Terrestrial and Celestial Globes Volume Ii Part 6

The celestial globe, mounted practically the same as the terrestrial, contains the following legend: "Ecce damus methodo Ptolemaica seu Orteliana coelestium siderum quotquot hodie extare comperimus schemata, situs et ut decet reperiuntur perfecta. Sunt enim ex descriptionibus Hipparchi, Ptolomei, Alphonsi, Copernici, per Tyconem Brahe ad trutinam examinata, nec non Joannis Bayeri, qui Uranometriam per imagines in tabulis aeneis expressit. Et nunc per me D. Silvestrum Amantium Moroncelli Fabrianen Abbatem Bened. Congreg. Silv. calamo descripta coloribusque effigiata adattataque ad Ann. 1716." "Observe that we give after the method of Ptolemy or Ortelius the settings of the stars of heaven, as far as they have, to the present, been discovered, and as far as their positions have been made known. We have employed the descriptions of Hipparchus, Ptolemy, Alfonso, and Copernicus, as tested and confirmed by Tycho Brahe, and also by the observations of Johannes Bayer, who expressed the star system (of Tycho Brahe) objectively in bra.s.s tables, now by myself D. Silvester Amantius Moroncelli of Fabriano, Benedictine Abbot of the Silvestrin Congregation. All these have been expressed in letters and represented in colors, and accommodated to the year 1716."

There is given a second legend of some importance reading, "Tabula continens quantum quovis proposito anno vel addendum vel demendum sit longitudini affixarum. Stellae enim spatio septuaginta Annorum et quinque mensium unic.u.m gradum secondum Asterismorum ordinem super Polum Zodiaci progrediuntur ab Occasu ad Orientem. Ex hujusmodi Regula invenitur Sidera migra.s.se a Mundi creatione usque ad hunc annum 6915, Gr. 98, M. 47, S. 20. Et ab adventu D. N. J. C. usque ad hunc annum 1716, Gr. 24, M. 30, S. 25." "Table noting how much must be added to or subtracted from the longitude of the fixed stars in any given year. The stars move from west to east one degree in the s.p.a.ce of seventy years and five months according to the order of the constellations of the zodiac. From this rule it is found that the stars have moved from the creation of the world a period of 6915 years to the present 98 degrees, 47 minutes and 20 seconds, and from the advent of Our Lord Jesus Christ to this year 1716, 24 degrees, 30 minutes, and 25 seconds."

In addition to the above-mentioned examples of Moroncelli's work, there may be cited a number of allusions to others which cannot now be located. Fiorini notes first a fine cosmographic sphere designed to represent both the terrestrial and the celestial, having a circ.u.mference of 2.62 palms, and probably constructed for the patrician family Trevisiani.[77] It appears that it later pa.s.sed into the hands of Prince Lucio Odescalchi of Milan, and in the year 1849 was taken to Rome, after which it appears that all trace of it was lost. It is said to have been a very artistic piece, brilliantly colored with numerous pictures executed in miniature, and to have been dated 1690. The anonymous biographer of Moroncelli, whose account exists only in ma.n.u.script and is frequently cited by Fiorini, notes that Moroncelli constructed a ma.n.u.script globe for Queen Christina of Sweden.[78] This has been thought by Porti to be the globe just referred to, but the ident.i.ty is doubtful. Again Fiorini makes allusion to the probable existence at one time of a pair of Moroncelli's globes in the Monasterio Biblioteca of S.

Benedetto of Fabriano, and of still another pair in the Collegio De Vecchi of the same city, but of these nothing at present is known.[79]

The anonymous biography likewise alludes to one of his celestial globes which he constructed and dedicated to Cardinal Alessandro Albani of Urbino. In this the author undertook, like certain others of his day, to subst.i.tute for the Greek mythological characters or figures representing the several constellations, pictures of biblical objects and characters, or of individuals selected from Christian martyrology.[80] While this particular globe cannot now be located, there is a small one of similar character which belongs to the Accademia Etrusca of Cortona, having a diameter of about 27 cm., its map being partly in ma.n.u.script and partly printed. There is the following author and date legend: "Sacrometria omnium asterismorum coelestium figuris Aecclesiasticis reformatorum a Rev. Abb. D. Sil. Amantio Moroncelli Fabrianen. Silvestrino Ann. 1710."

