Illustratie voor 'Den Arbeid van Mars' van Allain Manesson Mallet 1672

This detailed engraving by Romeyn de Hooghe, dating back to 1672, is an illustration for Allain Manesson Mallet’s ‘Den Arbeid van Mars’ (The Labor of Mars), a treatise on military engineering. The image depicts the fortified city of Calais, with a star-shaped plan diagram above. The precise, measured lines of the diagram demonstrate the mathematical principles of fortifying a city. This artwork offers a glimpse into the development of military architecture during the 17th century and demonstrates the meticulous detail and precision used in creating such illustrations.