Abbot Jean Baptiste Louis Clouet’s Empire du Mogol, dated 1787, is a masterwork of Enlightenment cartography that marries historical insight with decorative elegance. As Royal Geographer to the Academy of Sciences in Rouen and author of the acclaimed Geographie Moderne, Clouet renders the Mughal realm with an ornate title cartouche and a palette of vibrant, color-coded regions that immediately command attention. The map encompasses the Indian subcontinent—today’s India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan—at a pivotal moment, when South Asia was both a crucible of power and a fulcrum of global trade. Meticulous French annotations, clear boundary lines, and a lattice of travel and trade paths invite the viewer into a richly layered portrait of an empire whose influence radiated far beyond its frontiers.

Geography is the map’s narrative spine. The Ganges and Indus Rivers unfurl like twin arteries, anchoring the agricultural and commercial heartlands from Bengal’s fertile delta to the plains of Punjab and Sindh. Mountain chains, including the Himalayan ramparts framing Kashmir and the northern marches, are crisply modeled, while carefully drawn coastlines along the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal emphasize maritime gateways. Notable cities are elegantly symbolized: Delhi and Agra in the imperial core; Lahore and Multan on the overland corridors; Calcutta, Dacca, and Chittagong in the east; Bombay, Surat, and Madras on the coasts; and Hyderabad, Benares, Patna, Jaipur, Kanpur, and others forming a constellation of political and mercantile centers.

Clouet’s color demarcations evoke the Mughal subahs and principal territories, giving form to a political landscape in flux. In 1787, the empire’s authority was waning even as its administrative contours still shaped regional identities—from Kashmir and Sindh to the vast province of Bengal. The map captures this tension: Delhi remains the emblematic seat, yet Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras signal the rising power of European companies, while Hyderabad and Jaipur reflect resilient regional polities. By organizing space through lucid boundaries and captions, Clouet offers a coherent vision of imperial geography at a time of contestation, preserving for European audiences the schema of Mughal governance amid shifting alliances, taxation systems, and competing sovereignties.

Equally compelling are the threads of commerce and movement stitched across the sheet. Indicated trade routes and travel paths shadow the famed Grand Trunk corridor linking Lahore, Delhi, Benares, Patna, and onward to the Bengal ports, while caravan lines through Multan and Sindh suggest overland exchanges with Central Asia. Maritime circuits tie Surat and Bombay to the Arabian Sea and Calcutta, Dacca, and Chittagong to the Bay of Bengal, echoing flows of textiles, fine muslins, indigo, saltpeter, and bullion. The presence of neighboring regions—Tibet and Tartary—situates the subcontinent within a wider Eurasian web, underscoring how Mughal markets and roads channeled ideas, people, and commodities across formidable frontiers.

As art, the map is quintessentially late 18th-century French: a sumptuous cartouche, refined color washes, and crisply engraved typography serve an unmistakably scholarly purpose. Clouet’s design sense—shaped by the decorative tradition of Jean-Baptiste Nolin—never obscures function; symbols for cities and fortresses, careful toponyms, and erudite notes create a document at once beautiful and didactic. For historians, it records contemporary European understandings of South Asia’s political anatomy and commercial lifelines; for collectors, it offers a luminous window onto an empire that fascinated the Enlightenment. Empire du Mogol stands as both a historical witness and a conversation piece, where science, artistry, and global history converge.

Places on this map

• Delhi
• Agra
• Lahore
• Calcutta (Kolkata)
• Mumbai (Bombay)
• Hyderabad
• Benares (Varanasi)
• Surat
• Madras (Chennai)
• Dacca (Dhaka)
• Patna
• Chittagong
• Jaipur
• Multan
• Kashmir
• Sindh
• Bengal
• Kanpur
• Ganges River
• Indus River

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Ornate cartouche with the title "Empire du Mogol"
• Color-coded regions representing different territories and provinces
• Geographical features such as rivers, mountains, and coastlines
• Notable cities marked with specific symbols
• Boundaries of the Mughal Empire as delineated by colored lines
• Indications of trade routes and travel paths
• The inclusion of neighboring regions, like Tibet and Tartary
• Text annotations detailing areas and providing historical context

Historical and design context

• Name of the map: Empire du Mogol
• Mapmaker: Abbot Jean Baptiste Louis Clouet (c. 1730–1790), Royal Geographer for the Academy of Sciences in Rouen
• Date of creation: 1787
• Background: Notable for the multi-volume Geographie Moderne (1776–1793)
• Background: Specialized in decorative wall maps for homes in Paris and Spain; influenced by Jean-Baptiste Nolin
• Topics/Themes: Reflects the Mughal Empire’s geographic and cultural intricacies and its role as a key trade and power center
• Countries/Regions: Depicts the Indian subcontinent, including parts of modern India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan
• Design/Style: Ornate cartography and detailed topographical features typical of late 18th-century mapping
• Historical significance: Demonstrates Clouet’s artistic and cartographic talent and offers insight into mapping practices of the era within the Mughal context

Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.

