Cite Cavaliere (La)

Hermes Histoires de Carres > Autumn - Winter 2019

Inspired by a 17th-century engraving depicting a bird's-eye view of Paris, Octave Marsal reinvents the French capital's streetscape. The original design was the work of Matthaus Merian the Elder, a Swiss-German copperplate engraver and publisher noted for his numerous editions of maps. With artistic license, Marsal maps the course of the Seine, the city walls and monuments of a dreamlike Paris, creating a Cite cavaliere with the silhouette of a horse at its heart. The landmarks and the coat of arms of this imaginary city are clear to see, but a few secrets remain to be discovered... Can you spot the Faubourg store, the Colossus of Rhodes, a saddle, and a reference to the iconic Brides de gala?