Chile from Peru to Cape Horn Enlightenment Map by Rigobert Bonne, 1780s

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This finely engraved late-18th-century map depicts Chile from southern Peru to Cape Horn, titled Carte du Chili, depuis le Sud … Read more This finely engraved late-18th-century map depicts Chile from southern Peru to Cape Horn, titled Carte du Chili, depuis le Sud du Pérou jusqu’au Cap Horn, avec partie des régions qui en sont à l’Est, engraved circa 1780 by Rigobert Bonne, one of the most important figures of Enlightenment-era French cartography. The map presents a sweeping vertical view of the Pacific coast of South America, extending from Peru through Chile and Patagonia to Tierra del Fuego and Cape Horn, while also showing large portions of the Argentine interior east of the Andes. Bonne served as Ingénieur-Hydrographe de la Marine and chief cartographer at the Dépôt de la Marine in Paris, where he succeeded Jacques-Nicolas Bellin. His work marked a decisive shift toward scientific, measurement-based cartography, emphasizing clarity, standardized projection, and the synthesis of contemporary geographic intelligence. This map exemplifies his mature style, combining dense geographical information with exceptional legibility and restraint. The geography is rendered with notable precision. The Andes Mountains form a dominant north–south spine, clearly separating Chile from the provinces east of the cordillera, including Tucumán, Buenos Aires, and the Pampas. Coastal features along the Pacific are crisply engraved, while inland rivers, Indigenous regions, and colonial settlements reflect late-18th-century European understanding of southern South America. The southern reaches depict Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego, the Strait of Magellan, and Cape Horn, highlighting the strategic and navigational importance of this region. Visually commanding yet restrained, the map’s tall vertical format, fine line engraving, and balanced density give it strong architectural presence when framed. It works exceptionally well as a scholarly object for collectors of South American and Pacific exploration cartography and as a refined decorative piece in a library, study, or contemporary interior. Condition report: Good antique condition. Light age toning and minor handling wear consistent with 18th-century copperplate engraving. Original centerfold as issued. Clean impression with strong legibility; margins ample for framing. See less