Engraving of the War of Succession of 1745 Representing the Plan of the Siege of Cardona in 1711. J. Basire

Lovely antique engraving in black ink on white paper, depicting a plan of the Siege of Cardona with the movements of the French army against the city and the Allies defending it. The engraving dates from 1745 and was made by James Basire, a prestigious English engraver specialized in battle plans. The work is in good condition in spite of being more than two hundred years old, and except for some signs of the trace of time is a magnificent and beautiful piece. The lands and the movements of the troops are drawn with high detail and precision; there are also two texts explaining the plan, printed in the top left cartouche and the bottom margin. The Siege of Cardona is a very important moment in the history of the War of Spanish Succession (1701-1713), a war fought between the supporters of Phillip of Anjou (the French Bourbon king) and the followers of the Archduke Charles of Austria. When the Spanish king Charles II died with no offspring, they started a cruel war that ended with the Treaty of Utrecht. The Siege of Cardona took place in 1711 at the same time as the Battle of Prats del Rey, when the Bourbon king besieged the city in his way to win Catalonia back. Cardona resisted and defeated the French army that also retired from Prats del Rey. The war would end with the Bourbon king on the Spanish throne; Cardona was one of the last cities in surrendering to the victorious army. Under the square cartouche located in the left top corner of the plan we can see a small signature with the engravers name: J. Basire Sculp. James Basire was a prestigious Londoner artist whose father and two sons were also engravers. He became highly popular in those times for his maps, architectural and antiquarian scenes, battle plans and portraits of famous English characters such as the one he made of Captain Cook. This beautiful engraving shows clearly the great work performed by James Basire. The historic relevance of this engraving and its wonderful presence turn it into a piece worthy of a museum of military history. Measurements: Width: 20 in/51 cm. Height: 14.9 in/38 cm.