This map looks great at every size, but I always recommend going for a larger size if you have space. That way you can easily make out all of the details.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

This map is wider than most maps, which would make it a perfect statement piece above a mantelpiece, sofa or desk.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.

For most orders, delivery time is about 3 working days. Personalised and customised products take longer, as I have to do the personalisation and send it to you for approval, which usually takes 1 or 2 days.

Please note that very large framed orders usually take longer to make and deliver. 

If you need your order to arrive by a certain date, please contact me before you order so that we can find the best way of making sure you get your order in time.

I print and frame maps and artwork in 23 countries around the world. This means your order will be made locally, which cuts down on delivery time and ensures that it won't be damaged during delivery. You'll never pay customs or import duty, and we'll put less CO2 into the air.

All of my maps and art prints are well packaged and sent in a rugged tube if unframed, or surrounded by foam if framed.

I try to send out all orders within 1 or 2 days of receiving your order, though some products (like face masks, mugs and tote bags) can take longer to make.

If you select Express Delivery at checkout your order we will prioritise your order and send it out by 1-day courier (Fedex, DHL, UPS, Parcelforce).

Next Day delivery is also available in some countries (US, UK, Singapore, UAE) but please try to order early in the day so that we can get it sent out on time.

Read my full delivery and local production guide

My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.

I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.

Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.

Most maps, art and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte (not shiny) cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced box wood frame, and then 'float' the piece within a wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing to get in the way.

All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.

Alternatively, I can also supply old maps and artwork on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map or artwork yourself, please read my size guide first.

My maps are extremely high quality reproductions of original maps.

I source original, rare maps from libraries, auction houses and private collections around the world, restore them at my London workshop, and then use specialist giclée inks and printers to create beautiful maps that look even better than the original.

My maps are printed on acid-free archival matte (not glossy) paper that feels very high quality and almost like card. In technical terms the paper weight/thickness is 10mil/200gsm. It's perfect for framing.

I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.

I can also make maps on canvas, cotton rag and other exotic materials.

Learn more about The Unique Maps Co.

Map personalisation

If you're looking for the perfect anniversary or housewarming gift, I can personalise your map to make it truly unique. For example, I can add a short message, or highlight an important location, or add your family's coat of arms.

The options are almost infinite. Please see my map personalisation page for some wonderful examples of what's possible.

To order a personalised map, select "personalise your map" before adding it to your basket.

Get in touch if you're looking for more complex customisations and personalisations.

Map ageing

I have been asked hundreds of times over the years by customers if they could buy a map that looks even older.

Well, now you can, by selecting Aged before you add a map to your basket.

All the product photos you see on this page show the map in its Original form. This is what the map looks like today.

If you select Aged, I will age your map by hand, using a special and unique process developed through years of studying old maps, talking to researchers to understand the chemistry of aging paper, and of course... lots of practice!

If you're unsure, stick to the Original colour of the map. If you want something a bit darker and older looking, go for Aged.

See some amazing examples of Aged maps.

Se non sei soddisfatto del tuo ordine per qualsiasi motivo, contattami per un rimborso senza problemi. Si prega di consultare la nostra politica di reso e rimborso per ulteriori informazioni.

Sono molto sicuro che ti piacerà la tua mappa restaurata o la stampa d'arte. Lo faccio dal 1984. Sono un venditore Etsy a 5 stelle. Ho venduto decine di migliaia di mappe e stampe d'arte e ho oltre 5.000 recensioni reali a 5 stelle.

Utilizzo un processo unico per restaurare mappe e opere d'arte che richiede molto tempo e lavoro. Trovare le mappe e le illustrazioni originali può richiedere mesi. Utilizzo tecnologia all'avanguardia e incredibilmente costosa per scannerizzare e restaurarle. Di conseguenza, garantisco che le mie mappe e stampe d'arte siano superiori alle altre - ecco perché posso offrire un rimborso senza problemi.

Quasi tutte le mie mappe e stampe d'arte sembrano fantastiche a grandi dimensioni (200 cm, 6,5 piedi+) e posso anche incorniciarle e consegnarle a te, tramite un corriere speciale per oggetti di grandi dimensioni. Contattami per discutere delle tue esigenze specifiche.