Netherlands, South Holland, Honselaarsdijk, Westland C. Allard, 1691, Vlak-zichtig Vertoog van ´t Lust-Hof te Honslaardyk Toebehoorende Aan Z. K. M. Van Groot Britannien

Very rare large folio sized bird´s eye view of the country estate Huis Honselaarsdijk, the palace of Frederik Hendrik of Orange-Nassau. On the background the dunes with the towns of Monster and ´s-Gravenzande and the North Sea.

In 1625, Frederik Hendrik became stadtholder and began to play an important role in international politics. To receive important foreign guests, he needed a representative and impressive palace complex. Honselaarsdijk fulfilled this role. What remained of the old Van Naaldwijk castle was now completely demolished, and a completely new palace was built on its old foundations. Frederik Hendrik had been stadtholder and commander of the army and fleet since 1625. This generated considerable income for him, as the rule stipulated that the commander received ten percent of all war booty. According to tradition, Frederik Hendrik was able to add extra grandeur to the palace and gardens at Honselaarsdijk by taking part in the Silver Fleet captured by Piet Hein.

In 1691, a bird's-eye view and a whole series of drawings of Huis Honselaarsdijk and the surrounding gardens were made by C. Allard. This series was probably made on the occasion of the last visit that Stadtholder William III, who by then had also become King of England, made to Honselersdijk in 1690.

Reasonable/good condition. Some repaired tears with very minimal impact on the image, some light age browning. Small, but sufficient margins on top and on the right. Otherwise excellent. Thick paper.

Image 50x58cm, sheet 54x63cm