1687 Engraved View of Rhodes by O. Dapper – Hand-Colored Island of Rhodus
€ 220
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Date
1687
Sheet size
12.7 × 15.9 cm (5.0 × 6.3 in)
Condition
Good
Reference
BG-03330
Condition
Additions or alterations made to the original: image mounted to aged paper. Good antique condition. Copperplate engraving with later hand-coloring. Minor age-toning and edge wear. Wide margins and sharp detail. Original image cut short of the margins and mounted to old paper.
About this sheet
1687 Engraved View of Rhodes by O. Dapper – Hand-Colored Island of Rhodus
This original antique print is a beautifully detailed copper engraving titled "Het Eylant Rhodus" (The Island of Rhodes), published in Amsterdam in 1687 by Olfert Dapper. It was part of his monumental Dutch-language travel book *"Nauwkeurige Beschrijving der Eilanden in de Archipel der Middellantsche Zee"*, one of the most comprehensive and decorative 17th-century works on the Mediterranean islands.
Depicted here is the island of Rhodes (also known as Rhodus or Rhodos), with its mountainous terrain, fortified towns, and dense maritime traffic. The view is filled with ornate galleons, Ottoman-style ships, cultivated fields, and walled cities—particularly the harbor of Rhodes, once home to the famed Colossus and the Knights Hospitaller. The charming ribbon-style title cartouche and compass rose further enrich the aesthetic appeal.
The scene is both topographic and imaginative, illustrating the strategic significance of Rhodes at the crossroads of Eastern and Western empires. Dapper’s engravings were compiled from a variety of travel reports, and while stylized, they offer valuable insight into how the Dutch viewed and interpreted the wider world in the 17th century.
Condition report : Very good antique condition. Copperplate engraving with later hand-coloring. Minor age-toning and edge wear. Wide margins and sharp detail.
Framing Tip: Frame with a museum-grade mat in off-white or parchment tone to complement the age and color palette. A gold or black-and-gilt wood frame adds classical elegance to the historical subject.
