Rare Antique Print-PLAN BRUSSELS-BRUXELLES-BELGIUM-Le Roy-Frederick De Wit-1696

Subject: Plate: ‘Bruxella.’ (Plan of Brussels / Bruxelles). Bird’s eye view of the city of Brussels, Belgium. With coat of arms and extensive legend. Very rare.

Condition: Excellent given age. General age related toning. Original folds. No left and right margin as bound; remargined. Please study scan carefully.

Medium: Copperplate engraving on verge type hand laid paper with watermark.

Size (in cm): The overall size is ca. 56 x 44.5 cm. The image size is ca. 54.5 x 42 cm.

Size (in inch): The overall size is ca. 22 x 17.5 inch. The image size is ca. 21.5 x 16.5 inch.

Part Number: 28976

Location: PCO-P12-02

Description: This rare plate originates from: ‘Brabantia Sacra et Profana scenographice illustrata … Castella et Preatoria Nobilium Brabantiae et Coenobia celebriora ad vivum delineata at aes incisa.’, by Jacques le Roy, Amsterdam ed., 1696. Jacques Le Roy did extensive archival research, but he is reknown for his iconography for which he employed talented artists like Jacob Van Werden, Frans Ertinger, Wenzel Hollar, Lucas Vorsterman II and others. The engravers in this work include: Franz Ertinger (1640-1710), Jakob Harrewijn, Wenceslaus Hollar and Lucas Vorsterman. In addition Le Roy incorporated city plans by others. This plan is by Frederick de Wit and was originally published in the very rare city atlas: ‘Theatrum ichnographicum omnium urbium.’, published in the same period.

Artists and Engravers: Author: Jacques Le Roy, also referred to as Jacob or Jacobus, was a Flemish baron, historian and theologian who lived from 1633-1719. This plate by Frederik de Wit. Frederik/Frederick de Wit (Amsterdam 1630-1706), was a famous engraver and publisher in Amsterdam. He acquired many of the printing plates of Blaeu and Janssonius when it came to auction. His map were very popular because of the quality of the engravings and the beautiful colouring. After his death his work was re-issued by Pieter Mortier and Covens & Mortier.