Galerie
Napoléon
- Paris - Collection of the Optical Views

Optical view of Mons (Belgium)
XVIIIth century optical view in original watercolors. Original copper plate engraving on laid paper with watermark heightened with watercolor at that time. Published by Basset in Paris circa 1760

18th Century optical view in original watercolors of Mons (Belgium)
Free Passepartout (available in 23 shades)
  • 201
  • 202
  • 203
  • 204
  • 205
  • 206
  • 207
  • 208
  • 209
  • 210
  • 211
  • 212
  • 213
  • 214
  • 215
  • 216
  • 217
  • 218
  • 219
  • 220
  • 221
  • 222
  • 223
176018th Century
  • Date : circa 1760
  • Century : 18th Century
  • Period : Louis XV
  • Technique : Strong water etching
  • Paper : Laid paper
  • Publisher : Basset
  • Place of publication : Paris
  • Passepartout : 50.0 x 65.0 cm
  • Sheet : 31.0 x 44.0 cm
  • Plate : 28.0 x 39.0 cm
  • Inventory N° : FR-03120
500€
(Frame not included)
  • Certificate of authenticity
  • Passepartout included
  • Portfolio exacompta
  • Free shipping costs
  • Shipment within 24H
  • Online tracking

Original title

VEV DE LA VILLE DE MONS EN FLANDRE

Mentions

A Paris chez Basset rue St. Jacques a Se. Geneviève

Description

XVIIIth century optical view in original watercolors. Original copper plate engraving on laid paper with watermark heightened with watercolor at that time. Published by Basset in Paris circa 1760, depicting a view of Mons (Belgium).

During the 18th Century, several renowned establishments in Paris, London (England), Augsburg (Germany) and Bassano (Italy) were specialized in the creation of these optical views. They could be viewed alone or through a zograscope, a wooden foot surmounted by a lens which enlarged the image and accentuated the perspective effect. They could also be placed in optical boxes, the spectator then looked inside the box through the lens. This distraction was greatly appreciated in the 18th Century in the salons of the bourgeoisie and the nobility as in the countryside thanks to the hawkers.

These etchings are nowadays exhibited in museums around the world and extremely appreciated by collectors and decorators for their historical interest and their high decorative value.

Condition report

Good state

This strong water etching is listed in these categories :

Mons

From 1701 to 1713, France again occupied the town of Mons (War of the Spanish Succession). The Treaties of Utrecht and Rastatt bring the city into the fold of the Habsburgs of Austria. The fortress is however controlled by troops of the United Provinces.

In 1718, the power, represented by the sovereign court of Hainaut, leaves the castle which, for lack of maintenance, deteriorates. The site was leveled in the 19th century, only the Saint-Calixte chapel (13th century), the concierge and the belfry being preserved.

In 1747, Louis XV conquered the city and kept it until 1748, where it was returned to Empress Marie-Thérèse by the Treaty of Aachen (1748) which ended the War of the Austrian Succession. Prince Charles-Alexandre de Lorraine, brother-in-law of the empress, is appointed governor of the Netherlands while his sister, princess Anne-Charlotte, is appointed abbess of the chapter of the collegiate church of Sainte-Waudru.

In 1787 , the Brabant Revolution occurs, in rejection to reforms taken from 1780, by the emperor Joseph II which strike the administration, justice, taxation, customs. The States General met on January 7, 1790 in Brussels.

The act of union which unites and confederates the insurgent provinces, including Hainaut, was ratified on January 20, 1790 by all the States of the insurgent provinces, except those of Limburg, under the name of United Belgian States.

Due to financial problems, the United Belgian States cannot resist the return of Austrian troops, and at the end of 1790, the Austrian imperial army regains power in the name of the emperor Leopold II.

The Optical View

The Galerie Napoléon is pleased to propose to you this strong water etching printed 264 years ago (around 1760).

As for all the antique prints in our catalogue, this optical view VEV DE LA VILLE DE MONS EN FLANDRE datant de 1760 is dispatched worldwide within 24H in a Secured packaging, accompanied by its certificate of authenticity guaranteeing the name of the artists (draughtsman, engraver, editor), the impression process used (Strong water) and its date (1760).

In order to guarantee a perfect conservation in time, this strong water etching is dispatched, ready to be framed, under museum quality color passepartout (manufactured without acid in the pulp for a neutral pH) on a cream mountboard made from carton bois (also acid free & neutral pH), in a luxurious portfolio.

