Plan de la Conduite de Eaues des Fontaines Publiques

An interesting plan of Paris showing infrastructure for the distribution of water.

Strongly reminiscent of modern urban transit maps, this copperplate engraving captures the network of the water lines that supplied public fountains throughout Paris in the early 18 century. The city, which often struggled to provide clean water for its residents, used a combined system of aqueducts, reservoirs, and pumps (the largest of which can be seen in the center of the image) to supply water to the miles of pipes and dozens of fountains.

Includes a lovely decorative cartouche featuring an allegorical figure, construction tools and a spout typical of contemporary fountains. Issued in Nicholas de Fer’s Atlas Curieux in 1716 and includes the accompanying description in French.