Author:
Title: [Antique engraving, gravure] Anonymous. CONSALVUS FERDINANDUS CORDUBENS, published 1600-1650.
Description: Bust portrait of Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba (1453-1515) in an oval, looking to the left. Inscription within the oval frame: CONSALVUS FERDINANDUS CORDUBENS. PROREX NEAPOL. DICTUS CAPIT. MAGN. and on the bottom: Consalvus Ferdinandus van Cordua, genaemt den grooten Capiteyn, Viceroy van Napels. Under the bust: Obijt Anno 1516 (sic!).Gonzalo [...] was a Spanish general and statesman who led successful military campaigns during the Conquest of Granada and the Italian Wars. His military victories and widespread popularity earned him the nickname El Gran Capitán (The Great Captain). He also negotiated the final surrender of Granada and later served as Viceroy of Naples. Gonzalo was a masterful military strategist and tactician. He was the first to introduce the successful use of firearms on the battlefield and he reorganized his infantry to include pikes and firearms in effective defensive and offensive formations. The changes implemented by Gonzalo were instrumental in making the Spanish army a dominant force in Europe for more than a hundred years. For his extensive political and military success, he was made Duke of Santángelo (1497), Terranova (1502), Andría, Montalto and Sessa (1507). [...].On the verso, text in letterpress. Illustration taken from Nicolaes de Clerck's Tooneel der beroemder hertogen, princen, graven ende krygs-helden van christenrijck binnen dese drij laeste eeuwen... published in 1617, vol. 3, p. 597. Engraving on paper, trimmed on plate mark; on verso text in letterpress; mounted on a blue sheet of paper; total: 181 x 129 mm; in very good condition.

Keywords: Book illustrations|Italy|Male|Portraits