Wapenkaart met de wapens en namen van de Heren Veertigen van Delft, 2 - Hendrik de Leth

A detailed eighteenth-century heraldic print documenting the coats of arms and names of the Council of Forty in Delft.

This print by Hendrik de Leth is a systematic documentation of heraldry, specifically recording the coats of arms and names of the Heren Veertigen, or the Council of Forty, of Delft. As a cartographer and engraver active in the eighteenth century, de Leth produced works that functioned as both administrative records and visual catalogues of civic authority. The composition is structured as a grid, with each cell containing a shield and the corresponding name of the official. This arrangement allows for a clear, orderly presentation of the genealogical and social hierarchy within the city of Delft.

The visual character of the work relies on the precision of line engraving. Each crest is rendered with specific heraldic symbols, including animals, geometric divisions, and botanical motifs. The uniformity of the grid contrasts with the variety of the individual shields, creating a balance between collective civic identity and individual representation. The text accompanying each shield provides essential historical data, identifying the specific members of the council during the period of the work's creation.

This print is a primary source for those interested in Dutch civic history and the development of heraldic traditions in the Netherlands. It reflects the eighteenth-century interest in classification and the preservation of institutional memory. The monochromatic palette and the focus on line work are characteristic of the period's printmaking techniques, where clarity and accuracy were prioritised for the purpose of documentation. The work remains a useful reference for researchers studying the social structure of Delft and the visual language of Dutch heraldry.