Carta Geografica del Gouverno della Normandia

Title

Carta Geografica del Gouverno della Normandia

Description

Map shows the whole of Normandy with title cartouche and a view in the background.

ca. 1750

Artist

De L´Isle (1675-1725)

Guillaume de l'Isle was a French cartographer known for his popular and accurate maps of Europe and the newly explored Americas. At 27, Delisle was admitted into the French Académie Royale des Sciences, an institution financed by the French state. After that date, he signed his maps with the title of "Géographe de l’Académie". Five years later, he moved to the Quai de l’Horloge in Paris, a true publishing hub where his business prospered. Delisle's progress culminated in 1718 when he received the title of Premier Géographe du Roi. He was appointed to teach geography to the Dauphin, King Louis XIV’s son, a task for which he received a salary. Again, his father's reputation as a man of science probably helped the younger Delisle. Historian Mary Sponberg Pedley says, "once authority was established, a geographer's name might retain enough value to support two or three generations of mapmakers". He had drawn maps not only of European countries, such as Italy, Spain, Germany, Great Britain, Poland, and regions such as the Duchy of Burgundy, but he had also contributed to the empire's claims to recently explored continents of Africa and the Americas

Historical Description

Normandy is a historical region in the northwest of France on the coast of the English Channel. Its history has been strongly shaped by Vikings, medieval duchies, and important events of the Second World War. Normandy developed into a powerful region in the Middle Ages. The Norman duke William the Conqueror invaded England in 1066 in the Battle of Hastings and later became King of England. This created a close political connection between England and Normandy. Later, the region was fought over several times by England and France, especially during the Hundred Years’ War. In 1450, France finally succeeded in reconquering Normandy. In the following centuries, Normandy developed into an important agricultural and maritime region. Ports such as Le Havre became significant trading centers. Today, Normandy is a culturally and historically important region with famous sights such as Mont-Saint-Michel. It is also well known for its coastal landscape, its history, and specialties like Camembert cheese and cider.