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Map of the Normandy Coast: From Anse de Vauville to Cap de la Hague to Cherbourg
This 1764 map by Jacques-Nicolas Bellin, published in Petite Atlas Maritime, depicts the Normandy coast from Anse de Vauville to Cap de la Hague and Cherbourg, emphasizing the coastal and inland geography of the La Hague region.
The map appeared in Bellin's 5 volume Petite Atlas Maritime, published in 1764, an extensive collection of maps covering various parts of the world, focusing on coastal regions and aiding in navigation and exploration during the Age of Enlightenment.
The mapt features topographical details, including coastal contours, inland terrain, and significant landmarks, including settlements, roads, and natural features. The map captures the rugged coastline of La Hague, marked by promontories such as Cap de la Hague and the Anse de Vauville bay. Inland, the map details the hilly and forested terrain, including the Lande de Jobourg and surrounding areas. Key geographic markers such as "Grand Place" and various hamlets are labeled, showcasing the region's inhabited and agricultural landscape.
Cherbourg, prominently featured, is depicted with its harbor and fortifications, underscoring its role as a major naval and commercial port. The intricate detailing of the coastline includes soundings and depths, vital for navigation. The map also illustrates the Fosse Domville and Rade de Cherbourg, essential anchorage points for ships.
Jacques-Nicolas Bellin (1703-1772) was among the most important mapmakers of the eighteenth century. In 1721, at only the age of 18, he was appointed Hydrographer to the French Navy. In August 1741, he became the first Ingénieur de la Marine of the Dépôt des cartes et plans de la Marine (the French Hydrographic Office) and was named Official Hydrographer of the French King.
During his term as Official Hydrographer, the Dépôt was the one of the most active centers for the production of sea charts and maps in Europe. Their output included a folio-format sea atlas of France, the Neptune Francois. He also produced a number of sea atlases of the world, including the Atlas Maritime and the Hydrographie Francaise. These gained fame and distinction all over Europe and were republished throughout the eighteenth and even in the nineteenth century.
Bellin also produced smaller format maps such as the 1764 Petit Atlas Maritime, containing 580 finely-detailed charts. He also contributed a number of maps for the 15-volume Histoire Generale des Voyages of Antoine François Prévost.
Bellin set a very high standard of workmanship and accuracy, cementing France's leading role in European cartography and geography during this period. Many of his maps were copied by other mapmakers across the continent.
