Allard, Carel (1648-1709). Stockholm (from Orbis habitabilis oppida et vestitus, centenario complexa...Des bewoonden Waerlds steden en dragten in een honded-getal begreepen). [Stockholm]. Amsterdamn, 1695.. (Copy)

Carel Allard (1648–1709)
Stockholm
Amsterdam, 1695
Engraved view
Sheet size: 11 x 9 inches

This finely detailed and dramatically composed engraved view of Stockholm by Carel Allard, published in Amsterdam in 1695, presents Sweden’s capital city at the height of its early modern power. Rendered with theatrical perspective and baroque flourish, the scene captures a vibrant, fortified waterfront city bristling with steeples, gabled rooftops, and naval ships—hallmarks of a rising Protestant power in Northern Europe.

Foregrounded by mounted figures and a procession of travelers entering from the countryside, the composition invites the viewer into a panoramic vision of the city as both royal seat and commercial hub. Stockholm is shown in the midst of its 17th-century expansion, propelled by the wealth of the Swedish Empire under the reign of Charles XI and Charles XII. The city’s architecture—marked by elaborate towers and orderly districts—reflects a conscious effort to model Northern urbanity after the great capitals of Europe.

Allard’s engraving is part of a larger series of European city views produced in Amsterdam at a time when Dutch printmakers were renowned for capturing the splendor and variety of urban life across the continent. The elaborate frame, decorative cartouche, and depth of figural detail elevate this piece beyond documentation into the realm of civic portraiture—Stockholm as it wished to be seen.

This work embodies the importance of city views in the 17th century not only as souvenirs or references, but as instruments of power, pride, and diplomacy—precursors to the urban propaganda of the modern age.