Antique Print of Batavia Capital of the Dutch East Indies by Van Der Aa, 1725

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Antique engraving titled 'batavia.' a finely engraved bird's-eye plan of the fortified city of batavia (present-day jakarta), the headquarters of … Read more Antique engraving titled 'batavia.' a finely engraved bird's-eye plan of the fortified city of batavia (present-day jakarta), the headquarters of the dutch east india company (voc) in asia, set within an elaborate decorative border. The walled city is shown in typical dutch cartographic style, with its grid of canals, bastions, and city blocks clearly laid out. The title cartouche, a simple banner reading "batavia.", is flanked by hanging garlands of fruit and foliage. In the roadstead at lower left, voc ships are shown firing salutes; at lower right, a caparisoned elephant carrying a local dignitary is led by native attendants — a decorative genre vignette typical of the exotic border imagery van der aa added to his reissues of earlier city plans. This plate originates possibly from the exceptionally scarce la galerie agréable du monde, published by pieter van der aa in leiden, circa 1725 — one of the largest and most lavish print compilations ever produced, issued in 66 parts and said to have been printed in only around 100 copies.

for this ambitious project, van der aa incorporated older plates by earlier dutch publishers such as blaeu, de wit, and van meurs, frequently adding his own broad decorative borders populated with figures, animals, and genre scenes evoking the exotic character of the lands depicted — a treatment clearly visible in the ships and elephant procession framing this view of batavia. More research for this engraving is needed. No second copy found.

artist: pieter van der aa (leiden, 1659–1733) was a prolific dutch publisher and bookseller, renowned for compiling and reissuing earlier cartographic and topographical works into elegant, richly decorated atlases and travel compilations.

date: circa 1725 technique: copperplate engraving on laid paper (watermark: crowned lion) framing tip: this piece would suit a slim dark wood or gilt frame with a wide cream conservation mat, using uv-filtering glazing to preserve the engraving's fine detail and original toning See less