|
||
|
|
|
|
This 1764 map, titled Plan de Bayes et Poussole, is an 18th-century chart of the Italian coast, specifically focusing on the region around the city of Pozzuoli (referred to as "Poussole") from Jacques-Nicolas Bellin's La Petit Atlas Maritime. Bellin, a distinguished French cartographer and hydrographer, was known for his detailed and accurate maritime charts, which were highly valued for navigation during the Age of Enlightenment.
The map spans the Mediterranean coastline from Cap Mizene in the north to Cap Coroille in the south, capturing a critical stretch of the Italian coast near Naples. The chart meticulously illustrates the bays and inlets along this section of the coast, emphasizing the intricate natural harbors and navigational challenges that would have been of great interest to sailors and traders of the period.
-
Pozzuoli (Poussole): The city of Pozzuoli is prominently displayed on the map, along with its notable structures such as a detailed depiction of the town’s layout, fortifications, and the nearby Chateau. This highlights Pozzuoli's historical importance as a bustling port and strategic maritime location in the Bay of Naples.
-
Volcanic Features: A significant highlight of the map is the depiction of a small volcano, labeled "La Souffrière," which reflects the volcanic activity characteristic of this region, famously dominated by Mount Vesuvius nearby. This feature not only serves as a geographical marker but also emphasizes the natural hazards present along this coastal stretch.
-
Isle de Nizita: South of Pozzuoli, the map includes the Isle de Nizita, a small island marked with a fortified structure, adding to the detailed portrayal of the area's defensive measures. The island's inclusion underscores its strategic relevance within the coastal landscape.
The map features an ornate cartouche in the lower right corner, embellished with rococo motifs that frame the title and scale, which is measured in toises (a French unit of measure). This decorative style is characteristic of Bellin’s work, combining aesthetic appeal with the functional demands of nautical charting.
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.
![[Sicily] Partie Meridionale du Royaume De Naples ou se trouvent La Calabre et L'Isle et Royaume de Sicile . . . 1779 [with] Supplement pur L'Isle De Malte](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/35618.jpg)
![[ Italian Mediterranean Coastline ] Hydrographica descriptio, in qua ore maritime Italiae a monte Argentato Napolim usque, promontoria item & portus, ajacentes insule...](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/97984.jpg)
![(1779 Eruption of Mt Vesuvius) Vue de la Sommite et du Crate du Vesuve au moment de l'Eruption... []View from the Summit of Vesuvius Crater at the Moment of the Eruoption]](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/91151.jpg)
