Beschrijving
Without titlepage, but with a handwritten introduction in French. The prints note place and artist: Amsterdam, P. Schenk, [ca. 1700]. Oblong album (29×22 cm, prints: 21×17 cm) with two sets of sixteen engravings by P. Schenk, bound in red faux-leather and brown speckled decorative paper, uneven and uncut pages, some light foxing and a waterstain on the page with the first print (hardly effecting the engraving), two pages have a small damage to the margin around the engraving. Overall the engravings are in good condition and the bookblock is solidly sewn although the spine is somewhat damaged at the top and bottom. Each engraving is accompanied by a caption in Dutch and Latin, describing the view.
The first sixteen engravings show ‘Praetorium Dieranum’ ('t Huis te Dieren). The estate of Dieren has a long history dating back to the 12t century. In the second half of the 17th century the estate was in possession of King Willem III (1650-1702) and it was extensively remodelled. Around 1700 Schenk made these engravings to portray the remodelled estate in all its glory. The estate was in possession of several different owners since then. Nowadays just the foundations remain and some of the landscaping of the gardens, as it was destroyed by fire during the Second World War. Hollstein 1227-1242. The series was later published as part of Schenk's Paradisis Oculorum.
The second sixteen engravings show ‘De Voorst’, a magnificent estate near Zutphen. It was built as the country estate of Arnold Joost van Keppel (1669/70 – 1718), Baron of Ashford, Margrave of Bury and Count of Albemarle and close friend to King Willem III, by the architect Jacob Roman (1640 – ca.1716). The estate is replica of ‘Paleis het Loo’ and was known as the Versailles of the Achterhoek. It has been in possession of many different noble families since Van Keppel. In 1943 there was a fire, but the estates was fully restored in 1957 and again from 2003-2005. Nowadays the estate belongs to a foundation (Stichting Vrienden der Gelderse Kastelen) and can be booked for weddings or other special events. Hollstein 1667-1682. The series of engravings was later published as part of Schenk's Paradisis Oculorum.
