WILLEM SWIDDE (Dutch, 1660-1697) and JAN VAN DEN AVEELEN (Dutch,...

WILLEM SWIDDE (Dutch, 1660-1697) and JAN VAN DEN AVEELEN (Dutch, 1650-1727), after Erik Jönsson Dahlbergh (Swedish, 1625-1703)
A Group of Six Hand-Colored Engravings of Castles from Suecia Antiqua et Hodierna
each variously inscribed and identified (within the matrix)
hand-colored engravings on laid paper, unframed
sheet size 35.5 x 45.0 cm (14 x 17 3/4 in).
plate size up to 25.5 x 38.5 cm (10 x 15 3/16 in).
Provenance
Anne Hall & Mark Brady Antique Prints, Sturbridge, Massachusetts.
The collection of Eric van Rooy (acquired from the previous, 2005).

N.B.
Erik Jönsson Dahlberg was a Swedish military engineer and Field marshal. He was well educated in mathematics, drawing, and architecture. He served as an engineer officer during the Thirty Years' War before acting as engineering advisor to Charles X of Sweden and director of engineers during the Northern Wars. In 1667 he became director-general of fortifications for the Swedish crown before retiring in 1702.

In around 1660, Dahlbergh began plans for a grand, sweeping book intended to depict Sweden during its greatest period of power and glory. In 1661 Dahlbergh received royal privilege from Charles XI to compile and publish the work. Dahlberg recruited a team of engravers, including Willem Swidde and Jan van den Aveelen, to work on the illustrations. Swidde and van den Aveelen worked from Dahlbergh's drawings. Suecia Antiqua et Hodierna ('Ancient and Modern Sweden') was published until 1716 and comprised 353 plates contained within 3 volumes.