1888 Petit Map of the City of Montevideo, Uruguay

19th century plan of Montevideo, Uruguay, showing Norbert Maillart's proposed boulevard.

This is an extremely rare 1888 chromolithograph city plan or map of Montevideo, Uruguay, showing French architect Norbert Maillart's proposed urban renewal plan. Centered around Montevideo Bay and oriented with east at top, this map covers from Atahualpa to, roughly, modern day Playa Ramierz, and from Barrio Castelar to Victoria. In 1888, the developed portions of the city were limited to those areas enclosed by the L-shaped Boulevard General Artigas, although this map does include some of the surrounding communities and farmlands. The plan is highly detailed, with each block numbered and important locations identified throughout the city.

At the center of town two streets are highlighted in red, Boulevard del Norte and Boulevard del Sud. These great European style boulevards, in the spirit of the Champs-Élysées, were proposed by the well-respected French architect Norbert Maillart. Around this time, gallophilia was sweeping through Latin America and similar urban renovation projects were underway in Mexico City, Buenos Ayres, and elsewhere. When Maillart proposed the boulevard restructuring, Montevideo was in the midst of an economic boom and, primarily due to British land speculation, had ample resources for civic works. In a twist that seems decidedly modern, the 1890 collapse of the London based Baring Brothers investment firm led to a global economic meltdown. Uruguay, and in particular Montevideo, was particularly hard hit. All plans for civic development were shelved. The Boulevard del Norte and Boulevard del Sud never materialized.

This map was published by Juame Petit, a wealthy Spanish entrepreneur. The presence of Maillart's proposed European-style boulevards as the highlight of this map makes it an extremely ephemeral piece. Today this map is extremely rare with the only other known example held in the Centre Excursionista de Catalunya.

Condition

Very good. Dissected and mounted on linen in 18 panels. Original linen in good condition. Slight transference.

References

Centre Excursionista de Catalunya, RC160.