Engberg-Pedersen (2017) Conley 9 Bend of the Baroque. Toward a Literary Hydrography in France

Key Themes in Baroque Literature and Cartography

  • Interconnection of Rivers and Literary Culture:

    • Rivers serve as fundamental elements in Baroque visual culture, symbolizing the flow of commerce and creativity.

  • Historical Context:

    • The emergence of printed maps coincides with the development of a Baroque sensibility in literature, emphasizing the relationship between mapping and writing.

  • Literary Iterations:

    1. Oronce Fine's Topographic Map (1549): Highlights the significance of rivers in cartography and geography.
    2. Pierre de Ronsard's Fluvial Poem (1555): Depicts the beauty of the Touraine, weaving classical forms with poetic landscapes.
    3. Amadis de Gaule (1525-1526): Integrates prose and visual cartography through river descriptions.
    4. Agrippa d'Aubigné's Tragiques (1577-1616): Chronicles the impact of the Wars of Religion, using rivers as metaphors for violence and chaos.
    5. Montaigne's Essais (1580-1595): Reflects on personal experiences and the nature of rivers, representing philosophical and personal flux.
    6. Nicolas Sanson's Map (1641): Depicts rivers with literary implications, reinforcing the connection between cartography and literature.

  • Evolving Hydrographic Imagery:

    • The interplay of cartographic and literary expressions showcases a Baroque blending of aesthetic and scientific perspectives, engaging themes of love, conflict, and nature.

  • Conclusion and Legacy:

    • The relationship between rivers in literature and cartography exemplifies a transformative Baroque narrative, revealing how maps and prose influence and inspire each other in the cultural imagination.