MMA007
Mapmaker
1675
Guillaume Delisle, also spelled Guillaume de l'Isle, or Guillelmo Delille (1675-1726) was a French cartographer. At 27, Delisle was admitted into the French Académie Royale des Sciences, an institution financed by the French state. After that date, he signed his maps with the title of "Géographe de l’Académie". Five years later, he moved to the Quai de l’Horloge where his business prospered. Delisle's progress culminated in 1718 when he received the title of Premier Géographe du Roi.
Like many cartographers of his day, Delisle did not travel with the explorers. He drew maps mostly in his office, relying on a variety of data. The quality of his maps depended on a solid network to provide him first-hand information. Given his family's and his own reputation, Delisle had access to fairly recent accounts of travellers who were returning from the New World, which gave him an advantage over his competitors. Being a member of the Académie, he also kept current with recent discoveries, especially in astronomy and measurement. When he could not confirm the accuracy of a source, he would indicate it clearly on his maps.
After Guillaume Delisle's death in 1726, the Delisle workshop was bequeathed to Philippe Buache. Dutch cartographer Elwe reissued maps by Delisle in the late 18th century.
Item Number: MMA007