Ever wonder who Turgot was? Here on Rue Turgot, we’re walking a street named for a man who left an indelible mark on Paris.
Rue Turgot is located on the slopes of Montmartre. This street in the 9th arrondissement is a tribute to Michel-Étienne Turgot. He wasn’t a king or a general but a provost.
Turgot served as provost of the merchants of Paris. He was in office from 1729 to 1740. Think of him as a modern-day mayor. He had a vision to showcase Paris.
In 1734, Turgot commissioned a detailed map of Paris. He wanted to promote the city’s beauty to Parisians and visitors. He hired Louis Bretez. Bretez was a member of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture. Turgot requested a very faithful and accurate reproduction.
Bretez meticulously worked on the project from 1734 to 1736. He was granted access to mansions, houses, and gardens. He took measurements and drew pictures.
The Turgot map was published in 1739. Claude Lucas, engraver to the Royal Academy of Sciences, engraved the twenty-one individual sheets. Bound volumes were presented to King Louis XV. Copies were also given to members of the Academy and the municipality. Additional copies served as representations of France to foreigners.
Turgot’s map bucked the trend of technical geometric plans. It adopted the technique of perspective cavalière. Buildings were represented in equal size. This was regardless of the distance between them.
More than 2500 copies of the plan were published. From 1740, the plan was distributed throughout the Kingdom of France and abroad. It was made available to the Academies of Sciences and Painting. It was available in public places and in almost all the courts of Europe, even Constantinople and China.
The original engraved brass plates are kept at the Louvre. They are still used for printing. Similar techniques to those used in the 18th century are employed.
Rue Turgot is a reminder of a man who wanted to capture the essence of Paris. The street runs on a slope. It is located on the foothills of Montmartre. The street starts at 53, Rue Marguerite-de-Rochechouart. It ends at 15, Avenue Trudaine.
Take a moment to appreciate this street. It is named after a visionary. Turgot’s map is still admired today. His plan is recognized as one of the most beautiful ever made of Paris.