Turgot Plan - Plate n° 10 - Hall and Town Hall area

In 1734, Turgot approached Louis de Bretez to lift and draw a map of the capital city and its suburbs, a work he did between 1734 and 1736. Bretez, a member of the Academy of Painting and Sculpture and professor of perspective, opted for the system of "perspective à la cavalière, sans point de vue, ni...

In 1734, Turgot approached Louis de Bretez to lift and draw a map of the capital city and its suburbs, a work he did between 1734 and 1736. Bretez, a member of the Academy of Painting and Sculpture and professor of perspective, opted for the system of "perspective à la cavalière, sans point de vue, ni point de distance". High precision was part of the contract. A requisition deed had been provided for, authorizing Bretez to enter hotels and houses. The artist even wanted to represent the trees.
The particularity of this plan is that it reconciles a complete and accurate representation of the city and its suburbs with a beautifully designed drawing. The plan is applauded both for its beauty and precision, and is all the more precious today because it delivers a beautiful and faithful representation of Paris in the 18th century, long before the transformations that completely renewed the capital.

When the drawing of the plan was completed, Claude Lucas, engraver of the Academy of Sciences was commissioned to engrave the 21 plates of the so-called "Turgot" plan with etching and chisel. The plan did not appear until 1739, a first edition of the 20 plates at 2600 copies was made by the city's usual printer. The prints were bound in volumes that were offered to the members of the academy, the municipality and the king, but also to the French representations abroad: from Constantinople to China.