Price: $850.00
SKU: 33440
ARTIST: John Ogilby
PUBLISHER: Published by Ogilby, White Fryers, London.
MEDIUM: Copper plate engraving,
DATE: 1671
EDITION SIZE: 10 3/4 x 13 7/8" (27.3 x 35.3 cm) plus wide margins.
DESCRIPTION: This print, part of John Ogilby’s America: Being the Latest, and Most Accurate Description of the New World (1671), depicts a battle between Dutch and Spanish forces near the well-fortified port town of Philipsburg, the present-day capital of Sint Maarten. Control of the island was contested due to its valuable salt production, a highly sought-after commodity in the 17th century. Salt was vital for European maritime powers, essential for preserving food, curing fish, and sustaining long sea voyages. Recognizing its importance, the Dutch established a settlement and began mining operations. Both the Dutch and Spanish depended on salt for their transatlantic fleets, making control of the island a strategic priority and leading to repeated clashes. The battle depicted in this scene is one such encounter. <br><br> The Spanish expelled the Dutch from St. Martin in 1633, fortifying their position with a garrison and constructing Old Spanish Fort at Point Blanche. However, as the Eighty Years’ War between Spain and the Dutch Republic ended in 1648, Spain abandoned the island, leaving it open for reoccupation. <br><br> Both the Dutch and French swiftly reestablished their settlements, with Dutch colonists arriving from St. Eustatius and the French from St. Kitts. After initial conflicts, they negotiated the Treaty of Concordia in 1648, which divided St. Martin between them—a division that remains today. Ogilby’s view is based on Arnoldus Montanus’ Die Nieuwe en onbekende Weereld (1671)
ADDITIONAL INFO: This piece is in a 16.25 x 18 inch archival mylar for handling.
CONDITION: Good condition. Black & white.
REFERENCE:
Login / Register
Basket
