An Analysis of Drawing Techniques used on European Topographic Maps in the Eighteenth Century

ABSTRACT

This paper presents a comparative analysis of the drawing techniques (i.e. tools, materials and procedures) used in eighteenth-century manuscript topographic maps of European countries. The application of analytical methods from the field of art history to analyse the graphical means of expression in a sample of 11 maps, which are both unique and characteristic of eighteenth-century cartography, provides a new perspective for examining the relationship between drawing techniques and aesthetic responses to topographic subjects. The study concludes that drawing techniques are an important aspect in the evolution of the professional and aesthetic visualization of European topography.

KEYWORDS:

• Topographic map
• drawing techniques
• graphical means of expression
• history of cartography
• history of art
• eighteenth-century Europe

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on the contributor

Beata Medyńska-Gulij is a Professor of Earth Sciences at the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań (Poland). She studied Geography, specializing in Cartography; she defended her doctoral dissertation about seventeenth-century maps, and the habilitation degree about pragmatics in cartographic design. She is the Head of the Department of Cartography and Geomatics, which was created according to her scientific and didactic vision. Her main areas of research are visualization of topographic and urban space, cartographic design, multimedia cartography, and history of cartography.

Bibliographical notes of maps (sheets)

Cartes de Ferraris (1771–1777), Brussels, Koninklijke Bibliotheek; Carte de Cabinet des Pays-Bas autrichiens; Sheet: 9–Dixmude.

Josephinische Landesaufnahme (1763–1785), Vienna, Österreichisches Staatsarchiv-Kriegsarchiv Wien, Sheet: BIXa: 115-Stainz Widon.

Kriegskarte von Schlesien (1747–1753), Berlin, Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin – Preußischer Kulturbesitz, Sheet: SBB_IIIC_Kart. N 15060-Band – 5–18. vol: 5, folio: 18.

Kurhannoversche Landesaufnahme (1764–1786), Berlin, Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin – Preußischer Kulturbesitz, SBB_IIIC_Kart_N 25564–59. Sheet: 59.

Military Survey of Scotland (Highlands: 1747–1752), London, British Library: K.Top: Maps.CC.5a.441/16–3f, Sheet/strip: 16.

Minutes des cartes des Naudin (1704–1746), Paris, Institut Géographique National, LES NAUDIN: 48, Epinal.

Nova et accurata Siciliae Regionum, Schmettausche Karte von Sizilien (1720–172, 1722), Vienna, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek; Schmettau: Sizilien, ÖNB/KAR: AB141, E19.585-D: 12.

Ordnance Survey Drawings (1789–1799), London, British Library; Sheet: Merston-Kent-OSD-112–27B–1797.

Valle di Susa: CARTA TOPOGRAFICA in misura, delle Valli di Cezana, e Bardoneche … , (1764), Turin, Archivio di Stato; Cartella 7, Susa 7.

Schmettausches Kartenwerk (1767–1787), Berlin, Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin – Preußischer Kulturbesitz, SBB_IIIC_Kart_L 5420–14. Sheet: 14.

Situations Cart over Smålene (1795–1797), Copenhagen, Det Kongelige Bibliotek; KBK: III2.127–0–1795–8, Sheet 8.

ORCID

Beata Medyńska-Gulij http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6969-4088

Tadeusz J. Żuchowski http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3143-4747

Notes

1 The main area of the Habsburg monarchy, i.e. the territories lying on the Danube. The term ‘Habsburg Monarchy’ also covers territories belonging to the Habsburgs in the Netherlands.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by National Science Centre in Poland: [Grant Number DEC-2013/09/B/HS2/01182].