This huge panorama over 12 metres in length depicts the Royal Canal through the Languedoc-Roussillon region of southern France. Francois Garipuy (1711-82), was a lawyer and cartographer and member of the Societe des Sciences, in Toulouse, France. He organised the works to improve the navigability of the Garonne River. In 1768, Garipuy presented to the States Généraux 171 sheets, and in 1769, 399 manuscript charts detailing the extent of the Canal. Copies of the originals were made on a reduced scale and given to the Parisian engraver Nicolas Chalmandrier, who at various times worked for the famous Cesar Francois Cassini, was engaged in June 1771 to engrave them and produce 200 specimens of each. The first of these charts, the ‘General Chart of the Royal Canal of the Province of Languedoc’ was printed at the end of 1771. It was large enough at 520 x 1950 mm. but it was dwarfed by that to follow.

The second work was printed by J. B. Dutertre and engraved again by Nicolas Chalmandrier. There are four parts or series to the whole, each with their own ornate title cartouche. The first numbered to 3 sheets depicts the region from Toulouse to Renneville. The second in 5 sheets takes it from Renneville to Trebes. The third in 4 sheets depicts Trebes to Capestang. The fourth in 3 sheets continues to Etang de Thau on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea making a total of 15 sheets. In total it extends over 12 metres in length! The whole is framed in a lovely ornate border. It was produced at the expense of the Government of Languedoc. The project was the biggest construction work of the seventeenth century in France and connected the Garonne River and Atlantic Ocean with the Mediterranean Sea. It was built under Louis XIV from 1666 to 1681 and is still in use today. After the French Revolution it was renamed the Canal du Midi. This item is sold along with Antoine Francois Andreossy’s (1761-1828) ‘Histoire du canal du Midi, ou canal de Languedoc’, Paris, 1804. In two volumes, quarto, with engraved portrait and 27 maps, plans and folding table. Brunet I 276.