Description:
Map of the Canton town plan from a 1675 or later Dutch edition of "An Embassy from the East-India Company of the United Provinces to the Grand Tatar Cham, Emperor of China" by Johannes Nieuhof (1618-1672). The book is an account of Peter de Goyer and Jacob de Keyzer's Embassy to China in 1655-1657, where Nieuhof acted a steward to the Ambassadors. In addition to detailing the mission of the trip (establishing Dutch trade with China), the book offers information on flora, fauna, and customs of the Chinese native people. The images included in this book are some of the earliest ever published on China, and were often the source for later publications on China. This popular travel book, often referred to today simply as "Nieuhof" for its author, was published in Amsterdam in 1665 and issued in French, German, Latin, and English editions within the first five years of its publication. The English edition (1669), became an important inspiration for decoration on 18th century English stoneware and earthenware. The town plan of Canton depicts the city from a bird's eye perspective, shaped like a beehive and contained within fortified walls; the waterfront area in the foreground shows ships and floating or island castles. The plan keys, written in Latin and Dutch, are held by a single putti on the top left (in latin) and a pair of putti at the top right of the plan (in Dutch). They translate as: a. Pagoda Temple, b. a Fort, c. The Land gate d. The wall of the city, e. The place where the Tartars are executed, f. Quarters of Tartars, g. a faire Chinese Tower, h. The Old King's Palace, i. the young King's Palace, k. The first water gate, l. Second Water gate, m. The Ambasador's house, n. Artillery House, o. The place where the feast was, p. two Water Castles, q. The Dutch ships. The condition of the print is very good; however both side margins are very narrow.
Tags:
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