Optographie. Design for Fort Wall. Antique Print Mallet c1684

by Mallet, Alain Manesson

Fortification Plans:
Antique Print by Mallet for his Art of War engravings of proposed fortifications of the important buildings and cities of Europe at the end of the 17th Century.
Early copperplate engraving of proposed fortification with architectural elevation.
Allain Manesson Mallet was a master of mathematics, Military Engineer, and Geographer to King Louis XIV. He published what was considered the first "modern" book of geography, and the Art of War of the late 17th and early 18th centuries.
Published in Paris in circa 1683-4 for "The Art of War", this engraving was a design for building fortifications to repel would-be attackers. Mallet's work included some of the best miniature architectural engravings of the period. As this work was mainly about fortifications, some show battle structures for troops, regional dress of the armies, and actual battle action.
This wonderful series is quite distinctive, and an uncommon subject matter.
Size of page: 21 x 14cm (8.1/4" x 10.1/2").