Italy - Liguria

Technical sheet Type: Ancient geographic map Title: "Environs de Rapallo et de la Spezie" Author: Dheulland et Julien Publisher / Printer: Dheulland et Julien Place: Paris Period / Date: 1748 Technique: Engraving on copper with contemporaneous coloration at the borders Support: Antique laid paper Dimensions: sheet 26 cm x 35 cm; engraving impression 22.5 cm x 31 cm Composition: Single geographic plate drawn from the work "Théâtre de la Guerre en Italie." Description Important geographic map of the Levant of Liguria depicting the coastal stretch between Rapallo, the Gulf of Tigullio, the Promontory of Portofino, the Cinque Terre, and the Gulf of Spezia, taken from the work Théâtre de la Guerre en Italie, published in Paris in 1748 by Dheulland et Julien during the military campaigns of the Austrian Succession War. The plate presents a detailed topographic representation of the Riviera di Levante, with an extraordinary density of information relating to inhabited centers, mountain reliefs, valleys, waterways, fortifications, roads, and strategic points along the Ligurian coast. The attention to the terrain morphology highlights the military and strategic function of the map, intended to document an area of particular importance in the warfare of the eighteenth century. The graphical layout is distinguished by the notable quality of the engraving, characterized by precise and analytical lines that effectively render the rugged orography of the region. The mountains are represented by a refined system of hatch shading, while the coastline is highlighted by a delicate contemporaneous yellow coloring that enhances the geographic reading of the whole. The vast maritime portion bears the title “Rivière du Levant de Gênes,” underscoring the importance of the Genoese coast in the geopolitical framework of the era. Particularly interesting are the detailed depictions of the Gulf of Rapallo, Portofino, the Spezia, and the Palmaria archipelago, as well as the presence of graphical scales, geographic grid, and highly developed toponymy. The work constitutes a significant testimony to eighteenth‑century French military cartography and to the geographic knowledge of Liguria in the Enlightenment age. Historical‑artistic note The work "Théâtre de la Guerre en Italie" was published in Paris in 1748 with documentary and strategic aims during the concluding phase of the Austrian War of Succession (1740–1748), a conflict that directly involved numerous Italian territories. The plates produced by Dheulland et Julien represent one of the most significant examples of eighteenth‑century French military cartography, characterized by particular attention to topographic precision and the legibility of strategic information. These maps fit into the tradition of Enlightenment scientific cartography, developed in parallel with the evolution of military and administrative needs of European states. Maps devoted to Liguria are today highly valued for their rich toponymy, engraving quality, and the rare ability to document the coastal landscape before the deep urban transformations of the modern age. Condition Report Instance printed on antique laid paper. Normal central editorial fold as issued. Paper generally well preserved with slight signs of use and modest oxidations compatible with the period, small tear restored on the lower edge along the central fold. Engraving sharp and well impressed with margins present. Overall conservation status good for the type and period of execution.

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