History of the Optical views

At the apogee of the mode for optical views, between 1750 and 1790, four European cities specialized in their edition: Paris (France), London (England), Augsburg (Germany) and Bassano (Italy).

Optical views are prized in very different social circles : pleasant recreation in aristocratic salons, the views are admired in beautiful and richly decorated optical boxes which are real works of art. The show was transformed into a real scientific experiment. But the optical views also entertained the people who were in a hurry when a hawker set up a box on a market and began to narrate the extraordinary events that had taken place in a more or less distant and inaccessible country.

There are three categories in the production of optical views.

  • Topographic views: Cities, Monuments, Ports, Distant regions, reproduced with more or less accuracy, depending on the documents available to the engraver. It is obvious that the authors of these prints had not seen these territories. They therefore recomposed these landscapes by compiling various engravings and drawings, which explains many fantasies.
  • The historical scenes : Inaugurations, Coronations, Battles, Fires or Natural disasters form a subject that the people are fond of.
  • Views with a religious or moralizing theme. For educational value, these prints were mainly produced by Parisian publishers in the rue Saint-Jacques.

Our Guarantee

With more than 20 years experience and a catalogue of more than 40.000 antique prints, drawings and historical documents dating from the 14th to the 19th century, the Galerie Napoléon, parisian antique dealer's gallery, is one of the world references in the field of antique prints,etchings and antique graphic arts.

In addition to thousands of impassioned of antique prints throughout the world, the Galerie Napoléon is honoured to count among its customers : national archives, museums, historical monuments and important home designer companies. All attracted by the extraordinary diversity of its catalogue and the quality and speed of its services.

This experience allows us to guarantee to each one of our customers the authenticity of the antiques in our catalogue and the shipment of their orders within 24 hours.

Free customization

Customize for free the color of your museum quality bevel cut edge passepartout (acid free & neutral pH) among a color chart of 23 shades.
This option will be offered to you free of charge in the cart.

  • 201
  • 202
  • 203
  • 204
  • 205
  • 206
  • 207
  • 208
  • 209
  • 210
  • 211
  • 212
  • 213
  • 214
  • 215
  • 216
  • 217
  • 218
  • 219
  • 220
  • 221
  • 222
  • 223

Secured shipment

All our antiques can be shipped worldwide. The orders are dispatched within 24H in a secured packaging.

The Galerie Napoléon offers free shipping for all orders over 50EUR for France, 70EUR for all EU destinations and 90EUR for worldwide destinations.

For orders below these amounts, the shipping costs are 8EUR for France, 12EUR for all EU destinations and 17EUR for worldwide destinations.

Secured payment

  • Credit card secured by Paybox, european leader in the online payment (CB, Visa, Eurocard/Mastercard)
  • PayPal (American Express,..)
  • European bank transfer SEPA (IBAN/BIC/SWIFT)
  • Bank check (drawn on a french bank)
  • Invoice payment (Reserved for european public entities : Museums, National Archives, Ministries, Town Halls ...)

Related artworks

Galerie Napoléon

Mons

Optical view of Mons (Belgium) | XVIIIth century optical view in original watercolors. Original copper plate engraving on laid paper with watermark heightened with watercolor at that time. Published by Jacques Chéreau in Paris circa 1780

Optical view of Mons (Belgium)

XVIIIth century optical view in original watercolors. Original copper plate engraving on laid paper with watermark heightened with watercolor at that time. Published by Jacques Chéreau in Paris circa 1780
The Lady of Monsoreau by Alexandre Dumas | Original steel engraving drawn by J. David, engraved by Audibran. c1850

The Lady of Monsoreau by Alexandre Dumas

Original steel engraving drawn by J. David, engraved by Audibran. c1850
The Lady of Monsoreau by Alexandre Dumas | Original steel handcolored engraving drawn by J. David, engraved by Pardinel. c1850

The Lady of Monsoreau by Alexandre Dumas

Original steel handcolored engraving drawn by J. David, engraved by Pardinel. c1850
Mythology - Monsters - Angels - Italian Renaissance - Children Playing (Raffaello Sanzio or Raphael) | Original line-engraving on copper engraved by M.O. Le bas after R. Sanzio (Raphael). 1805

Mythology - Monsters - Angels - Italian Renaissance - Children Playing (Raffaello Sanzio or Raphael)

Original line-engraving on copper engraved by M.O. Le bas after R. Sanzio (Raphael). 1805
Art Nude - Erotic Art - Greek Mythology - Andromeda, Perseus and the Monster Cetus (Charles Alexandre Coessin De La Fosse) | Original lithograph lithographed by A. Vignola after C.A. Coessin de la fosse . 1901

