Terrestrial and Celestial Globes Volume I Part 20

have been fairly well outlined, and about the south pole is that great austral continent conspicuous on the maps of the period, but very generally outlined as the fancy of the map maker directed.

In the library of the University of Ghent is a Van Langren terrestrial globe undated but apparently completed not long after 1616, since it directs attention to the Strait of Lemaire, discovered in that year. It has the authors' inscription "Jacobus Florentius Ultrajectensis Author.

Arnoldus Florentius filius sculptor Amsterdam," and bears in addition the legend "Arnoldus Florentius a Langren, Serenissum. Archiducu. Austr.

Burgundiae, Brabantiae, Duc.u.m, Sphaereographus Author. c.u.m Privileg."

"Arnoldus Florentius a Langren globe maker and author to the most Serene Archduke of Austria, of Burgundy, Duke of Brabant. With privilege." This globe is described as one well preserved, resembling very closely that of 1612, particularly in its geographical details as well as in its mountings.

The Bibliotheque Nationale of Paris possesses a Van Langren terrestrial globe, with date illegible, but thought to be 1625, which appears to be a reissue of the previous editions, especially of the later ones. A legend including an address to the reader concludes with a reference to the author "Arnoldus Florentio a Langren Reg. Cat. Majis. cosmografo et pensionario." "Arnoldus Florentius a Langren, cosmographer and pensioner of His Catholic Majesty."

There are two globes of Arnoldus, a celestial and a terrestrial, formerly in the Munic.i.p.al Archives of Antwerp, now in the Plantin-Moritus Museum. An inscription on the celestial globe reads: "Globus coelestis stellarum fixarum loca ipsis in coelo ad amussim congrua repraesentans ad annum 1600 juxta accuratas observationes Tychonis Brahe denuo ad annum 162- diligentiss. rest.i.tutus novis item stellis 400 hactenus non notatis. Ornatusque trecentis stellis circa polum antarctic.u.m ab Houtmanno Holando observatis industria Arnoldi Florentii van Langren Cosmographici, qui olim observationibus: Tyconis interfuit. Operam sibi filii parenti felicissime contulerunt." "A celestial globe which represents the position of the fixed stars, corresponding to the actual position of the stars in the sky in the year 1600, following the accurate observations of Tycho Brahe and with great care again calculated for the year 162-: also 400 new stars are added which had not hitherto been recorded. Also there have been added 300 south polar stars that were observed by Houtman of Holland. Constructed by Arnold Florent van Langren, cosmographer who a.s.sisted Tycho in his observations. The sons have aided their father with the happiest effect."

The terrestrial globe, in a much better state of preservation, contains, in a neat cartouch, an address to the reader, explaining the merits of the globe map: "Quandoquidem quotidiana diversarum nationum, praecipue tamen Holandorum navigatione omnes mundi plagas perl.u.s.trantium, varii orbis tractus, remotae insulae et quamplurima regna hactenenus incognita nunc in dies innotuere, et quae fuere cognita majori studio et situs observatione perl.u.s.trata sunt. Prodit hic noster Globus multo praecedentibus a n.o.bis editis, qui primi in his provinciis prodierunt accuratior et emendatior. In quo omnium locorum nomina, et quo tempore, et cujus auspiciis quaeque detecta sint expressimus. Curavimus praeterea non sine magno labore et cura, ut singulae Regiones, Insulae, Portus, Braevia, et Scopuli suae longitudini et lat.i.tudini respondeant, quibus Indices seu lineas ventorum ..." "Inasmuch as, on account of voyages, daily undertaken by various nations, especially the Dutch, who have sailed along all the coasts of the world, the various regions of the earth, distant islands, and innumerable countries. .h.i.therto unknown, have every day become better known (additional facts) and our knowledge of those already discovered has become much clearer through a more detailed examination and detailed observation, this present globe of ours, presents itself to the public as one much more exact, more free from errors than those previously issued by us, which were the first ever presented to the public of these provinces. On it we have recorded the names of all places, also when and under whose auspices they were severally discovered. We have taken the greatest care and pains to make the location of the various regions, islands, seaports, shoals, and rocks correspond to the true lat.i.tude and longitude, whereby the directions of the winds (loxodromic lines) ..." The concluding lines of this address are illegible, but there seems to be nothing of special importance lost. The author's signature reads "Auctor Arnoldo Florentio a Langre Reg. Cat: Ma??? Cosmographo et Pensionario." "Author Arnoldus Florentius a Langren, cosmographer and pensioner of His Royal Catholic Majesty."

