Amsterdam – Pieter van der Aa, ca. 1726

AMSTERDAM FROM THE IJ

“AMSTELDAM, Capitale de la Hollande.” Copper engraving published in Leiden by Pieter van der Aa in 1726. Coloured by a later hand. Size: 31.4 × 33.7 cm.

Amsterdam is seen here from the IJ, with the city stretching in a long profile across the horizon. Its numerous church towers and other prominent buildings stand out sharply against the sky, while the foreground is filled with a lively multitude of large and small sailing vessels. To the right, a large three-masted ship dominates the scene, surrounded by gun smoke from a cannon that has just been fired. The busy shipping traffic emphasises Amsterdam’s character as one of Europe’s foremost commercial and port cities.

Particularly decorative is the broad architectural border. The city view appears to have been set like a painting within an elaborately ornamented frame, composed of pilaster-like compartments, floral motifs, and draperies and garlands along the top. At the centre is the cartouche bearing the French title Amsteldam, Capitale de la Hollande. The monumental surround gives the relatively small city profile the appearance of an independent decorative wall piece.

Van der Aa included the print in 1726 in his extensive series “Les Forces de l’Europe, Asie, Afrique et Amerique, Comme aussi les Cartes des Côtes de France et d’Espagne.” The city view, then with a more modest decorative border, was originally published in Paris between 1693 and 1697 by Nicolas de Fer as part of a work relating to the Nine Years’ War.

Literature: d’Ailly, Repertorium van de profielen der stad Amsterdam en van de plattegronden der schutterswijken, no. 84.

Price: €395,-