L' Escalette Le Clerc f - A picture of a picture of a picture of a picture of a picture of a picture of a picture of a picture of a picture

Print shows the siege and bombardment of the fortified city of Messina or Taormina, Sicily, between 1674 and 1676 by the "Duc de Vivonne" commander of the fleet seen in the bay, and from batteries on the top of a hill at left center, with the walled city on the top of a similar hill at right center. The image is presented as a framed print with title plate at bottom center, armaments on both sides, a medallion at top center showing a representation of the Sun King below a cartouche containing a map flanked by two female figures, possibly Fame, with many flags, weapons, and a fasces.

Caption continues: Place tres forte entre Messine et Taormine le Duc de Vivonne l'assiegea en personne malgré la rigueur de la saison excessivement froide et pluvieuse les Ennemis s'y deffendirent assés bravement durant quinze jours, mais enfin foudroyés de tous côtés par le canon des Galéres et par une batterie qu'on avoit trouvé moyen de faire élever sur une montagne extremement haute, ils furent obligés de capituler, et le Fort Sainte Placide se rendit aussi le mesme jour huitiéme novembre mil six cens soixante et seize.
Inscribed in ink at bottom center: No. 212 22.
Stamped in lower right corner: Map Division Oct 29 1917 Library of Congress.
Purchase; Gennadiĭ Vasilʹevich Yudin; 1906.
Forms part of: Yudin collection (Library of Congress).
Forms part of: Popular graphic art print filing series (Library of Congress).