Bridge over the River Nissa, Spain, Peninsular War, Antique Engraving, 1817

About this sheet

This antique engraving of the bridge over the River Nissa, lettered "Bridge over the river Nissa. Amidst the mountains of Sierra in Spain", shows a column of troops winding down a mountain road to a bridge beside a waterfall, an original Peninsular War landscape published in London by Thomas Kelly in 1817. It is signed "Heath sculp." and carries the imprint "London Pubd by Thomas Kelly, Paternoster Row", dated March 1817.

The river named on the plate has not been identified with certainty, and the spelling probably reflects the way British soldiers and writers rendered Spanish place names. What the engraver shows is a characteristic scene of the war in the Peninsula: a long file of soldiers descending through steep, rocky country towards a narrow bridge, with a waterfall and high peaks behind. Such mountain crossings, often held or destroyed by one army to delay another, were a constant feature of the campaigns fought in Spain between 1808 and 1814.

Thomas Kelly issued a group of Spanish and Portuguese views in 1817, including Mafra, Punhete and Salamanca, and these are probably plates from a Kelly history of the Peninsular War issued in parts. The title of that work has not been verified, so the plate is described here as published by Kelly. The engraver is lettered only as Heath. It is an uncoloured line engraving with a strong sense of depth in the mountain landscape.

This Peninsular War engraving will appeal to collectors of military history, Spanish landscape and romantic mountain scenery. It would look well framed in dark wood with a warm white mount, and makes a fine companion to the other 1817 Peninsular plates in this group.

The sheet is in good condition for its age, with light toning and faint staining in the lower right margin; the image itself is clean and strong.

This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed. Any framed or interior images are shown for presentation and inspiration only, unless the listing explicitly states that the item is sold framed.