ENGRAVINGS OF THE GRAND AND PETIT SABLON SQUARES BY ROMEYN DE HOOGHE

Romeyn de Hooghe (1645 – 1708), whose family originated in Belgium, was born in Amsterdam and died in Haarlem. He was a famous engraver, draughtsman, painter, sculptor and medallist. He is best known for his political caricatures of Louis XIV and his drawings in favor of William III of England, who was also Stadhouder of the Netherlands.
The two engravings depict Emperor Leopold I’s triumphal entry into Brussels in 1686 after the capture of Buda, which was occupied by the Ottomans for a century. Celebrations were held throughout Europe.
One view shows the “Petit Sablon” before the Rue de la Régence was created, the other the Place du Grand Sablon. We see the palaces of prominent families of the time, such as the de la Tour and Tassis families.
The text below the engravings mentions the Governor-General of the time (1685 – 1692), the Marquis de Castañaga.

Statue of Charles II, sovereign of the Netherlands, no longer extant