1783 Janvier Map of Western Russia
RussiaWest-janvier-1783$300.00
Title
Russie D'Europe avec la partie la plus peuplee de celle D'Asie.
1783 (undated) 13 x 18 in (33.02 x 45.72 cm) 1 : 7763733
1783 (undated) 13 x 18 in (33.02 x 45.72 cm) 1 : 7763733
Description
A beautiful 1783 example of Jean Janvier's curious decorative map of Western Russia. The map covers from Poland and the Baltic Sea eastward as far as Ilimskoy, Siberia, and extends southwards to the Black Sea and north as far as Nouvelle Zembla and the Arctic. Ostensibly Janvier's map focuses on the most inhabited portions of the Russian empire in europe and Asia. If offers excellent detail throughout showing mountains, rivers, forests, national boundaries, regional boundaries, forts, and cities.
Russia at this time was dominated by Catherine II, the Great. Catherine was born a German princess but inherited the Tsardom after murdering her husband, Peter III. Catherine was an ambitious ruler who nonetheless patronized the arts, science and learning. She contributed to the resurgence of the Russian nobility that began after the death of Peter the Great. Catherine promulgated Charter to the Gentry reaffirming rights and freedoms of the Russian nobility, and abolishing mandatory state service. She expand Russian rule into Poland and was instrumental in two of Poland's three major partitions. She was less well loved by Russia's countless serfs, who she reduced practically to the level of chattel slaves and whose revolt she crushed in 1773. This particularly harsh treatment of the peasant class eventually lead to widespread discontent that would eventually culminate, long after Catherine's death, in the bloody Bolshevik Revolution.
A large baroque title appears in the upper right quadrant. Drawn by Jan Janvier around 1883 for issue as plate no. 22 in Jean Lattre's 1783 final issue of the Atlas Moderne.
Russia at this time was dominated by Catherine II, the Great. Catherine was born a German princess but inherited the Tsardom after murdering her husband, Peter III. Catherine was an ambitious ruler who nonetheless patronized the arts, science and learning. She contributed to the resurgence of the Russian nobility that began after the death of Peter the Great. Catherine promulgated Charter to the Gentry reaffirming rights and freedoms of the Russian nobility, and abolishing mandatory state service. She expand Russian rule into Poland and was instrumental in two of Poland's three major partitions. She was less well loved by Russia's countless serfs, who she reduced practically to the level of chattel slaves and whose revolt she crushed in 1773. This particularly harsh treatment of the peasant class eventually lead to widespread discontent that would eventually culminate, long after Catherine's death, in the bloody Bolshevik Revolution.
A large baroque title appears in the upper right quadrant. Drawn by Jan Janvier around 1883 for issue as plate no. 22 in Jean Lattre's 1783 final issue of the Atlas Moderne.
CartographerS
Jean Denis Janvier (fl. 1746 - 1776), sometime also known as 'Robert', was a Paris based cartographer active in the mid to late 18th century. Janvier signed his maps Signor Janvier. By the late 18th century, Janvier was awarded the title of 'Geographe Avec Privilege du Roi' and this designation appears on many of his later maps. Janvier worked with many of the most prominent French, English and Italian map publishers of his day, including Longchamps, Faden, Lattre, Bonne, Santini, Zannoni, Delamarche, and Desnos. More by this mapmaker...
Jean Lattré (170x - 178x) was a Paris based bookseller, engraver, globe maker, calligrapher, and map publisher active in the mid to late 18th century. Lattré published a large corpus of maps, globes, and atlases in conjunction with a number of other important French cartographic figures, including Janvier, Zannoni, Bonne and Delamarche. He is also known to have worked with other European cartographers such as William Faden of London and the Italian cartographer Santini. Map piracy and copyright violations were common in 18th century France. Paris court records indicate that Lattré brought charges against several other period map publishers, including fellow Frenchman Desnos and the Italian map engraver Zannoni, both of whom he accused of copying his work. Lattré likes trained his wife Madame Lattré (né Vérard), as an engraver, as a late 18th century trade card promotes the world of 'Lattré et son Epouse.' Lattré's offices and bookshop were located at 20 rue St. Jaques, Paris, France. Later in life he relocated to Bordeaux. Learn More...
Source
Lattre, Jean, Atlas Moderne ou Collection de Cartes sur Toutes les Parties du Globe Terrestre, c. 1783.
Condition
Very good condition. Minor centerfold toning. Blank on verso. Platemark visible.
References
Phillips (Atlases) 664. National Maritime Museum, 215.