military engineering and the strategic importance of this border region between France and the Spanish Netherlands.

Sébastien de Beaulieu, known as the Chevalier de Beaulieu, was a French military engineer and the first official cartographer to King Louis XIV. He followed the royal armies during numerous campaigns to personally draft accurate plans of besieged cities and significant battlefields. His meticulously detailed engravings were instrumental in establishing the "Grand Siècle" style of military topography, blending technical precision with artistic elegance. Beaulieu’s legacy is defined by his massive multi-volume atlas which remains one of the most important visual documentations of seventeenth-century European warfare and fortification.

Artist or Maker: Sébastien de Beaulieu.

Dimensions: Approximately 20 cm x 17 cm.

Medium: Engraving.

Date: 1667.

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.