Interesting map by Pierre Duval showing the regions of Piedmont and Monferrato at a time when these lands were at the center of political and strategic tensions between France and northern Italy. The title itself underscores the French interest in Alpine “passages,” that is, strategic communication routes between France and the Italian peninsula, crucial for both military and commercial reasons. The map is taken from the rare collection “Cartes de géographie les plus nouvelles et les plus fidèles avecque leurs divisions régulières, qui marquent les bornes des états selon les derniers traités de paix,” one of the most important works of French cartography of the time, published in Paris in 1677.
The engraving is of fine workmanship: the alpine reliefs are rendered with chiaroscuro hatches that give three-dimensionality to the morphology of the territory. The borders are highlighted by subtle hand-coloring (green, yellow, and ochre), following the usage of the time to distinguish political boundaries. Numerous towns, waterways, and mountain ranges are minutely named, with emphasis on major cities such as Turin, Asti, Alessandria, and Cuneo.
The orientation of the map is to the north, with a scale in “lieues communes de France” and “milles d’Italie” visible in the upper right-hand corner, useful for understanding the dual scale of reference used for cross-border interpretation. The entire map is framed by the graduated margin showing longitude and latitude.
Pierre Duval (1618-1683) was one of the most eminent French cartographers of the seventeenth century. Grandson and pupil of the famous Nicolas Sanson, considered the “father of French cartography,” Duval followed in his footsteps and contributed to the spread of a modern, more accurate and rational cartographic model. Appointed “Géographe ordinaire du Roy” by Louis XIV, Duval played a crucial role in producing political and geographical maps that reflected the geopolitical vision of the French monarchy. His maps are distinguished for combining graphic elegance with a decided scientific rigor.
