Nomos 13

Netherlands, The Dutch Republic. Frederik Hendrik, Prince of Orange-Nassau, Stadtholder, 1625-1647. Medal (Silver, 60mm, 63.09 g 12), on Frederik Hendrik’s capture of the Sas of Ghent; with an original contemporary hand drawn plan of the Sas (sheet of paper 300x226 mm, plan 170x240 mm), by J. Looff, 1644. Panoramic view of the fortress and the area around it Rev. : *CONCORDIA*RES*PARVAE*CRESCUNT*DISCORDIA*MAXIMÆ* DILABUNTUR* (=concord reinforces weak states, while discord ruins the more powerful) In twelve lines: A°.Flandriæ / Hiſpanicæ fatali, cum / Grevelinga à Gallis terrâ / Mari verò claſſ nav. à fed. Belg. / Ordd. clauderentur; illut. Princ. / Henri-Fred. Xxvii Iul M.DC.XLIV / foſſā Gandenf. noctu ſuis.nando / ptergreſſ.Flandriæ. fortiſſ. / caſtrū (q’tSas dr) intravi hebd / Hiſpanis oia fruſtra / Obnitentib’cepit. / I.L.f (=in that fatal year for Spanish Flanders, when Gravelines was being tightly besieged by the French on land and the Dutch fleet by sea, the illustrious Prince Frederik Hendrik, having his troops swim across the Ghent canal on the night of 27 July 1644, took, in just six weeks, the greatest strongpoint in Flanders, known as the Sas, despite all the best efforts of the Spanish. Made by J. Looff). Van Loon II, pp. 270-271. A bright, lightly toned, very well-struck example. Sold with a very rare contemporary map of the Sas. Very minor marks on the medal, otherwise, extremely fine.

The Sas was one of the most powerful fortresses in the southern Netherlands: its capture proved a great triumph for Frederik Hendrik, though it was not a particularly long-lasting one. The fascinating contemporary plan shows precisely how well fortified the Sas was: it is a typical example of the kind of fortress drawings that were popular during the tumultuous 17th century, albeit an extremely well drawn one. Portfolios of such drawings are known, each containing many dozens of drawings of the forts that dotted the countryside of the northern and southern Netherlands. While the person who produced this drawing is unknown, his, or perhaps her, abiltiy was very high. Van Looff’s medal is perfectly complimented by this drawing, though the medal provides a more extensive view, with all the outerworks that do not appear on the plan.