Bilder Antoine-François Prévost d'Exiles (1697–1763) – Map of Peru: The Audience of Lima and the Pacific Coast – Copperplate engraving (c. 1750)

Beskrivning

This copperplate engraving is a historical map detailing the geography of the Audiencia de Lima, a key administrative region of the Spanish Viceroyalty of Peru along the Pacific coast ("Mer du Sud"). Created for the Histoire générale des voyages, the map illustrates the coastal mountain ranges, showing established settlements concentrated near the ocean. The map explicitly delineates the limits of 18th-century European knowledge, marking the Amazonian interior with the phrase "Pays entierement inconnus" (entirely unknown country).

Antoine-François Prévost d'Exiles, often known as Abbé Prévost, was a French author, novelist, and historian. Although most famous for his novel Manon Lescaut, he compiled and edited the voluminous Histoire générale des voyages (General History of Voyages) in twenty volumes, which synthesized global exploration narratives for the French public. Prévost's work was instrumental in disseminating knowledge of global topography and ethnography through its extensive inclusion of maps, plans, and detailed illustrations.

Artist or Maker: Antoine-François Prévost d'Exiles

Dimensions: Approximately 38 cm x 25 cm

Medium: Copperplate engraving

Date: c. 1750

Condition Report:
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.