[Batticaloa; Sri Lanka] Vue de Baticalo. Gezigt van Baticalo

Original antique engraving depicting the city of Batticaloa, situated on the eastern coast of Sri Lanka. Work by Jacobus van der Schley, published around 1750 in Amsterdam. In the foreground appear vessels typical of the region sailing in coastal waters. The title is presented in bilingual format, indicating “Vue de Baticalo” in French and “Gezigt van Baticalo” in Dutch. The technique employed is copperplate engraving. Batticaloa was at that time a trading post administered by the Dutch East India Company. The view offers visual information about the urban layout and defensive structures of the locality. Van der Schley worked as an engraver in Amsterdam, producing numerous prints for geographical works and travel books. This type of image served to illustrate publications about colonial territories and maritime trade routes. The representation follows the cartographic conventions of the period, combining topographical precision with decorative elements characteristic of the 18th-century Dutch style.