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- Mapping Brittany : an eighteenth century Mémoire
Mapping Brittany : an eighteenth century Mémoire
- By The Map Collector
- Published 1 March 1989
- Maps
- Unrated
The Map Collector
The Map Collector, initiated by Peter Scott and Valerie G. Newby, was a journal on historical cartography published every quarter. The first issue appeared in 1997 and continued for nearly 20 years. After 74 issues the last copy appeared in Spring 1996. Mrs. Valerie G. Newby, is presently editor of the IMCoS Journal.
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by Mary Pedley
Mary Pedley is at the William L. Clements Library of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, Michigan and has an interest in eighteenth century French cartography and cartog¬raphers. In this article, she explains how a recent acquisition by the Newberry Library in Chicago sheds some light on one of the first provincial surveys to be proposed in France in the early part of the eighteenth century.
'THE COURSE OF my travels in Brittany nearly cost me my life,' wrote Cesar-'François Cassini de Thury in 1784. 'The seigneurs knew neither how to read nor write, and not having the least notion of geography they denigrated my work and tried to incite others against it - whereas in foreign lands, my name alone draws respect. Problems of terrain, communication, and transport have plagued survey and measurement work since the Roman agrimensores. Routine hardships in the field were compounded when working in remote provinces among proud local gentry whose 'fiscal mistrust' of any information gathering force only exacerbated an already difficult task. Such was local resistance in Brittany that Cassini de Thury's father, Jacques, was shot at while making observations from a chapel tower
Yet surveys were made and maps created in spite of such adverse conditions. The eighteenth century saw an increased demand for 'scientific' surveys which used astronomical observa¬tions and triangulation to achieve a more accurate description of the land. Developed in the late 1600s by Jean-Dominique Cassini and his sons in France, these techniques resulted in a national survey of the country, the first of which was completed in 1744.
While a national network of triangles was established and paid for by the government, individual provinces in France were also eager for large-scale mapping, particularly the Pays d' Etats who, in their special relationship with the central French government, controlled their own financial resources. However, geometrical surveys, though accurate, required time and specialised skills which cost a great deal. Less expensive was the compilation method used by the geographe de cabinet. This 'office geog-rapher,' usually located in Paris, compiled a map from cartog¬raphic and written sources, sometimes using more recent astronomical data to rectify locations. Burgundy arranged for just such a map by Guillaume Delisle, as did the Estates of Languedoc. However, Delisle's death in 1726 prevented the completion of the Languedoc map, and that government was persuaded to support a large-scale field survey. The Estates of Brittany also decided to have their province surveyed and a large-scale map prepared. Few documents which describe thc planning and costs of such surveys have been published. A recent acquisition by the Newberry Library in Chicago sheds some light on one of the first provincial surveys to be proposed in France in the early eighteenth century.
The small French manuscript, entitled Memoire de M. delisle pour la carte de Bretagne, outlines the methods and costs of a detailed map of Brittany. Internal evidence and other sources suggest it is by Joseph-Nicolas Delisle (1688-1768), astronomer and founding member of the Academy of Sciences at St. Petersburg and brother of the eminent French geographer Guillaume Delisle (1672-1726).
Joseph-Nicolas Delisle's early love of astronomy and penchant for detail is apparent in the opening sentence of his manuscript autobiography: '( was born the 4th of April 1688 at 6.30 in the morning in a place in Paris whose latitude is 48° 50° 50". He was the ninth of twelve children born to Claude Delisle, the historian and geographer. Though he studied design and mapmaking, his real love was astronomy, a passion born when he witnessed a total eclipse of the sun at age eighteen. He set up a small observatory in the cupola of the Luxembourg Palace where he observed further eclipses for the amusement and edification of the resident nobility, for whom he also prepared horoscopes, a lucrative work but one which he felt 'prostituted astronomy.
Delisle's many publications on astronomical subjects earned him both the chair of mathematics at the College de France and international fame. On a trip to England in 1724 he was met by Halley, who shared with Delisle his astronomical tables, and by Newton, who gave Delisle his portrait. While he was in London, the Royal Society made him an associate. But the encounter which changed the course of his life was with Peter the Great of Russia, who met Delisle in 1717 while on his grand tour of Europe.