"Sacred measurements of all the heavenly stars expressed in ecclesiastical notation by the Rev. D. Silvester Amantius Moroncelli of Fabriano, a Silvestrian, in the year 1710." A brief descriptive legend reads, "In hac coelesti sphaera Stellae affixae majori quam hactenus numero et accuratiori industria delineantur novis asterismis in Philomateoru gratiam de integro additis: quae omnia secondum Astronomorum Principis Thyconis Brahe et aliorum observationem verae suae Longitudini ac Lat.i.tudini ad annum Christi 1636 rest.i.tuta sunt."

"In this celestial sphere the fixed stars are depicted in greater number than previously and with more accurate care, the new stars being added for the use of the student; all of which, according to the observations of that Prince of astronomers Tycho Brahe, and of others, are given with their true lat.i.tude and longitude, and accommodated to the year of Christ 1636." This library of Cortona possesses a ma.n.u.script of Moroncelli t.i.tled "Sacrometria omnium asterismorum continens schemata figuris ecclesiasticis expressa Silvestri Amantii Moroncelli Fabrianensis ecc. anno 1707." "Sacred measurement of all the stars being a scheme expressing in ecclesiastical notation by Silvester Amantius Moroncelli of Fabriano in the year 1707." The constellations he divides into three groups: the boreal from 1-19, the zodiacal from 20-31, the southern from 32-58, giving to each a new name. Hercules, for example, he changed to Samson; Lyra to David; Ca.s.siopeia to Eve; Virgo to Virgo Maria a.s.sumpta in Coelum. One can scarcely affirm that Moroncelli exerted a wide-reaching influence, nevertheless he has, for his day, a place of considerable prominence among globe makers.

Mr. William R. Hearst of New York possesses an exceedingly fine ma.n.u.script celestial globe which circ.u.mstances have not left it possible to identify. He has courteously furnished the photograph from which it is here shown in ill.u.s.tration (Fig. 106). Once belonging to Mr. Stanford White, it probably was purchased in Italy, pa.s.sing in the year 1907 into the hands of Mr. Hearst. In the sales catalogue of The American Art Society it is referred to as a globe of the sixteenth century. There, however, is reason for a.s.signing it to the latter part of the seventeenth century, as there is reason for attributing it to the Abbot Silvester Amantius Moroncelli. If the authorship is correctly attributed it may be counted one of great value. The figures of the several constellations are well colored. The mounting is of wrought iron, with gilt ornaments. The globe itself has a diameter of about 90 cm., while its entire height, including the tripod base, is about 200 cm.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 106. Ma.n.u.script Celestial Globe (Moroncelli?), Late Seventeenth Century.]

Roger Palmer (Fig. 107), Count of Castlemaine (1634-1705),[81]

published, in the year 1679, a work bearing the t.i.tle 'The English globe being a stabil and immobil one, performing what the ordinary globes do, and much more.' In this he described a globe of his own invention, having a diameter of about one foot. It does not appear that the Earl especially distinguished himself in matters either geographical or astronomical. As a diversion from his other interests which claimed his attention, he appears to have turned to the construction of a globe for which he claimed an especial superiority over all others, primarily on account of its simplicity. He set forth in his descriptive text more than twenty of its superior features, and it is interesting to note that Moxon thought well enough of the work to reissue it in the year 1696.[82] (Fig. 108.)

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig 107. ROGER PALMER _EARL of CASTLEMAIN._ _from an Original by Sir G Kneller at Strawberry Hill._]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 108. Globe of Earl of Castlemaine, 1679.]

