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This sheet features three distinct copper plate engraved images showing the French coastal cities of Calais and Dunkirk (spelled here as "Calais" and "Duynkerke"). The scenes focus on both topographical and strategic elements of the cities, offering a detailed visual representation typical of mid-17th-century European cartographic artistry.
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Top Left – Calais: The upper left engraving is a coastal view of Calais. The city is portrayed from the sea, with the harbor visible in the foreground, showing various ships and small vessels navigating through somewhat turbulent waters. The city’s defensive structures, towers, and windmills are visible along the shoreline. The image reflects Calais as an important port city with notable maritime activity.
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Top Right – Calais Fortification Plan: Adjacent to the coastal view, on the upper right, is a fortified plan of the city of Calais. The plan shows the city's fortifications in considerable detail, with the walls, bastions, and surrounding areas represented. The map also highlights the strategic importance of the harbor, with ships visible navigating its entry points. This plan likely served as both a reference for military strategists and a visual display of the city's defenses during the period.
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Bottom – Dunkirk (Duynkerke): The lower engraving depicts a coastal view of Dunkirk (here spelled "Duynkerke"), similar in style to the view of Calais. The city is shown from a distance, with its skyline dominated by church towers and other significant buildings. The landscape surrounding the city includes dunes and fortifications. Ships are visible on the right side of the image, reinforcing Dunkirk's status as a maritime city.
These engravings collectively capture both the architectural and geographic significance of Calais and Dunkirk during the mid-17th century. The views emphasize the cities' roles as fortified coastal settlements, crucial to controlling the English Channel.
Mathaus Merian (1593-1650) was the father of engraver Matthäus the Younger, and of the painter, engraver, and naturalist Maria Sibylla Merian. He was born in Basel, Switzerland and trained in engraving in Zurich. After a time in Nancy, Paris and Strasbourg, he settled in Frankfurt. While there, he worked for Johann Theodor de Bry, the publisher and son of the travel writer. In 1617, he married Maria Magdalena de Bry, Johann Theodor’s daughter. In 1623, Merian took over the de Bry publishing house upon the death of his father-in-law. Merian’s best known works are detailed town views which, due to their accuracy and artistry, form a valuable record of European urban life in the first half of the sixteenth century
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