Bacler d'Albe, chi era costui?
by Ball - 24/07/02
Amici grognards,
sono cose che capitano: si conosce la composizione di un rgt, che tipo di fucile era utilizzato od altre informazioni "particolari", per poi non conoscere questo personaggio. Io sono stato fortunello perché ho visto un amostra dedicata a lui, quindi, mon ami Lorenzo, non ti angustiare se non lo conosci.. però è abbastanza grave! ;)
Lo sconosciuto d'Albe, come da biografia seguente, è invece un uomo molto noto per la particolarità e la qualità del suo lavoro: è un insigne geografo e topografo. E proprio grazie alla meticolosità con cui preparava le sue mappe che Napoleone lo volle con sè nella campagna d'Italia e, al seguito del generale, lo stesso d'Albe fece una carriera luminosissima fino a divenire il capo dell'Ufficio Topografico Imperiale.
Le sue mappe dell'epoca sono ancora considerate dei capolavori. Il sottoscritto ha avuto l'occasione di vederne una, raffigurativa della mia provincia; inoltre si prese la briga di salire il M. Pizzocco, a pochi km da casa mia e di avere disegnato la val Belluna da quella prospettiva. Ricordiamo inoltre che sempre lo sconosciuto d'Albe ci ha lasciato decine e decine di litografie e quadri raffiguranti le imprese del suo generale; senza di esse ne avremmo saputo molto meno.
Breve biografia di Bacler d'Albe, Louis-Albert-Ghislain
b. 21 October 1761, Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise
d. 12 September 1824, Sèvres
Son of a former quartermaster of the regiment of Toul who became a director of the post at Amiens. After working for his father, he set out to Italy to study art, but stopped in Savoy, where he remained for seven years. He carried out the survey of the area, developing skills both as a painter and geographer. He joined the army as a volunteer on 1 May 1793, and served with the Army of the Alps. He was promoted captain of artillery, and was wounded at both the sieges of Lyon and Toulon. He then served with the Army of Italy. He was made captain of the 56th Line on 20 March 1794, then became assistant to the adjutant-majors of the artillery park. With Bonaparte's arrival, he was employed as a topographical officer and draughtsman, making maps of the coast from Nice to Savona. He was made chef de bataillon and head of the Topographical Bureau of the army. On 23 September 1804, he became head of the Emperor's topographical office, and proceeded to follow Napoleon through all his campaigns. He was promoted colonel on 21 June 1807, and adjutant-commandant on 5 July 1807. In 1808 he was made chevalier of the Empire, and created baron on 9 December 1809. In 1813 he was promoted general of brigade and made an officer of the Legion of Honour. His health then prevented him from active campaigning, and at the beginning of 1814 he went to Paris to take over the direction of the War Depot. During the Hundred Days he served Napoleon again, and was put on the retired list at the second restoration. Being in a dire financial position, he began publishing his work and painting porcelain for the factories in Sèvres.
Il rapporto tra d'Albe e Napoleone:
the adjoining topographical study was a work room, with great tables and pigeon holes in which the maps were arranged in perfect order. It was provided with an unusually large number of lamps so that maps could be easily located and examined at night. The Chief of the topographical office was Bacler d'Albe, upon whose services the emperor would call at all hours of the day and night. D'Albe was the indispensable aide, an artist of considerable ability and a topographical genius who could glance at the symbols on a map and unerringly sketch an accurate eye-level view of any ground on which the Emperor was considering giving battle. The pins on his maps plotted the movement of troops all over Europe, and were updated whenever fresh dispatches came in. When campaigns were imminent, the two men could be could be found late at the night crawling about on all fours on the giant table, plotting distances of march and occasionally bumping heads or hindquarters as they worked.
Fonti:
Balteau, J. and others. Dictionnaire de biographie française, 1933, vol IV, p. 1103;
Michaud. Biographie universelle ancienne et moderne, 1843-?, vol. 2, pp. 573-4.
Per i collezionisti:
Carte générale des royaumes de Naples, Sicile et Sardaigne: 25 carte geografiche su 21 fogli ripiegati che montati formano una grande carta di circa 310 x 235 cm. e una carta più piccola per spiegare il montaggio. Le carte sono intelate e ripiegate all'origine in due astucci dell'epoca in tutto marocchino verde.