Coronelli gives us the following information concerning a rather remarkable globe which he had occasion to examine in the city of Augsburg, of which he made a drawing for the Venetian Academy (Fig.

109), as he tells us, afterward reproducing the same in his 'Epitome Cosmografica.'[83] This globe he says was the invention of Christopher Treffler of Augsburg and was constructed by Christopher Rad, jeweler to His Majesty the Emperor, in the year 1683. He calls it an "Automaton Sphaeridic.u.m," that is, a celestial globe provided with an automatic movement, so contrived as to exhibit accurately the course of the stars, and to indicate the years, months, days, hours, and minutes, together with the eclipses for seventeen years in advance. At the top of the instrument was placed a little sphere by means of which one could represent certain celestial phenomena, past and future. This mechanism, says Coronelli, is ornamented with great ingenuity, good taste, and all regardless of expense. In its construction eighteen hundred ounces of gold and silver had been used. Its height was seven feet, and at the bottom it measured four feet, the entire work rising in the manner of a pyramid above its support of four artistically designed figures. This globe, says Coronelli, which we have seen and handled, and of which we have an exceedingly high opinion, was for sale at eight thousand thaler, and had been fully described in a duodecimo volume printed by the House of Koppmeyer, in the year 1683.[84] It is not known what became of this globe which Coronelli found to be so worthy of his commendation.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 109. Globe of Christopher Treffler, 1683.]

The Atheneo of Brescia possesses an armillary sphere, having on one of its armillae an inscription which tells us that it was constructed by Gian Battista Alberti in the year 1688, for Count Martinengo.[85] The graduated horizon circle, on which appear the names of the sixteen princ.i.p.al winds or directions, rests upon two semicircles, which in turn rest on a support of bra.s.s ornamented by six allegorical figures. In this supporting base there has been placed a compa.s.s. Its graduated hour circle is furnished with a movable index, such as had become common in globe construction. Five prominent circles represent the equator, the tropics, and the polar circles, to which is added a zodiacal band which is graduated and bears the names and the symbolical figures of the twelve constellations, and the names of the months. Two rings for the purpose of indicating celestial lat.i.tude and longitude are placed within the above-named circles and carry representations of the sun and the moon.

A contemporary of Alberti, Giovanni Maccari of Mirandola, likewise a maker of armillary spheres, is known to us through one only, but a fine example of his work.[86] This sphere belongs to the Liceo Spallanzi of Regio Emilia. The meridian circle, having a diameter of about 16 cm., is graduated both for lat.i.tude and co-lat.i.tude by fives. Adjusted to this meridian is a circle representing the colures, likewise graduated both for lat.i.tude and co-lat.i.tude, but by tens, and adjusted to these are the polar circles, the tropics, and the equator. On the zodiacal circle are engraved the names of the twelve constellations, the names of the days, and on the inner surface the inscription "Joannes Maccarius Mirandula.n.u.s Feccit 1689." The supporting base is triangular in shape, having a compa.s.s placed in the center. Within the three angles of this base shields have been placed, the one bearing the inscription "Anno Domini 1689," the second the name "Jo Vulpis Mirandula.n.u.s Dom??," by whom the work was probably ordered; the third has a representation of a fox, the emblem of the Volpi family. In addition to the above the base is ornamented with a bronze scroll, to the points of which are attached semicircles which support the horizon circle. This circle has a diameter of about 15 cm., on which are engraved the usual zodiacal names and signs, the names of the months, and of the princ.i.p.al winds or directions. An hour circle is placed at the south pole with a movable index, and within, at the common center of the circles, a small sphere to represent the terrestrial globe, through which the polar axis is made to pa.s.s.

