The topics of this blog are Armand-Jean du Plessis, Cardinal Duke of Richelieu, and the IDEAL CITY built on his command next to his magnificent CHÂTEAU on the borders of Touraine, Anjou and Poitou, in France.

Monday, 18 February 2008

Engraving of the town by Matthäus Merian from 1657



An engraving of the half-completed town from a huge and varied collection of views by Swiss-German engraver Matthäus Merian the elder (1593 - 1650), and the younger (1621-1687) his son, called "Topographiae Galliae oder Beschreib. und Contrafaitung deß Mächtigen Königreichs Frankreich. Fünfter Theil" of 1657, printed in Frankfurt am Main by Caspar Merian (son of Matthäus Merian the younger).
It seems unlikely that the engravers had actually visited the town, but rather based their depictions on other illustrations & engravings, maybe those Isräel Sylvestre, Perelle or Marot.
The portrait above is of Matthäus Merian the elder.

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