[WALL MAP-PARIS] TURGOT, MICHELE ETIENNE and BRETEZ, LOUIS. Plan de Paris commencé l'année 1734. Dessiné et gravé sous les o

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[WALL MAP-PARIS]
TURGOT, MICHELE ETIENNE and BRETEZ, LOUIS. Plan de Paris commencé l'année 1734. Dessiné et gravé sous les ordres de Messire Michel Étienne Turgot, conseiller d'État, Prévôt des Marchands... Achevé de graver en 1739. Paris: Levé et dessiné par Louis Bretez, gravé par Claude Lucas, 1739. Engraved map on 20 folding sheets separated at folds into 40 panels joined and laid to linen with a hanging bar across the head and a roller along the foot. About 8 feet 2 inches x 10 feet 5 inches or 97 x 126 inches (246 x 320 cm); each sheet about 19 1/2 x 15 5/8 inches (50 x 40 cm). Well preserved and presentable overall, a tear at the upper left corner extends about 12 inches into the image just below the border, other small stains, chips, abraded areas and small losses, some areas of waviness, minor evidence of old dampstain, the linen backing vertically split at center for about 24 inches not affecting the paper map.

Turgot's Plan de Paris is the best and most important 18th century decorative map of Paris and an enduring monument to the reign of Louis XV. Appointed Prevot des Marchands in 1729, the survey of the city and engraving of the map was at the behest of Michel Etienne Turgot, who had improved many streets and embellished the city with fountains. Known for his manual on perspective, the survey and draft was provided by Louis Bretez, resulting in this magnificent birds-eye view of the city. Remarkable in the era before flight, the map is oriented to the east allowing the portals of churches to be shown; these, along with private residences, courts and gardens, are all presented at a quarter view. Turgot's map is a triumph of mapmaking, one of the great cartographic accomplishments of the age.

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Estimate $5,000-10,000

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