Bilder Nicolas De Fer (1646–1720) – Map of the City and Port of Antibes – France – Engraving (1705)

Beskrivning

"Antibes Ville et Port de Mer de Provence sur la Mer Mediterranée." This engraving presents a detailed topographical plan of the fortified city and harbor of Antibes on the French Mediterranean coast. The composition illustrates the complex star-shaped defensive walls and bastions of the main town, labeled "la Ville," and the protective fortifications of the port area. A significant detached fortress is depicted on a nearby peninsula to the southeast, guarding the entrance to the harbor. A decorative title block in the upper right corner provides the geographical coordinates of the city at 43 degrees 40 minutes latitude and 25 degrees 39 minutes longitude. This work was published in Paris as part of De Fer's cartographic efforts to document the strategic coastal defenses of France.

Nicolas De Fer was a prolific French cartographer, engraver, and publisher who served as the official geographer to both the French and Spanish royal courts. He was renowned for his ability to produce maps that were as much works of art as they were scientific documents, often prioritizing decorative elegance and current events over absolute geographical precision. Throughout his career, he published over six hundred maps and numerous atlases, documenting the territorial expansions and military campaigns of King Louis XIV. His workshop in Paris became a center for the dissemination of geographical knowledge, making his maps highly influential among the European aristocracy and military elite. De Fer's legacy is defined by his extensive documentation of the shifting borders and strategic ports of the early modern world.

Artist or Maker: Nicolas De Fer.

Dimensions: Approximately 31 cm x 23 cm.

Medium: Engraving.

Date: 1705.

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.