Veelderhanden Schepen...

£4,950 · Offered by Shapero Rare Books · No longer available

A beautiful and most uncommon item. In some detail, the manuscript depicts a boy, lying down, blowing hard on a conch shell. To his right Poseidon is viewed, trident in his left hand, looking hard at a Dutch merchant and maiden, who are in converstaion with each other. All stand either side of a solid plinth. Within the plinth a small, crude map of the English Channel is seen, showing the a portion of the southern English coast, The Isle of Wight, part of the northern French coasline and The Channel Islands. The map is overlaid with lettering in Dutch, a date and probable name of the artist and his naval rank. Sitting on the top of the plinth are are a pair of maidens and a wealthy nobleman, gazing intently upon a beautiful celestial globe of the heavens. One maiden, adorned with the symbol of the sun and the moon upon each breast, is seen holding a pair of dividers. One is measuring a distance upon the heavenly globe, whilst the other is held loosely in her other hand. In the foreground a set square and compass, a sextant, and anchor are viewed, together with a collection of other assorted nautical instuments. In the background, a fine pair of Dutch merchant ships are featured, with the their sails full, and their pennants and flags flying proudly in the wind. Frame dimensions: 430 × 510 mm (17 × 20 inches). A highly decorative frontispiece? in sepia manuscript, housed within a handsome frame, together with a wash line mount with gilt. Good condition.

• Binding: Hardcover

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