In the Biblioteca Estense of Modena there may be found three armillary spheres apparently of about the same date as the two just described.[87]

One of the three bears the inscription "Jos Ant?? Vulpes Mirandula Domin. anno Domini 1689." The other two, somewhat larger in size than the preceding, give us no particular indication of the maker, and no exact date of construction. They may be the work of Alberti or of Maccari.

In Italy's long line of ill.u.s.trious geographers, cartographers, and globe makers none has rank in advance of P. Vincenzo Maria Coronelli (1650-1718).[88] His achievements within his field were prodigious.[89]

While, as noted above, there is wanting the evidence that his influence was extended in striking manner into transalpine countries, he seems at least to have won the enthusiastic recognition of contemporary men of science, as one worthy of honor for his great achievements.

He was a native of Ravenna (Fig. 110), a member of the Franciscan Order of monks, serving in the last years of his life as its general. It was in his young manhood that he went to Venice, which city became the scene of the greater part of his literary and scientific activities.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 110. Portrait of P. Vincenzo Coronelli.]

More than four hundred maps were drawn, engraved, and printed by him in the Franciscan Convent located on one of the Venetian islands, and known as the Gran Casa del Frari, where he lived with other brothers of the Order. It was in this convent that Coronelli founded, in the year 1680, the first geographical society, to which he gave the name Accademia Cosmografo degli Argonauti,[90] which in its organization followed somewhat that of certain other learned societies owing their origin to the literary and scientific activities of the renaissance period. Its membership, in the course of years, included men of distinction in other cities of Italy and in the North; men famous for their achievements and for their interest in geographical science, literary men, men who held high rank in Europe's aristocracy, cardinals, prelates, princes, and monarchs.[91] The society became one of the most active of the period, and the list of publications which issued from its press, each bearing the argonautic emblem or device--a ship on a terrestrial globe with the motto "Plus Ultra" (Fig. 111)--is a long one.[92]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 111. Emblem of the Venetian Accademia Cosmografica degli Argonauti.]

So great had become the fame of Coronelli as early as the year 1685, that he was honored with the t.i.tle Cosmografo della Serenissima Republica, and was granted an annual allowance of four hundred florins, and a copyright privilege protecting him in his right to print and publish any of his works for a period of twenty-five years.[93]

We have no definite information as to the circ.u.mstances attending Coronelli's first interest in globe construction. It appears that his first work in this line, a pair of large ma.n.u.script globes, opened immediately to him a path to fame, for these had come to adorn the library of the Duke of Parma to whom the French Cardinal, d'Estrees, in the year 1680 had occasion to pay a visit and they immediately won the cardinal's interest. A pair of such globes, thought he, for so runs the story, would be a source of great delight to His Majesty the French King, Louis XIV. Learning that the construction of still larger globes was altogether possible, but that their removal from Italy to France would be attended with great difficulty, he persuaded Coronelli to accept an invitation to take up a residence in Paris, there to direct the construction of a terrestrial and a celestial globe, sparing neither labor nor expense that they might be worthy of presentation to the Grand Monarch. If Olearius could construct a globe ten feet and more in diameter for Duke Frederick of Holstein, and Weigel one of similar dimensions for the demonstration of his theories, why, thought Coronelli, should I not undertake the preparation of those at least fifteen feet in diameter, which in all the details of globe construction should be made to surpa.s.s any that had hitherto been conceived? The author himself has given us the first though brief description of his completed work,[94] and the royal astronomer, La Hire, supplemented this description in his little volume published in the year 1704, when the globes had been placed in the Chateau Marly.[95] In the author's own account he alludes to the globes as having been constructed at Paris under his direction, and by order of the Most Eminent Cardinal d'Estrees, for the service of His Most Christian Majesty. Great care was especially exercised in the construction of the machinery designed for the rotation of the spheres, the author being especially proud of the fact that, so delicate was this mechanism, each could be set in motion by a single finger. He further gives us to understand that each sphere was so well fashioned "one could design upon its surface all the degrees in the manner in which a turner designs any circle on a ball without having it removed from the turner's lathe," and that the material of which they were constructed was so solid and so well joined that each was able to sustain the weight of thirty men. Each was furnished with a door through which a considerable number of persons might enter at one time, their presence within affecting in no wise the solidity of construction. Each was covered with fine canvas so carefully laid on that none of the joints could be seen, giving a surface smooth as ivory.

