To this end, relief maps were used in the 17th and 18th centuries. These maps show cities and their surrounding countryside. Their accuracy is incredible, given that aerial views did not exist at the time. They were very useful for making military decisions without leaving the capital! At the time, conquering a city required laying siege to it, so knowledge of the terrain and its fortifications was essential.
But how are such models made? With a scale of 1:600, some are over 7 meters long! It's quite simple: they are... furniture. Each one fits on several tables that slot together like a giant jigsaw puzzle.
The ground is represented by sand sprayed onto glue. The fields are suggested with colored silk, and the trees are made of fabric. Finally, each wooden house is covered with paper resembling bricks and roofs. It's truly painstaking work. The technical feat is such that you can recognize buildings that still exist today!
All these models, the pride of the Palais des Beaux-Arts, are gathered together on an entire floor. Louis XIV, the megalomaniac who loved to have all the cities he owned before his eyes, would undoubtedly have appreciated this presentation.
Written by Artips
