Circle of Matthäus Merian I, “Battle of Fleurus, 1622”, 1644

Unidentified printmaker from the circle of Matthäus Merian I (1593–1650)—note that Wikimedia has identified the printmaker as Matthäus Merian I (see https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Battle_of_Fleurus_1622.jpg)

“Battle of Fleurus, 1622” (aka “Slag bij Fleurus, 1622” [see also the titles lettered in plate above the image]), 1640.

Note that beyond the Battle of Fleurus (Belgium) in 1622, there were three other Battles of Fleurus: 1^st July, 1690; 26^th June,1794; 16^th June, 1815.

Etching on laid paper, trimmed around the image borderline and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 27 x 35.6 cm; (image borderline) 23.8 x 35 cm.

Lettered in plate: (above the image) “Eigentliche Vorbildung des Harten Treffens so zwischen den Mansfeldische[n] und Spanischen auff den Brabändischen Grentzen vorgangen Anno 1622.” (Actual model of the hard meeting that took place between Mansfeld and the Spanish on the Brabant [province in Belgium] borders in 1622.); “PRÆLIUM INTER HISPANOS ET MANSFELDICOS AD FLOREACVM IN BRABANTIA.” (The battle between the Spanish and Mansfeld at Fleurus in Brabant); (below the image) a legend of letters from “A” to “N” for events shown in the image.

The Rijksmuseum offers the following description of this print without attributing it to Matthäus Merian I: (transl.) “Battle of Fleurus in Hainaut between the army under Christian Duke of Brunswick and Ernst Count of Mansfeld against the Spanish army under Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba, August 29, 1622. In the caption the legend A [to] N in German” (http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.457701).

I understand that the advance by Ernst von Mansfeld (shown on horseback at letter “F” between the two cannon blasts in the middle distance) against the Spanish army led by Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba (shown on horseback at letter “A” near the distant forest) resulted in the loss of 300 Spanish troops and 5000 Protestant troops. Interestingly, the Spanish army had 4 cannons and the Protestants had 11 cannons, but in this presentation the Spanish at letter “D” are shown to have 7 cannons (in my count) and the Protestants at letter “N” only have 2 cannons. No doubt if the dust and blasts of smoke were to subside the missing cannons would appear.

Condition: a strong impression (possibly a lifetime impression as the line is crisp showing no sign of wear to the printing plate), with a narrow margin around the image borderline and lines of text. There are restored losses along the flattened centrefold and the sheet is laid onto archival (millennium quality) washi paper providing wide margins.

I am selling this historically important etching showing the tactical positions of opposing armies in the Battle of Fleurus (Belgium), 29^th August, 1622, for AU$293 (currently US$191.15/EUR177.05/GBP151.41 at the time of posting this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries.

If you are interested in purchasing this significant etching detailing an important battle in the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648)—described by Wikipedia as “one of the longest and most destructive conflicts in European history”, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This print has been sold