CARTA DE LA RIVERA DE GENOVA CON SUS VERDADEROS CONFINES Y CAMINOS TOPOGRAPHIA DE LA LIGURIA ...

CARTA DE LA RIVERA DE GENOVA CON SUS VERDADEROS CONFINES Y CAMINOS TOPOGRAPHIA DE LA LIGURIA DEDICADA A LCELL.MO SENOR CONDE DE MELGAR GOVERNADORY CAPITAN GENERAL DEL ESTADO DE MILAN POR D. JOSEPH CHAFRION ING. DEL EX QHIZOY DEL MDCLXXXV.

Impressive map of Liguria extremely detailed in a copy with the unobtainable key-legends listing all the places represented in the map with their coordinates. Joseph Chafrion drew and engraved the map on commission from the governor and captain general of the State of Milan, Don Giovanni Tommaso Enriquez de Cabrera as the Ligurian territory represented a strategic link between Spain and the Duchy of Milan, which was a Spanish possession from 1535 to 1706. Chafrion's work represents a marked advance over previous cartographic representations, becoming an indispensable cornerstone regarding the representation of the Ligurian territory in its entirety.

The title runs the length of the drawing, which is inscribed in a decorative frame. In the lower center a rich and animated cartouche contains the dedication to the Count of Melgar and the graphic scales: “Escala de Millas Ginovesas de a 65 par Grado”, “Escala de Millas Comunes Italianas de a 60 por Grado”, “Escala de Millas Piamonte de a 50 por Grado”.

The bottom reads “Si vendono in Milano da Marc. Ant. del Re Incisore in Rame alla Piazza de' Mercanti presso le scuole Palatine”; ‘Autor Sculpist’ follows. The orography represented with the mound perspective system. The most important settlements are represented schematically in plan: secondary ones with towers and houses. Roads are traced and political boundaries indicated. Boundaries: north, Valencia; south, Ligustic Sea (from Nice to Motrone); west, Monviso; east, M. Lugo. Top left, legend of conventional signs. Three graphic scales in miles of Genoa, of Piedmont, of Italy.

Chafrion's work represents a clear advance over previous cartographic depictions, becoming an indispensable cornerstone in terms of depicting the Ligurian territory in its entirety, in fact it will be imitated and reprinted several times: by Domenico de Rossi in Rome in 1697, by Andrew Dury it will be published in London in 1764, again in London in 1783 followed the Faden edition, and finally in 1784 the Gravier work first in the Turin edition and later, in the same year, the Genoese edition.

José Chafrion (born Josep Chafrion in 1653 in Valencia) was a famous military engineer, serving the King of Spain. He is known to have directed the construction of Montjuic Castle between 1694 and 1697 and the fortification of other squares in Catalonia. In 1671, at the age of 18, he went to Rome where he was a disciple of Bishop Juan Caramuel y Lobkowitz. In May 1673, Chafrion became assistant to the senior engineer of the army of the State of Milan. He was known as a distinguished physicist-mathematician and publicly defended his final thesis at the Roman College of the Jesuit Order in the city of Rome. He served King Charles II of Spain in the State of Milan from about 1684 to 1691, first as captain of the Tercio de la Mar in Naples and, from September 1686, as captain of the Tercio de Lombardia. Later, he was captain of the cuirassiers.

A second state sxample, which has the words Si vende in Milano da Marcantonio Dal Re, copper engraver at the Piazza dei Mercanti, presso le scuole palatine.

“Lo Chaffrion descrive efficacemente e con una certa suggestione pittorica la natura del territorio ligure, stretto fra lo spartiacque appenninico e il mare, solcato da fiumi brevi e impetuosi che scorrono sul fondo di strette valli incassate nel rilievo. Risalta con imponenza il disegno dell'orografia, che descrive la catena alpina, nel tratto compreso fra le Cozie e le Marittime e la dorsale appenninica che circonda ad arco la Liguria, frammentata da isolati gruppi montuosi e da brevi catene, disposte in senso longitudinale. La rete stradale e i confini sono delineati con grande accuratezza: dalla principale via costiera, che percorre la regione in tutta la sua lunghezza, si dipartono numerose diramazioni che raccordano la Riviera all'entroterra, ad esempio da Oneglia al Colle di Tenda, da Finale verso il fiume Bormida, da Savona verso Ceva” (cfr. G. Ferro, La Liguria nelle Carte e nelle Vedute Antiche).

Inlaid map within frame, (900 x 2500mm, interior measurements). 8 map sheets plus side-printed legends applied anciently on cloth (defects to joints, missing and antique restoration especially to legends). Within 19^th Century frame protected by his original glass.

Considered by many authoritative scholars to be the most important wall map of Liguria.

We know of no other examples, including institutional ones, that have the legends.

Bibliografia

G. Ferro, La Liguria nelle Carte e nelle Vedute Antiche (1992).