Hubert Gautier

HUBERT GAUTIER (Nîmes, 1660-1737).
French engraving-map from the end of the 17th century.
"Le Diocese de l'Eveche de Nismes" .
Illuminated engraving.
Texts in French.
Dirt, damp stains, cracks, wrinkles and some tears.
Measurements: 49 x 68 cm .
Map representing the surroundings of Nîmes, by the architect Hubert Gautier, named in 1689 engineer of the province of Languedoc, and dedicated to Esprit Fléchier, authorizing the map and bishop of Nîmes. It is adorned with a title cartouche decorated with three angels bearing the coat of arms of the dedicatee, a plan of the city carried by angels and decorated with the coat of arms of the city and two medals, a perspective elevation of the amphitheatre, a façade of the Pont du Gard, a façade and plan of the Maison Carrée, and profiles of the Temple of Diana. Fort Peccais and the main towns (Nîmes, Beaucaire, Tarascon, Sommières and Sauve). Published in Paris by Jean-Baptiste Nolin .
Hubert Gautier initially studied Humanities and Philosophy in his hometown, then went to Orange to study Medicine, where he obtained his Doctorate. Attracted by science and mathematics, he was later appointed Engineer to the King, working on important works such as the Vauban fort in Nîmes (until 1688) and obtaining a post as an engineer in Languedoc in 1689, where he converted to Catholicism. He also worked on the Coursan bridge and the Canal du Midi. Shortly afterwards he published his great work on road engineering: the Traité de la Construction des Chemins (1693). In this work, Gautier wrote a technical text containing sketches and drawings of sections, elevations and perspectives. Hubert Gautier was one of the first inspectors of the Corps des Ponts et Causeways created in France in 1716.
Jean-Baptiste Nolin (1657?-1708) was a French cartographer and engraver. Son of the Parisian engraver Jean Nolin. He was a pupil of the Royal engraver, Nicolas de Poilly. In 1688, Jean-Baptiste Nolin specialised in geography; he became geographer to the Duke of Orleans (1694), then geographer to the king (1701).