MAPPEMONDE DRESSEE POUR L'ETUDE DE LA GEOGRAPHIE
£375
Very decorative duble-hemisphere world map, with a decorative title cartouche.
On either side is engraved descriptive text in French
Points of interest include: the uncertain coastlines of New Zealand and eastern Australia despite Cook's mapping fifteen years before; the 'Mer de l'Ouest' in North America; North west passage, and the Island of Yeso above Japan.
The title and dedication cartouches are tucked between the cusps with the hemispheres supported on the shoulders of two naked men.
Excellent hand colour
Very good condition
code : M5200
Cartographer : Louis Brion de la Tour
Date : 1778 Paris
Size : 24*27 cms sheet 33*50 cms
availability : Available
Price : £375
Louis Brion de la Tour (1756-1823) was the Cartographer Royal to the King of France.
There is little information about his life. His official title was "King's Engineer Geographer." Although he is a prolific geographer, very little is currently known of his life or his career. His life was spent in scientific work. However what is known is an important part of his work was done in collaboration with Louis Charles Desnos (1750-1790 to) a bookseller and geographical engineer for the globes and spheres of His Danish Majesty.
His son Louis Brion de la Tour, a pupil of Jean-Bernard Restout, was engraver of maps and documents of the Revolution, and was also an occasional portrait oil paintings.
