This website presents our knowledge and research on this important aspect of the Royal Collection. As of April 2026 it will not be regularly updated and new research on this topic will sit within the main website.

War of the Spanish Succession (1701-14)

Sieges, marches, encampments and famous battles from 1701 to 1712 in Germany, Italy and the Netherlands

? GABRIEL DELAHAYE (ACTIVE 1689?-1723)

Map of the siege of Turin, 1706 (Turin, Piedmont, Italy) 45°04'13"N 07°41'12"E

1706 or later

Pen, ink and watercolour on two sheets of paper, joined; laid down on coarse linen | Scale: 1:13,000 approx. | RCIN 725063

A map of the siege of Turin carried on by Philippe Charles, duc d'Orléans (1674-1723) and Louis d'Aubusson de la Feuillade, duc de Roannais (1673-1725), from 14 May to 7 September 1706 when Turin was relieved on 7 September by troops of the Imperial army commanded by Prince Eugène of Savoy (1663-1736). War of the Spanish Succession (1701-14). Oriented with south-east to top.

The attribution to Gabriel Delahaye is made on stylistic grounds.

A detailed plan of the city and fortifications of Turin is combined with an effective use of pictorial representation to show the Battle of the Stura, fought on 7 September 1706 between the French and Spanish forces, commanded by the duc d'Orléans, Feuillade, and Ferdinand, comte de Marsin (1656-1706) and the Imperial (Austria, Savoy, Prussia) army commanded by Prince Eugene, Victor Amadeus, Duke of Savoy (1666-1732) and Leopold I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau (1676-1747). The battle, fought immediately to the south of the River Stura, was won by the Imperial army, bringing an end to the siege.

The Imperial standard, with its double-headed eagle, can be clearly seen in the thick of the smoke of battle. The gardens, vineyards, chateaux, tree-lined roads, parks and surrounding settlements are all shown in detail.

  • ? Gabriel Delahaye (active 1689?-1723) (draughtsman)

    Subject(s)

    Army-Austria
    Army-France
  • Watermark: Fleur-de-lys in crowned shield, a ‘4’ suspending the letters WR below; no countermark visible

    Condition: one fold line; nine holes punched along each of the left and right edges; brown discolouration. Verso: surface dirt along left edge; induced discolouration

  • Scale: 1:13,000 approx. Scale bar: Echelle de 500. Toises [73 mm =].

    50.0 x 81.6 cm (neatline)

    51.1 x 82.9 cm (image)

    52.2 x 83.8 cm (sheet)

  • Manuscript title:

    PLAN / De la Ville et Citadelle de TURIN / Comme elles ont eté assiegées par les François, / Et delivrées par le Duc de Savoye, & le / Prince Eugene, le 7.e Septembre 1706. [top left, in rectangular panel]

    Additional text:

    [bottom right, a key, A-I, K-Z, to the batteries, giving the number of field pieces or cannons, and mortars in each:] RENVOY.

    Annotations:

    George III heading [on white paper strip pasted to verso:] Turin besieged by the French from the 14.th May to the 7.th Sept.r 1706.

    Other annotations: (Recto) none. (Verso) [top, right of centre, ink, crossed out in red pencil?, obscured by white paper strip:] Italy; [bottom, right of centre, black pencil and red pencil, illegible, obscured by white paper strip.]

    George III catalogue entry:

    Turin Plan dessiné de la Ville et Citadelle de Turin comme elles ont etées assiegées par les Francois, et delivrée par le Duc de Savoye et le Prince Eugene, le 7 Sept.re 1706.

  • Subject(s)

    Turin, Piedmont, Italy (45°04'13"N 07°41'12"E)