Gerard Thibault's 'L'académie de l'espée Plate XXII- 1630

A plate from Gerard Thibault's 'L'académie de l'espée', with illustrations of various fencing techniques around a central caprice architectural archway.

Academie de l'Espée is a Dutch fencing manual written by Gérard Thibault d'Anvers and initially printed in 1630. One of the most elaborate fencing manuals ever written, it was the work of several years. It is well known for it's lavish illustrations, that were prepared by a team of sixteen master engravers. Thibault's work deals with the use of the rapier in the Spanish style of La Verdadera Destreza or the 'True Skill' and is well-known for it's use of intricate geometrical figures, especially the 'cercle mysterieux' or 'mysterious circle'

"one can be allowed to perform them at speed, and to press their adversary with them, as we shall learn in this Plate XXII ... It is only here, in this Plate, that we instruct and show how to execute the techniques to oppose actions of Primary Intention in all the ways an adversary might attempt them ..."

The coat of arms at the top belongs to George William (1595 – 1640) of the House of Hohenzollern, Elector of Brandenburg and Duke of Prussia from 1619.