Questa è la celebre grande carta dell'Italia meridionale, eseguita sotto la direzione del generale Bacler D'Albe, capo dell'ufficio topografico di Bonaparte, che operava durante la campagna d'Italia, col compito di approntare carte e piante per l'esercito, Cremonini 81. Berthaut, Ingénieurs Géographes militaires, 1624-183. Prezzo Euro 4.800
Spero di aver fatto cosa gradita.
salùs
Ball
sono cose che capitano: si conosce la composizione di un rgt, che tipo di fucile era utilizzato od altre informazioni "particolari", per poi non conoscere questo personaggio. Io sono stato fortunello perché ho visto un amostra dedicata a lui, quindi, mon ami Lorenzo, non ti angustiare se non lo conosci.. però è abbastanza grave! ;)
Lo sconosciuto d'Albe, come da biografia seguente, è invece un uomo molto noto per la particolarità e la qualità del suo lavoro: è un insigne geografo e topografo. E proprio grazie alla meticolosità con cui preparava le sue mappe che Napoleone lo volle con sè nella campagna d'Italia e, al seguito del generale, lo stesso d'Albe fece una carriera luminosissima fino a divenire il capo dell'Ufficio Topografico Imperiale.
Le sue mappe dell'epoca sono ancora considerate dei capolavori. Il sottoscritto ha avuto l'occasione di vederne una, raffigurativa della mia provincia; inoltre si prese la briga di salire il M. Pizzocco, a pochi km da casa mia e di avere disegnato la val Belluna da quella prospettiva. Ricordiamo inoltre che sempre lo sconosciuto d'Albe ci ha lasciato decine e decine di litografie e quadri raffiguranti le imprese del suo generale; senza di esse ne avremmo saputo molto meno.
Breve biografia di Bacler d'Albe, Louis-Albert-Ghislain
b. 21 October 1761, Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise
d. 12 September 1824, Sèvres
Son of a former quartermaster of the regiment of Toul who became a director of the post at Amiens. After working for his father, he set out to Italy to study art, but stopped in Savoy, where he remained for seven years. He carried out the survey of the area, developing skills both as a painter and geographer. He joined the army as a volunteer on 1 May 1793, and served with the Army of the Alps. He was promoted captain of artillery, and was wounded at both the sieges of Lyon and Toulon. He then served with the Army of Italy. He was made captain of the 56th Line on 20 March 1794, then became assistant to the adjutant-majors of the artillery park. With Bonaparte's arrival, he was employed as a topographical officer and draughtsman, making maps of the coast from Nice to Savona. He was made chef de bataillon and head of the Topographical Bureau of the army. On 23 September 1804, he became head of the Emperor's topographical office, and proceeded to follow Napoleon through all his campaigns. He was promoted colonel on 21 June 1807, and adjutant-commandant on 5 July 1807. In 1808 he was made chevalier of the Empire, and created baron on 9 December 1809. In 1813 he was promoted general of brigade and made an officer of the Legion of Honour. His health then prevented him from active campaigning, and at the beginning of 1814 he went to Paris to take over the direction of the War Depot. During the Hundred Days he served Napoleon again, and was put on the retired list at the second restoration. Being in a dire financial position, he began publishing his work and painting porcelain for the factories in Sèvres.
Il rapporto tra d'Albe e Napoleone:
the adjoining topographical study was a work room, with great tables and pigeon holes in which the maps were arranged in perfect order. It was provided with an unusually large number of lamps so that maps could be easily located and examined at night. The Chief of the topographical office was Bacler d'Albe, upon whose services the emperor would call at all hours of the day and night. D'Albe was the indispensable aide, an artist of considerable ability and a topographical genius who could glance at the symbols on a map and unerringly sketch an accurate eye-level view of any ground on which the Emperor was considering giving battle. The pins on his maps plotted the movement of troops all over Europe, and were updated whenever fresh dispatches came in. When campaigns were imminent, the two men could be could be found late at the night crawling about on all fours on the giant table, plotting distances of march and occasionally bumping heads or hindquarters as they worked.
Fonti:
Balteau, J. and others. Dictionnaire de biographie française, 1933, vol IV, p. 1103;
Michaud. Biographie universelle ancienne et moderne, 1843-?, vol. 2, pp. 573-4.
Per i collezionisti:
Carte générale des royaumes de Naples, Sicile et Sardaigne: 25 carte geografiche su 21 fogli ripiegati che montati formano una grande carta di circa 310 x 235 cm. e una carta più piccola per spiegare il montaggio. Le carte sono intelate e ripiegate all'origine in due astucci dell'epoca in tutto marocchino verde.
Questa è la celebre grande carta dell'Italia meridionale, eseguita sotto la direzione del generale Bacler D'Albe, capo dell'ufficio topografico di Bonaparte, che operava durante la campagna d'Italia, col compito di approntare carte e piante per l'esercito, Cremonini 81. Berthaut, Ingénieurs Géographes militaires, 1624-183. Prezzo Euro 4.800
Spero di aver fatto cosa gradita.
salùs
Ball