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Franco-Spanish War (1635-59)

Contemporary maps and prints of the major battles and sieges from 1635 to 1658

    CARLO BIFFI (C. 1605-75)

    View of Piacenza, 1636 (Piacenza, Emilia-Romagna, Italy) 45°02'48"N 09°41'57"E

    1636 or later

    Etching and engraving; printed on paper; mounted on paper (Mount Type A); gilt edges right and bottom | 29.1 x 41.2 cm (image and sheet) | RCIN 722107

    A high oblique view of the first attack by the Spaniards on Piacenza, 24 December 1636. Dedicated to Prince Hercole Trivulzio of Milan. Franco-Spanish War (1635-1659). Oriented with south-south-west to top.

    • Carlo Biffi (c. 1605-75) (etcher) [bottom left:] Biffius F.

      After? Giovanni Battista Baratteri (1605-75) (cartographer)

      Subject(s)

      Army-Spain

    • Watermark: View/map: none visible. Mount: none.

      Condition: two fold lines; some brown staining and discolouration. Verso: some offsetting, perhaps from the same image. Pressure marks from the mounts of items which were kept above and below this print in a different collection are present on the recto and verso; black ink smudge to left edge of paper

    • 29.1 x 41.2 cm (image and sheet)

      cropped (platemark)

      40.2 x 50.9 cm (mount)

    • Printed title:

      CITTA DI PIACENZA [across top of view]

      Dedication:

      [top right, in ornamental cartouche:] Al / Ill.mo et Ecc.mo Sig.re / mio Sig.re et pron Coll.mo / Il Sig.r / PRENCIPE / D. HERCOLE TRIVVLZI / D.et D. / Gio. Batta Baratiori

      Additional text:

      [left, in a cartouche framed by draped material, a key, A-I, L-T, V, X-Z:] Posti ocupati da legenti di S.M. Catt.a nel / primo attacco della Citta di Piacenza / il 24. Decembre 1636.

      Annotations:

      George III heading: Piacenza 24 December 1636.

      Other annotations: (Recto) [bottom right, black pencil:] 1636. (Verso) none.

      George III catalogue entry:

      Piacenza A Plan of the City of Piacenza with the Posts occupied by the Spaniards in the first attack on the 24.th of Dec.r 1636: by Biffius, published by Baratieri.

    • Subject(s)

      Piacenza, Emilia-Romagna, Italy (45°02'48"N 09°41'57"E)

    • Bibliographic reference(s)

      M. McDonald, The Print Collection of Cassiano dal Pozzo. Part II, Architecture, Topography and Military Maps, 3 vols, London 2019, cat. no. 3005

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    • 25 May 2024

      Current version

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