A copy of a Van Langren globe may be found in the Museum of Zutphen, but information concerning it has not been obtainable other than that it is in a damaged condition, and is apparently another example of the one referred to above as of 1612.

Among those interested in geography, in astronomy, and particularly in the construction of armillary spheres in this period very special mention should be made of Antonio Santucci. For some time he served Prince, later Grand Duke, Ferdinand de' Medici as his cosmographer. It was during this period of service that he restored the famous terrestrial globe of Egn.a.z.io Danti which was a particularly creditable piece of work. In the year 1582 he constructed a large armillary sphere composed of wooden rings, very artistically gilded and painted, representing in particular the orbits of the planets. This the Prince is said to have presented to one Battaglioni of Naples; further than this fact nothing seems to be known of this particular example. In the year 1606, we are informed, he collected and sent to the Grand Duke a number of valuable maps relating to Europe, Asia, Africa, and the West Indies, and to the several separate countries of Europe. In the year 1619 he published, through the favor of Duke Ferdinand, a treatise on comets and the new stars appearing between the years 1577 and 1607. What is probably the finest of all his spheres belongs to the Museo di Strumenti Antichi of Florence, which has been restored and interestingly described by the distinguished scholar, Ferdinand Meucci.[374] As an instrument intended to represent the entire universe, though constructed for display rather than for use, it remains one of the finest constructed in the peninsula during the century.

The largest of its nine concentric circles has a diameter of 220 cm., the smallest a diameter of 70 cm., and at the common center is a terrestrial globe having a diameter of 60 cm. Each of the nine great circles or spheres has its own smaller circles representing the equator, the ecliptic, the colures, and the polar circles, the ninth having also the tropics and the hour circle. The eighth, representing the starry heavens, has its ecliptic four times the width of the corresponding circles of the other spheres. Meucci states, in his detailed description, that there are no less than eighty-two armillae or rings, large and small, to which, he adds, eight larger ones might be added, these being cut in half and arranged somewhat in the form of a cup, the lower half supporting the horizon circle, the upper half serving as a support for an adjustable cover of the entire instrument. This arrangement suggests that it was the author's intention to have these last-named half circles represent the empyrean or home of the celestial spirits, a thought supported by the fact that at the common intersecting point of the upper half of these circles is placed a disc on which is represented the Deity in the act of contemplating his creation. The whole instrument is topped by a cross.

Meucci, in referring to his own work of restoring and remounting the great sphere, observes that at the poles of the ecliptic there are two discs on which have been painted the coat of arms of the Medici family together with the coat of arms of the Lorena, Christina di Lorena being the wife of Ferdinand, to whom the work had been dedicated. He further notes that his researches led him to the discovery that the instrument originally cost 1052.2 scudi, which, with an incidental addition of 170 scudi, thought proper to be included in the reckoning, would make the entire expense of construction 1222.2 scudi or about 7187 liri, that is, less than $1400. The amount seems insignificant, remembering that the work was begun in the year 1588 and was not completed until the year 1593, claiming therefore five years of the maker's time. The map on the terrestrial globe seems to have been well drawn, and is remarkable for its representation of the geography of the interior of Africa, particularly for the region about the source of the Nile.

