Military & Political · 17th century
€ 840
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Good, given age. General age-related toning, creasing and/or occasional minor defects from handling. Middle fold line as issued, slightly brownish. Please study scan carefully.
Rare original engraving of the Pontoon Bridge Constructed by the Duke of Parma in 1585, depicting the famous pontoon bridge over the Scheldt River.
This engineering feat was accomplished by Alexander Farnese, the Duke of Parma, during the Siege of Antwerp, a significant event in the Eighty Years' War.
The constructing by the Duke of Parma, Alessandro Farnese, during the Siege of Antwerp in 1585, was a pivotal moment in the Eighty Years' War. This bridge was part of his strategy to cut off Antwerp from maritime resupply, thereby crippling the city and forcing its surrender. The depiction includes various elements of this military engineering feat, such as the barges and boats used to create the bridge, and the deployment of troops.
The battle itself, integral to the siege, was marked by the innovative tactics of the Spaniards under Parma, who eventually succeeded in taking one of the wealthiest cities in Europe at the time. The print would serve both as a visual record of this event and as a testament to the military ingenuity of the era.
The top of the print features a banner with the title and a legend labeled A-M in Latin, describing various aspects of the bridge and the siege. The artwork captures the strategic and technical ingenuity of the era, showcasing the bridge as a crucial military asset.
The Latin translated:
Positioned on the Schelde.
A. Frames for assembling fleets filled with empty containers, secured by double anchors.
B. Beams extended over the rafts to connect the lands to each raft
and to support the spears.
C. Projecting spears pointed towards the enemy.
D. A fleet 1252 feet long, with 33 rafts and 154 pointed spears, steady.
E. The fortress of Saint Mary on the Flemish bank of the Scheldt, equipped with larger artillery.
F. A palace 200 feet long. G. A wooden fortress with 4 cannons.
H. 32 ships, each 60 feet long, 12 feet wide, connected in series by four sets of oars and chains, equipped with two anchors, the same number of larger cannons, 30 soldiers, and 4 sailors each.
I. A palace 900 feet long.
L. Fort St. Philip on the Brabant bank of the Scheldt, armed with 14 larger cannons.
M. The Antwerp bridge 2400 feet long, with a road laid over it 12 feet wide, equipped with 97 larger cannons in common.
N. 40 ships and biremes for the protection of the bridge.
