Gezicht op Well, aan de Maas 1701 - 1759

Cornelis Pronk made this drawing of Well on the Maas using pen and gray ink. Pronk was a leading topographical artist in the Netherlands during the first half of the 18th century. The Dutch Republic was a leading force in cartography, and this image participates in that tradition of mapping and documenting place. While the purpose of the drawing is not known for certain, it is possible that this drawing was made to be engraved and included in a book of topographical views. The image emphasizes the architecture of the city, its walls and towers, and its churches. We might consider this drawing as both a documentary image and as a point of civic pride, emphasizing the built environment and the fortifications that protected those who lived within its walls. As historians, it is our job to look at images like this in their full context. Atlases, maps, books and municipal archives are crucial for understanding images like this in their full social context.