In the library of Mr. Henry E. Huntington may be found an exceedingly fine armillary sphere (Fig. 86). It is neither signed nor dated, but there appears to be good reason for attributing it to Antonio Santucci, and its date to about the year 1580. Constructed entirely of wood, with paper identifying labels pasted on the surface of each of the numerous circles, it is a well-preserved example of Italian workmans.h.i.+p. It is furnished with horizon, meridian, tropical, polar, and ecliptic circles, the first being graduated on both the outer and the inner edge. This horizon circle has a diameter of about 50 cm., and a width of about 7 cm., the width of the other circles being well proportioned for artistic effect. Within the circles named are those representing the orbits of "Luna," "Mercurio," "Venere," "Sole," "Marte," "Giove," "Saturno," with the earth at the center according to the Ptolemaic system. It has a single standard support resting on a solid circular disc about 33 cm. in diameter.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 86. Armillary Sphere of Antonio Santucci (?), ca.

1580.]

The Mathematisch-Physikal. Salon of Dresden possesses a fine celestial globe signed and dated "B. F. 1600." It is an exceedingly elaborate piece (Fig. 87), being made of gilded bronze and furnished with a mounting of ornamental design. The sphere, having a diameter of 11.6 cm., exhibits on its engraved surface in outline the figures of the several constellations, with the name of each, and in addition the princ.i.p.al celestial circles including the meridians. It is furnished, in its mountings, with a graduated bronze meridian circle to which is attached, near the north equatorial pole, a clock dial with hour and minute hands, the dial being marked with the hours from I to XII.

Surmounting the whole is an artistic bronze box, within which have been placed the works by means of which the clock is driven and the sphere made to revolve. The broad horizon circle, which is engraved with the usual concentric circles, rests upon branched supports, which in turn are attached to a finely wrought base having four curved legs terminating in conventionally designed griffin claws.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 87. Celestial Globe of B. F., 1600.]

Though differing very considerably in the details of its construction, it may be cla.s.sed with such globes as are those made by Roll and Reinhold, briefly described above. Indeed, the suggestion forces itself upon one that to their workshop or to one who may be referred to as a workman of their school, we owe this interesting example. Attention has been previously called to certain early globes which seem primarily to have been constructed to contain the works of clocks such as the Jagellonicus. Here as in the case of the Roll and Reinhold globes, and as in certain other examples, we find clockwork attachments designed to regulate the revolutions of the globe of which they form a part. While the globe is the more elaborately wrought part of this particular example, it does not seem improbable that the clock originally was considered to be the more important part.

NOTES

[334] See Chap. X.

[335] Kastner. Geschichte der Mathematik. Vol. II, pp. 215 ff.; Wolf, R. Notizen zur Geschichte der Mathematik in der Schweiz, "Conrad Dasypodius." (In: Mitteilung der naturforschenden Gesellschaft zu Bern. Bern, 1845. No. 56.); Allgemeine deutsche Biographie, "Dasypodius, Conrad."

[336] Doppelmayr. Historische Nachricht. p. 51.

[337] Schricker, A. Z. Zur Geschichte der Universitat Stra.s.sburg. Stra.s.sburg, 1872; Heitz, E. Zur Geschichte der alten Stra.s.sburger Universitat. Stra.s.sburg, 1885.

[338] The British Museum Catalogue lists many of these works.

[339] Wolf, R. Nachrichten. (In: Mitteilung der naturforschenden Gesellschaft zu Bern. Bern, 1854. p. 69.); Doppelmayr, op. cit., p. 115; Habrecht, I. Tractatus de planiglobis coelestis ac terrestris. Stra.s.sburg, 1628.

[340] Doppelmayr, op. cit., p. 208.

[341] Montucla, J. E. Histoire des Mathematiques ... Paris, 1799-1802.

[342] Dasypodius, C. Horologii astronomei Argentorati in summo templo erecti descriptio. Argentorati, 1580; same author. Warhafftige Auslegung des astronomischen Uhrwercks zu Stra.s.sburg. Stra.s.sburg, 1580.

