FLORENCE LA BELLE VILLE CAPITALLE DE LESTAT DU GRAND DUC DE TOSCANE. 1646

Above in a white space outside the view: FLORENCE LA BELLE VILLE CAPITALLE DE LESTAT DU GRAND DUC DE TOSCANE 1646.

A panoramic view of Florence from Bellosguardo, derived directly from that of Mattheus Merian. At the top, outside the view, the title. In the center, under a ribbon, the coat of arms with the Florentine lily.

Etching and engraving, 1646, engraved by Hugues Picart for the Theatre des Citez, ou Recueil de plusieurs villes, dont les noms suivent par ordre alphabetique; Selon qu'ils sont contenues en ce present volume. Paris, Jean Boisseau, 1648.

Jean Boisseau was "enlumineur du roi pour les cartes géographoques," and seller of maritime charts with a store in Paris, à l'enseigne du Solleil Levant. He is first mentioned in Parisian archives in 1631: he is then described as a "master illuminator," a title he would never relinquish. Soon after, in 1635, he became "miniaturist of nautical charts." Finally, in 1636, he published several works on heraldry, genealogy and chronology. At the same time, he had some maps engraved. In 1641 he reissued Jean Leclerc's Theatre and published the Topographie françoise de Châtillon. The following year he improved Leclerc's Atlas, which became his Théatre des Gaules. In 1643 he copies Mercator-Hondius's Atlas Minor for his small Trésor des cartes géographiques. Very active until 1648, when he published the Théatre des Citéz and the second edition of the Topographie.

In addition to these cartographic works he produced - from 1642 to 1648 - a collection, entitled Théâtre des Citez, containing views of cities engraved in two plates, many of them copies of those in the 1638 Archontolgia Cosmica, illustrated by Mattheus Merian. According to M. Pastoureau, only two examples of the topographic collection are known: one, belonging to a private collection, contains fifty-six views. Another example, with only forty-one views and no frontispiece is in Paris, Bibliothéque Institut d'art et d'archeologie (Fondation Jacques Doucet).

Boisseau then disappears without leaving heirs. Louis Boissevin recovered part of his collection and gave a reissue of the Trésor in 1653 and the Topographie in 1655.

Several states exist of the view of Florence: one complete with the year of edition and the words on the ribbon; another where the year has been erased; still another where the ribbon is blank.

Example in the first state of three, before the alphanumeric legend at bottom. Also absent is the editorial imprint A Paris sur le Quay de lorloge du Palais, chez F. de la Point and the motto in the ribbon with the fleur-de-lis under the title Florida florenti floret Florentia fiore.

Magnificent proof, printed on contemporary laid paper, in very good condition. Very rare work.

Bibliografia

Mireille Pastoureau, LES ATLAS FRANÇAIS XVIe-XVIIe siècles. Répertoire bibliographique et étude. Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale Département des Cartes et Plans, 1984. 1984, pp. 67-73, n. 34.