America · 17th century
€ 360
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
impression with fine hand-coloring. Tight borders, but otherwise well-preserved.
Cortés Scuttling His Ships at Veracruz – Hand-Colored Engraving by Van Beecq, c.1690
An exceptional late 17th-century hand-colored copperplate engraving depicting Hernán Cortés scuttling his fleet at Veracruz, after a painting by Isaac van Beecq (I. Van Beecq pinx.) and engraved by Michel Fouard (M. Fouard scul.), published in France circa 1690.
This dramatic scene captures one of the most decisive moments in the Spanish conquest of Mexico. Having landed on the coast near Veracruz in 1519, Cortés ordered his ships to be destroyed to prevent any thought of retreat, compelling his men to advance inland toward Tenochtitlán. The gesture, both practical and symbolic, has since become legendary—a metaphor for total commitment and irreversible resolve.
The engraving shows Spanish vessels drawn up along a tropical shoreline, soldiers disembarking, and small boats ferrying men and supplies to the beach. The background reveals a lush, mountainous landscape under a wide blue sky, rendered with subtle hand-coloring that enhances the scene’s exotic and dramatic tone. The work combines historical narrative with the rich visual vocabulary of late Baroque marine painting, echoing the grandeur of Van Beecq’s original compositions for the French court.
Isaac van Beecq (c.1638–1713) was a Dutch marine painter active in London and Paris, admired for his precise depiction of ships and coastal light. Michel Fouard was a skilled French engraver known for his collaborations with leading painters of the period. Their joint work exemplifies the fascination of late 17th-century Europe with maritime exploration, conquest, and the expansion of the known world.
A striking and historically significant engraving, appealing to collectors of maritime history, colonial exploration, and early travel imagery.
Condition: Good impression with fine hand-coloring. Tight borders, but otherwise well-preserved.
Framing tips: A dark gilt or walnut frame with an ivory or off-white mat enhances the contrast between the warm earth tones and cool sea hues, giving the work a distinguished presence.
Technique: Hand-colored copperplate engraving on laid paper
Maker: Isaac van Beecq (artist) & Michel Fouard (engraver), France, c.1690
