Important map of northern Italy drawn by Captain M. Chauchard (an engineer and cartographer specializing in military camps) and published in Paris in 1791 by J.C. Dezauche. The map, which extends as far south as Perugia, is very detailed not only for its precise toponymy but also regarding the Alpine orography and communication routes.
This is a legendary map: during the Second Italian Campaign of 1800, the Topographic Office of the Armée de Réserve had a copy at its disposal; in the memoirs of Louis de Bourienne, Napoleon’s secretary, the map is mentioned in a curious anecdote that describes Bonaparte lying on top of the map, intent on studying and marking strategic points for the Battle of Marengo with colored pins.
The map is composed of two large sheets mounted on removable canvas to be joined horizontally and preserved in the original marbled cardboard box.
Jean-Claude Dezauche (1745 – 1824) was a French publisher active in Paris during the first half of the 19th century. He founded his publishing house specializing in cartography around 1770 after starting his activity by publishing musical scores since 1762. The first works were reprints of the branches, purchased from Jean Nicholas Buache, of the maps of Philippe Buache and Guillaume de L’Isle. Later, Dezauche achieved much success with the monopoly on the sale of maps produced by the Dépôt de la Marine, which passed to his son Jean André Dezauche.
