Sorghvliet, Bird's-Eye View of Formal Gardens
17th C. Visscher Engraving

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Visscher Garden
Visscher Garden Visscher Garden
Visscher Garden Visscher Garden
Johannes van den Aveele (artist and engraver) (1655-1727)
Een der Schoonste Gesigten Van ‘T Vermaarde Perk Van Sorgvliet
Nicolaus Janszen Visscher, Amsterdam:  Late 17th Century
Hand-colored engraving
15.5 x 19.75 inches, platemark
18 x 22 inches, overall
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Magnificent bird’s-eye view of visitors strolling around the formal gardens of Sorgvliet near The Hague.  Originally the estate of the Dutch writer and statesman Jacob Cats (1577-1660), Sorghvliet, as it is known today, is now a park and tourist attraction (see Schram, in References below).  Cats’ mansion, Catshuis, is the long white building in the center of this print; it still stands today and serves as the official residence of the Dutch Prime Minister.  The print shows grounds that had been redesigned and expanded by Hans Willem Bentinck, the Earl of Portland, who was the superintendant of King William's estate near Apeldoorn, Het Loo, and the royal gardens in England. The garden is designed in the highly decorative baroque taste of Louis XIV’s Versailles, lined by orderly rows of topiaries and trees, and with symmetrical and geometric trimmed hedges.  Various features of the gardens are indicated in the numbered key in the lower margin, including the Orangerie. Above the scene a banner borne aloft by cupids bears the title.

The print is subtitled with publication information: “Verklaringe der Cyfergetallen” (literally, “Pronouncement of Number Counted”) and bears an inscription indicating Visscher had official standing with the governing authorities: “Tot Amsterdam by Nicolaus Visscher met Privelegie vande Hoog Mog. Heeren Staten Gener.”  Visscher and Johannes van den Aveele also collaborated on Het Schoone Perk van Sorgvliet, a set of 32 etchings of the elaborately landscaped grounds of Sorghvliet, including views of fountains, gardens, avenues, a labyrinth and a fish pond.  Though the offered engraving shows the gardens of Sorghvliet, it is larger than the prints from the first edition of this set.

Johannes van den Aveele (or Avelen) was a Dutch artist, cartographer and engraver.  After the death of Willem Swidde, he was called to Sweden in 1698 to work on a major work Suecia Antiqua et Hodierna [Ancient and Modern Sweden], containing 160 illustrations by Aveele, which was finished in 1716. He also painted watercolor illustrations for other books.  Aveele remained in Sweden for the rest of his life. Later he held a post in the Dutch church in Stockholm, and died in poverty.  He variously signed his works Aveelen, Aveele, Avelen, Avele, I. ab Avelen, with the initials J.V.P.A. or a monogram composed of J.V.D.A.

The Visscher map publishing firm was operated in Amsterdam by three generations of men all named Nicolaus Janszen Visscher (sometimes written Claes Jansoon Visscher) throughout the 17th century and into the early years of the 18th.  The founding Nicolaus (1587-1652) was succeeded by his son (1618-1679) and grandson (1649-1709).  Their publications include Atlas Contractus (1660) and Atlas Minor (1680), and their plates were extensively utilized by other mapmakers in Holland and abroad.

References:

Bénézit, E. Dictionnaire critique et documentaire des Peintres, Sculpteurs, Dessinateurs et Graveurs.  France: Librairie Gründ, 1966.  Vol. 1, p. 301.

Schram, Chris.  “Green city.”  About The Hague.  http://home-2.worldonline.nl/~aarde01/groen.htm (18 June 2005).

Schram, Chris.  “Haags Groen: Sorghvliet.” De Pagina’s over Den Haag.  http://homepage.residentie.net/~schram-12/sv.htm (18 June 2005).

Tooley, R.V.  Maps and Map-Makers.  4th Ed.  New York: Bonanza Books, 1970.  p. 34.