Art Nude - Erotic Art - Greek Mythology - Andromeda, Perseus and the Monster Cetus (Charles Alexandre Coessin De La Fosse)

Original lithograph lithographed by A. Vignola after C.A. Coessin de la fosse . 1901

Wallonia

Dinant (Wallonia - Belgium) - Rocher Bayard - Meuse - Namur | Original steel engraving drawn by Cheverry, engraved by Boullemier. Hand watercolored. 1838

Dinant (Wallonia - Belgium) - Rocher Bayard - Meuse - Namur

Original steel engraving drawn by Cheverry, engraved by Boullemier. Hand watercolored. 1838
Austrian Army - Dragoons - View of Namur (Wallonia - Belgium) | Original steel engraving drawn by Martinet, engraved by Masson. Hand watercolored. 1835

Austrian Army - Dragoons - View of Namur (Wallonia - Belgium)

Original steel engraving drawn by Martinet, engraved by Masson. Hand watercolored. 1835
General View of Dinant - Wallonia (Belgium) | Original photochrom print engraved by Gillot. 1890

General View of Dinant - Wallonia (Belgium)

Original photochrom print engraved by Gillot. 1890
View of Dinant - Wallonia (Belgium) | Original wood engraving drawn by Taylor, engraved by Hildibrand. Hand watercolored. 1885

View of Dinant - Wallonia (Belgium)

Original wood engraving drawn by Taylor, engraved by Hildibrand. Hand watercolored. 1885
Ravine of Colebi - Dinant - Wallonia (Belgium) | Original wood engraving drawn by Riou, engraved by E. Meunier. Hand watercolored. 1885

Ravine of Colebi - Dinant - Wallonia (Belgium)

Original wood engraving drawn by Riou, engraved by E. Meunier. Hand watercolored. 1885
Rocher Bayard - Meuse - Dinant - Wallonia (Belgium) | Original wood engraving drawn by Taylor, engraved by A. Kohl. Hand watercolored. 1885

Rocher Bayard - Meuse - Dinant - Wallonia (Belgium)

Original wood engraving drawn by Taylor, engraved by A. Kohl. Hand watercolored. 1885

Belgium

Optical view of the Port of Antwerp (Belgium) | XVIIIth century optical view in original watercolors. Original copper plate engraving on laid paper with watermark heightened with watercolor at that time. Published by Lachaussée, Daumont & Basset in Paris circa 1770

Optical view of the Port of Antwerp (Belgium)

XVIIIth century optical view in original watercolors. Original copper plate engraving on laid paper with watermark heightened with watercolor at that time. Published by Lachaussée, Daumont & Basset in Paris circa 1770
Optical view of Mons (Belgium) | XVIIIth century optical view in original watercolors. Original copper plate engraving on laid paper with watermark heightened with watercolor at that time. Published by Jacques Chéreau in Paris circa 1780

Optical view of Mons (Belgium)

XVIIIth century optical view in original watercolors. Original copper plate engraving on laid paper with watermark heightened with watercolor at that time. Published by Jacques Chéreau in Paris circa 1780
Genre scene, Costume and Tradition of the World : The Belgian (Belgium) | Steel engraving drawn by E. Lorsay, engraved by A. Pollet. 1892

Genre scene, Costume and Tradition of the World : The Belgian (Belgium)

Steel engraving drawn by E. Lorsay, engraved by A. Pollet. 1892
Beguinage and St. Margarite Church in Lier (Belgium) | Original engraving strong water drawn by J. Leemer. Original hand-colored. Signed. Numbered 4/350. 1920

Beguinage and St. Margarite Church in Lier (Belgium)

Original engraving strong water drawn by J. Leemer. Original hand-colored. Signed. Numbered 4/350. 1920
Village in Campine - Antwerp - Limburg (Belgium) - North Brabant (Holland) | Original engraving strong water drawn by Lamaison. Original hand-colored. Signed. 1920

Village in Campine - Antwerp - Limburg (Belgium) - North Brabant (Holland)

Original engraving strong water drawn by Lamaison. Original hand-colored. Signed. 1920
Portrait of Leopold I of Belgium (1790-1865) | Original lithograph drawn by Schubert after F. Xaver. Original hand-colored. 1850

Portrait of Leopold I of Belgium (1790-1865)

Original lithograph drawn by Schubert after F. Xaver. Original hand-colored. 1850