Optica View The Hague Petit Voorhout Promenade, Basset c.1770
This is a finely engraved and hand-colored optical print titled *Vue du petit Voorhout une des promenades de la Haye prise du côté du pont du Tourcamp*, published by Basset, Rue St Jacques, Paris, circa 1770. The scene depicts the Petit Voorhout, one of the elegant promenades of The Hague.
The perspective shows a grand tree-lined avenue with stylish 18th-century buildings on either side. Carriages, horse riders, and finely dressed pedestrians animate the scene, creating a vivid impression of Dutch elite social life. The avenue extends deeply into the composition with figures on horseback and walking under the rows of trees. The architecture includes classic Dutch gabled houses and a prominent building on the right with a staircase and balustrade. The engraving is richly hand-colored with ochre, blue, red, and green tones characteristic of optica views.
Optica prints (vues d’optique) were perspective engravings designed to be viewed through a zograscope to create a three-dimensional effect. They were popular educational and decorative prints, often depicting famous European cityscapes, sold by publishers in Paris, Augsburg, and London.
Condition report:
Good condition. Strong impression with bright period hand coloring. Light general age toning, minor marginal handling marks, faint spots in blank margins, typical for 18th-century optical prints. Wide margins intact with no tears or repairs affecting the image.
Framing suggestion:
Frame with a simple black or dark wood moulding and an archival off-white mat to emphasize the vibrant coloring and linear perspective. UV-protective glass is recommended to preserve the colors and paper quality.
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