Chatelain, Mughal Princes Revolt Battle, 1718, Engraving

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Mughal Princes’ Revolt – Battle Scene Engraving by Chatelain, Atlas Historique 1718 This dramatic antique engraving titled Representation et du … Read more Mughal Princes’ Revolt – Battle Scene Engraving by Chatelain, Atlas Historique 1718 This dramatic antique engraving titled Representation et du Soulevement des IV Princes du Mogol contre l'Empereur leur Pere depicts a vivid and chaotic battle scene from the Mughal Empire. It represents the historic revolt of four Mughal princes rising in rebellion against their own father, the emperor—a moment of high drama and dynastic conflict rendered with remarkable visual detail and historical commentary. Published in 1718 by Henri Abraham Chatelain, the engraving forms part of his monumental work Atlas Historique, a seven-volume encyclopedic series printed between 1705 and 1720. Chatelain, a Huguenot pastor of Parisian origins, rose to prominence not only through his theological role but also as a skillful publisher and businessman. with operations in London, The Hague, and later Amsterdam, he created one of the most influential historical atlases of the early Enlightenment. The central image is a battlefield teeming with movement—elephants adorned for war, cavalry charges, swordplay, and richly dressed figures locked in conflict, all encircled by extensive French text describing the political and familial strife. The composition is carefully balanced with equal attention to narrative and spectacle, designed to engage a European audience eager to understand the inner workings of distant empires. The Atlas Historique was not only a feat of cartographic and historical documentation but also of visual storytelling. This plate exemplifies the atlas’s aim: to present the genealogies, geography, and geopolitical complexities of faraway lands in a manner accessible and informative to the general reader. Henri Chatelain, alongside his father Zacharie and brother Zacharie Jr., collaborated with French geographer Nicolas Gueudeville to produce this richly illustrated and erudite work, which borrowed extensively from sources like Guillaume Delisle. Condition report: Excellent early impression. Minor age toning and light edge wear, with central vertical fold as issued. Crisp engraving, well defined lines, full margins intact with two small holes. Framing tips: Consider a classic black or deep mahogany frame to complement the tonal range of the print. A wide off-white or pale grey mat with a black inner border will emphasize the rich linework and narrative content. See less