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This finely engraved map, titled "Golphe de Campo-moro et Valinco," was produced by Jacques-Nicolas Bellin, the renowned French cartographer and hydrographer, and published in the fourth volume of his Petit Atlas Maritime (1764).
The map presents a detailed and precise depiction of the Gulf of Valinco and the Gulf of Campo-Moro on the southwest coast of Corsica, reflecting Bellin’s expertise in maritime charting during the Enlightenment period.
The map outlines the rugged coastline, prominent headlands, and surrounding waters of the Golfe de Valinco and Golfe de Campo-Moro. Carefully marked soundings (depth measurements) are scattered throughout the gulfs, emphasizing its utility as a navigational aid for mariners. Shaded hachure lines illustrate mountainous terrain, providing a sense of the topographical relief of Corsica’s interior regions. The map also highlights specific features, such as capes, points, and small settlements, including Valinco, Cap de Campo-Moro, and Cap d'Agavo.
Several towers (likely Genoese watchtowers) are depicted along the coastline, such as Tour de Campitello and Tour de Valinco. These fortifications were part of a defensive network constructed during the Genoese occupation of Corsica to protect against pirate incursions. Their inclusion on the map reflects Bellin's meticulous attention to both geographic and historical detail.
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.
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