Profil de la Ville et Haure de Genes Capitalle de la Republique de Mesme Nom

Above in a white space outside the view: Profil de la ville et havre de Genes capitalle de la republique de mesme nom.

Magnificent and very rare panoramic view of the city from the sea.

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.

Example in second state, with alphanumeric legend at bottom added by Boissevin. Jean Boisseau's editorial imprint is replaced by Boissevin's. It reads A Paris chez Louis Boissevin Rue S Iacques a l'image S.te Geneviesue. Printed about 1650/55. When Boisseau ceased business around 1648, Louis Boissevin recovered part of his collection, which he continued to use. Includes a legend in the margin below the engraving, identifying 25 places, not mentioned by Pastoureau in Boisseau's edition.

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. 33.