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This 1690 map of Provence and parts of Dauphiné, created by Giacomo Cantelli da Vignola, presents a detailed and decorative depiction of southeastern France during the late 17th century.
The map emphasizes the administrative divisions of the region, highlighting the bailiwicks (baliaggi) and vicarages (vicarié) within Provence and parts of Dauphiné. The map was printed separately, but can also combine with a second northern sheet, covering the full course of the Rhone River.
A central feature of the map is the course of the lower part of the Rhône River (Rodano), which flows southward from the Alps to the Mediterranean Sea. Alongside the Rhône, other major waterways such as the Durance are prominently depicted, reinforcing the region’s hydrological significance. The coastal zone, labeled as Mare di Marsiglia, includes key port cities such as Marseille and Toulon, underscoring Provence’s longstanding role in maritime trade and defense. Mountainous areas, particularly in Dauphiné and along the Alpine frontier, are represented through detailed hatching and shading, characteristic of late 17th-century cartographic techniques.
The map’s political and administrative divisions are delineated by color-coded borders, distinguishing different jurisdictions. Important towns and cities, including Avignon, Aix-en-Provence, and Nîmes, are labeled with precision, reflecting their historical prominence. The Languedoc region appears in the western portion of the map, indicating its geographical and political connection to Provence.
A striking feature of the map is its ornate title cartouche, positioned in the lower-right corner. Decorated with cherubs, floral motifs, and classical drapery, the cartouche exemplifies the baroque aesthetic that was prevalent in 17th-century Italian cartography.
Giacomo Giovanni Rossi (1627-1691) was an Italian engraver and printer. He worked in Rome, the heir to an important printing business founded by his father, Giuseppe de Rossi (1570-1639). Giuseppe began the press in 1633 and Giovanni and his brother, Giandomenico (1619-1653) took it over upon his death. The brothers expanded the business and by the mid-seventeenth century it was the best-known printing house in Rome.
For his maps, Giovanni worked with Giacomo Cantelli da Vignola. They produced the Atlas Mercurio Geografico. The first edition is undated, but the second was issued in 1692, a year after Giovanni’s death. The maps were by Cantelli. The firm also published maps based on those of Nicolas Sanson.
Later, the business passed to Lorenzo Filippo (1682-?). By 1738, the firm was known as Calcografia Camerale, then, from 1870 to 1945, as the Regia Calcografica. Today, the firm is still in business and is called Calcografia Nazionale. It operates as a free museum and offers one of the best collections of prints and plates in the world.
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