Ayrouard, Jacques
1746

Antique plan of the Bay of Taranto, Italy

Plan du Port et de la Baye de Tarante

DESCRIPTION: Distinctive antique engraved French port plan / chart ca. 1746 for the bay and walled village of Taranto, Italy a coastal city in Apulia. Today, Taranto is the capital of the Province of Taranto and is an important commercial port as well as the main Italian naval base and claims a population of over 200,000 persons.

The antique chart is by Jacques Ayrouard (Marseilles ca. 1732- 1746) from a scarce atlas titled: "Recueil de Plusiers Plans des Ports et Rades et de Quelque Cartes Particulieres de la Mer Mediterranee". Plate 37.

Ayrouard identifies a few key landmarks including several offshore: La Pizolle, Isle Pisco, Isle de St. George, and two channels into the bay. On land only a few landmarks are noted including guard towers, the port; the village of Taranto ("Tarante") connected to the mainland by two bridges; and the Pointe de Victo where today is found the area of San Vito.

In the attribution Ayrouard is described as "Pilot Real" or pilot of la Reale, the flagship of the French galley corps with a total complement of about 550 including 360 oarsmen and 100 soldiers. In their Dictionnaire de la Marine from 1702 Covens and Mortier explain:

"(Réale) is the name of the main galley of an independent kingdom, not of a tributary kingdom annexed to a greater one. The Réale, in France, is reserved for the general of the galleys and flies the royal ensign which distinguishes it from the others. This ensign is square in shape and red in colour, with golden fleurs-de-lys." (Internet)

Ayrouard was likely one of the last galley pilots as the French galley corps was disbanded in 1748 and incorporated into the regular French sailing navy.

CREATOR: Ayrouard, Jacques

PUBLICATION DATE: 1746

GEOGRAPHIC AREA: Italy

BODY OF WATER: Mediterranean Sea

CONDITION: Good. On strong laid paper with ample margins. Minor age-toning and some offsetting and light smudging at the lower centerfold.

COLORING: None

ENGRAVER: Louis Corne

SIZE: 17 " x 11 "

ITEM PHYSICAL LOCATION: 8

PRICE: $375

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