The Czar was so impressed by the young Delisle that he invited him to St. Petersburg to join the Academy of Sciences there, start a school of astronomy, and supervise large-scale mapping of the Russian empire.
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COPYRIGHT Autumn 1989 The Map Collector, All rights reserved.
No portion of this article nor the accompanying illustrations can or may be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Mary Pedley is at the William L. Clements Library of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, Michigan and has an interest in eighteenth century French cartography and cartog¬raphers. In this article, she explains how a recent acquisition by the Newberry Library in Chicago sheds some light on one of the first provincial surveys to be proposed in France in the early part of the eighteenth century.
'THE COURSE OF my travels in Brittany nearly cost me my life,' wrote Cesar-'François Cassini de Thury in 1784. 'The seigneurs knew neither how to read nor write, and not having the least notion of geography they denigrated my work and tried to incite others against it - whereas in foreign lands, my name alone draws respect. Problems of terrain, communication, and transport have plagued survey and measurement work since the Roman agrimensores. Routine hardships in the field were compounded when working in remote provinces among proud local gentry whose 'fiscal mistrust' of any information gathering force only exacerbated an already difficult task. Such was local resistance in Brittany that Cassini de Thury's father, Jacques, was shot at while making observations from a chapel tower
Yet surveys were made and maps created in spite of such adverse conditions. The eighteenth century saw an increased demand for 'scientific' surveys which used astronomical observa¬tions and triangulation to achieve a more accurate description of the land. Developed in the late 1600s by Jean-Dominique Cassini and his sons in France, these techniques resulted in a national survey of the country, the first of which was completed in 1744.
While a national network of triangles was established and paid for by the government, individual provinces in France were also eager for large-scale mapping, particularly the Pays d' Etats who, in their special relationship with the central French government, controlled their own financial resources. However, geometrical surveys, though accurate, required time and specialised skills which cost a great deal. Less expensive was the compilation method used by the geographe de cabinet. This 'office geog-rapher,' usually located in Paris, compiled a map from cartog¬raphic and written sources, sometimes using more recent astronomical data to rectify locations. Burgundy arranged for just such a map by Guillaume Delisle, as did the Estates of Languedoc. However, Delisle's death in 1726 prevented the completion of the Languedoc map, and that government was persuaded to support a large-scale field survey. The Estates of Brittany also decided to have their province surveyed and a large-scale map prepared. Few documents which describe thc planning and costs of such surveys have been published. A recent acquisition by the Newberry Library in Chicago sheds some light on one of the first provincial surveys to be proposed in France in the early eighteenth century.
The small French manuscript, entitled Memoire de M. delisle pour la carte de Bretagne, outlines the methods and costs of a detailed map of Brittany. Internal evidence and other sources suggest it is by Joseph-Nicolas Delisle (1688-1768), astronomer and founding member of the Academy of Sciences at St. Petersburg and brother of the eminent French geographer Guillaume Delisle (1672-1726).
Joseph-Nicolas Delisle's early love of astronomy and penchant for detail is apparent in the opening sentence of his manuscript autobiography: '( was born the 4th of April 1688 at 6.30 in the morning in a place in Paris whose latitude is 48° 50° 50". He was the ninth of twelve children born to Claude Delisle, the historian and geographer. Though he studied design and mapmaking, his real love was astronomy, a passion born when he witnessed a total eclipse of the sun at age eighteen. He set up a small observatory in the cupola of the Luxembourg Palace where he observed further eclipses for the amusement and edification of the resident nobility, for whom he also prepared horoscopes, a lucrative work but one which he felt 'prostituted astronomy.
Delisle's many publications on astronomical subjects earned him both the chair of mathematics at the College de France and international fame. On a trip to England in 1724 he was met by Halley, who shared with Delisle his astronomical tables, and by Newton, who gave Delisle his portrait. While he was in London, the Royal Society made him an associate. But the encounter which changed the course of his life was with Peter the Great of Russia, who met Delisle in 1717 while on his grand tour of Europe.
The Czar was so impressed by the young Delisle that he invited him to St. Petersburg to join the Academy of Sciences there, start a school of astronomy, and supervise large-scale mapping of the Russian empire.
Read Full Article >>
[Acrobat Reader required]
COPYRIGHT Autumn 1989 The Map Collector, All rights reserved.
No portion of this article nor the accompanying illustrations can or may be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
