Matthaus Merian began publishing the ‘Theatrum Europaeum’ in 1633, it was not finished until 1738 by which time 21 volumes had been issued including some 20,000 pages of text, 720 maps, plans, views and other engravings and nearly 700 portraits. An attractively engraved birds-eye view of the Siege of Montauban undertaken by Louis XIII between August and November 1621. He was fighting the Protestant stronghold but despite a force of 25,000 men was unable to secure it. In 1629 it was finally captured.