1135 - Romeyn de Hooghe, Hagia Sophia in Constantinople and Imperial Court in China, Leiden circa 1710

Romeyn de Hooghe, Hagia Sophia in Constantinople and Imperial Court in China, Leiden circa 1710 (1645 Amsterdam – 1708 Haarlem), copper engraving on paper, inscribed below the image “Le dedans de la Mosquée de S. Sophie à Constantinople.”, “a Leide, Chez Pierre vander Aa.” and “Magnificence de la Cour de l'Emp. de la Chine.”, Dutch and French legends within the images, two views on one sheet “Turckse Mosque van binnen” and “Chineese Hof pomp”, view into the interior of the Hagia Sophia mosque and view of the Chinese court with rich figure staffage and the enthroned emperor, from “Les Indes orientales et occidentales, et autres lieux”, published by Pieter van der Aa, Leiden circa 1710, centre fold, good condition commensurate with age, somewhat browned at the margins, minimal tear to the margin, image 21.5x35 cm (HxW), overall size 37x47 cm (HxW) Romeyn de Hooghe (1645–1708), baptised in Amsterdam and died in Haarlem, was an etcher, draughtsman, painter, sculptor and medallist of the late Dutch Baroque. He became known for political caricatures of Louis XIV and propaganda prints for William of Orange; the historian Simon Schama called him the first great modern graphic satirist. This series on the lands of the East and West Indies shows courts, customs and ceremonies of Asia and other regions of the world, including Chinese banquets and the court of the Mughals. Pieter van der Aa published the sheets in Leiden circa 1710 in a revised version, with bilingual French-Dutch legends and added architectural and ornamental frames.