[343] Schwilgue, C. Description abregee de l'horologe astronomique de la cathedrale de Stra.s.sbourg. Stra.s.sbourg, 1856.

[344] Britten, F. J. Old clocks and watches and their makers. London, 1899.

[345] Varnhagen, A. de. J. Schoner e P. Apian. Wien, 1872; Gunther, S. Peter und Philipp Apian, zwei deutsche Mathematiker und Kartographen. Prag, 1882; Nordenskiold.

Facsimile Atlas, p. 100.

In the year 1520 Peter Apia.n.u.s published in his edition of Solinus' Polyhistor a world map, following therein the general design of Waldseemuller in his world map of the year 1507. The map of Apia.n.u.s has long been regarded as one of the most important of the early printed maps on which the New World is represented. Until the recent discovery by Professor Joseph Fischer of Waldseemuller's long-lost map, it has frequently been referred to as the first engraved map on which the name "America" appears. The 'Cosmographia' of Apia.n.u.s, first issued in the year 1524, was frequently reissued thereafter, notably by Gemma Frisius.

[346] Clemens, C. Musei, sive bibliothecae tam privatae quam publicae extructio. Lugduni, 1635. Liber Quartus. p. 527.

[347] Kepler, J. Joannis Kepleri Opera Omnia. Ed. by Frisch.

Frankfurt, 1858. Vol. I, p. 812.

[348] Gemelin, L. Untersatz eines Globus von Philipp Apian.

(In: Stuttgarter Gewerbhalle. Stuttgart, 1885. Taf. 62.); Gunther, S. Die Munchener Globen Philipp Apians. (In: Jahrbuch fur munchener Geschichte. Munchen, 1888. pp.

131-148.)

[349] Gunther. Die Munchener Globen. p. 132.

[350] Zimmermann, M. Hans Muelich und Herzog Albrecht V.

Munchen, 1885. The author thinks it hardly probable that Muelich was the artist employed in the decoration of these globes, but praises the excellent workmans.h.i.+p exhibited.

Kobolt, A. M. Bairisches Gelehrten-Lexikon. Landshut, 1795.

pp. 52 ff.; also in his Erganzungen und Berichtigungen.

Landshut, 1824. p. 21.

[351] Fiorini. Sfere terrestri e celesti. p. 221. The author briefly describes the Plautus globes. The information contained therein was also kindly sent for insertion in this work by the director of the Museum.

[352] Gerland. Beitrage. p. 69. See Chap. viii, n. 21.

[353] Fiorini, op. cit., pp. 200-202.

[354] Ga.s.sendi, P. Tychonis Brahei equitis Dani astronomorum coryphaei vita. Hagae, 1655; Dreyer, J. L. E. Tycho Brahe, a picture of scientific life and work in the sixteenth century. Edinburgh, 1890; Brahe, T. Astronomiae instauratae mechanica. Noribergae, 1602; Brahe, T. Epistolarum astronomicarum libri. Uraniburgi, 1596; Brahe, T. Tychonis Brahe mathim: eminent: Dani Opera Omnia. Ed. by J. G.

Schonvetteri, Francofurti, 1648; Wolf. Geschichte der Astronomie. pp. 269-281; Kastner. Geschichte der Mathematik.

Vol. II, pp. 376-411.

[355] Dreyer, op. cit., Chaps. v, vi.

[356] Tyconis Brahe astronomiae instauratae Mechanica.

[357] Raemdonck. Les spheres terrestres. p. 28; Chatel, M.

Note sur une globe terrestre ... de la succession de t.i.ton du Tillet. (In: Memoire lus a la Sorbonne. Paris, 1865. pp.

161-170.)

[358] Marcel, G. Note sur une sphere terrestre faite en cuivre a la fin du XVI? Siecle. (In: Bulletin de la Societe normande de Geographie. Rouen, 1891. pp. 153-160.)