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Nice example of Nicolas Sanson's double-page engraved map of Cornwall, the Isle of Wight, and southern Wales.
This map, titled Provinces d'West, autrefois Royaume d'Westsex, ou sont Aujourdhuy les Comtés Hant-shire, et l'Isle de Wight, Barcksh. Devon-sh. et Cornwall-sh., &c., was published in 1654 and offers a detailed depiction of the historical region of Wessex, located in the southwestern part of England. The map highlights the area once known as the Kingdom of Wessex, now encompassing the counties of Hampshire, including the Isle of Wight, Berkshire, Dorset, Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall.
The geography is meticulously represented, with prominent rivers, cities, and towns clearly labeled. Notable locations such as Southampton, Winchester, Exeter, and Plymouth are included, along with smaller settlements scattered throughout the region. The coastline, with its numerous bays and inlets, is carefully detailed, reflecting the importance of maritime activity in this part of England.
A decorative cartouche in the upper-left corner frames the title of the map, embellished with Baroque ornamental details, including a cherub and flowing drapery, adding an artistic touch typical of 17th-century cartography.
Nicholas Sanson (1600-1667) is considered the father of French cartography in its golden age from the mid-seventeenth century to the mid-eighteenth. Over the course of his career he produced over 300 maps; they are known for their clean style and extensive research. Sanson was largely responsible for beginning the shift of cartographic production and excellence from Amsterdam to Paris in the later-seventeenth century.
Sanson was born in Abbeville in Picardy. He made his first map at age twenty, a wall map of ancient Gaul. Upon moving to Paris, he gained the attention of Cardinal Richelieu, who made an introduction of Sanson to King Louis XIII. This led to Sanson's tutoring of the king and the granting of the title ingenieur-geographe du roi.
His success can be chalked up to his geographic and research skills, but also to his partnership with Pierre Mariette. Early in his career, Sanson worked primarily with the publisher Melchior Tavernier. Mariette purchased Tavernier’s business in 1644. Sanson worked with Mariette until 1657, when the latter died. Mariette’s son, also Pierre, helped to publish the Cartes générales de toutes les parties du monde (1658), Sanson' atlas and the first French world atlas.
