Rigobert Bonne 1727-1795
Rigobert Bonne (1727 – 1795) was one of the most important cartographers of the late 18th century. Initially, Bonne was involved in the production of charts for the Atlas Maritime, although his most famous maps were done for his Atlas Moderne in 1772. He also prepared a number of maps for Raynal’s Atlas de Toutes les Parties Connue du Globe Terrestre, published in 1780, and two atlases, the Atlas de Geographie (1785) and Atlas Encydopeadique (1787), published in conjunction with Nicholas Desmaret.
In 1773 he succeeded Jacques Bellin as Royal Cartographer to France in the French Hydrographical Office at the Dépôt de la Marine. Working in his official capacity, Bonne compiled some of the most detailed and accurate maps of the period. Bonne’s work represents an important step in the evolution of the cartographic ideology away from the decorative work of the 17th and early 18th century towards a more detail oriented and practical aesthetic.
With regard to the rendering of terrain, Bonne maps bear many stylistic similarities to those of his predecessor, Bellin. Bonne maps, however, generally abandon common 18th century decorative features such as hand coloring, elaborate decorative cartouches, and compass roses. The work of Bonne mostly focuses on coastal regions and is highly regarded for its detail, historical importance, and overall aesthetic appeal.