"Geometrischer Entwurf der gesammten XVII Niederländischen Provintzien".

Engr., 41,5 x 53,5 cm, very nicely hand-coloured (sl. toned stains).

Framed.

Very rare lion rampant facing right with equestrian figures, printed from two copperplates. The example for this Leo Belgicus was originally engraved by the French Valentin le Febure (1642-1700) and published in Paris by Jacques Lagnet in 1668. In a third state Lagnet added the sheet with equestrian figures to emphasise the military ambitions of Louis XIV. In 1672 the Frankfurt bookdealer Wilhelm Serlin (1625-1674) reprinted the French map, first as a loose sheet with only the lion to be included in the "Hollandischer Mercurius" of that year, and second, in combination with the equestrian figures that were elsewhere included in the same "Mercurius". Different from the French example, Serlin's Leo is based upon Flamiano Strada's lion. Serlin saw that he could profit from the events of the year 1672: below the hoofs of Louis XIV's horse is the city of Nijmegen, captured by the French in 1672 and sieged until 1674. As such, the lion is subjugated by the might of France, or in the words of Louis XIV: "Schau mein Sohn all diese Länder in dem Löwen für gestelt / Solst du noch der einst beherrschen sampt dem grösten theil d[e]r Weldt."
Ref. van der Heijden 22.