The meridian and horizon circles were of bronze, the whole being supported by columns which were richly ornamented. In the base, between the four columns supporting the meridian circles, large compa.s.ses were placed, being so designed as properly to indicate the needle's declination.

On the celestial globe the greater and the lesser circles were represented in gilt bronze, and were so graduated for both lat.i.tude and longitude, ascension and declination, that it was made easy for an astronomer to pa.s.s from one co-ordinate to the other without the aid of trigonometry. On a fine background of ultramarine the several constellations with their respective figures were represented, each of the planets and fixed stars being gilded in order to give it due prominence. The author so designed his star map as to represent the appearance of the heavens at the time of the birth of the Grand Monarch,[96] as is told in the following dedication engraved on a bra.s.s tablet and attached to the surface of the sphere: "A l'Auguste Majeste de Louis le Grand l'Invincible, l'Heureux, le Sage, le Conquerant. Cesar Cardinal d'Estrees a consacre ce globe celeste, ou toutes les etoilles du firmament, et les planetes sont placees au lieu mesme, ou elles estoient a la naissance de ce Glorieux Monarque, afin de conserver a l'eternite une image fixe de cette heureuse disposition, sous laquelle la France a receu le plus grand present, que le ciel ait iamais fait a la terre. M.DC.Lx.x.xIII." "To His August Majesty Louis the Great, the Invincible, the Happy, the Wise, the Conquering. Cesar Cardinal d'Estrees has dedicated this celestial globe, on which all the stars of heaven and the planets are placed in the same position in which they were at the birth of the Glorious Monarch, in order to preserve throughout eternity a fixed image of that happy disposition under which France has received the most n.o.ble present which Heaven has ever made to earth."

On the terrestrial globe, which in its general features resembled the celestial, the seas were painted blue and the land white, that the several names and legends might appear the more distinct. A portrait of the King was placed above a cartouch containing the dedication, resembling that on the celestial globe, reading "A l'Auguste Majeste de Louis le Grand l'Invincible, l'Heureux, le Sage, le Conquerant. Cesar Cardinal d'Estrees a consacre ce globe terrestre, pour rendre un continuel hommage a sa Glore, et a ses Heroiques Vertus, en mostrant les pays ou mille grandes Actions ont este executees et par Luy Mesme, et par ses Ordres, a l'estonnement de tant de nations, qu'il avroit pu soumetre a son empire, si sa Moderation n'eust arreste le Cours de Ses Conquestes, et prescrit des bornes a Sa Valeur, plus grande encore que sa Fortune. M.DC.Lx.x.xIII." "To His August Majesty Louis the Great, the Invincible, the Happy, the Wise, the conquering. Cesar Cardinal d'Estrees has dedicated this terrestrial globe, in order to render perpetual homage to His Glory and to His Heroic Virtue in representing the countries wherein a thousand great acts have been performed both by Himself and by his Order, to the astonishment of all nations, which He would have been able to bring under his subjection if his moderation had not restrained the course of his Conquests and prescribed bounds to his Courage yet greater than his Fortune. M.DC.Lx.x.xIII."

Below this dedication, likewise below the corresponding dedication on the celestial globe, we read "Cet ouvrage a ete invente et acheve par le Pere Coronelli Venitien des. Min. Conv." "This work was conceived and accomplished by P. Coronelli, a Venetian of the Minorite Order."

In his brief description, the author says that he has shown on his terrestrial globe all ancient and modern discoveries, basing the same on the maps, the observations, and the reports of the most renowned geographers, to which he has added the results of his own studies not recorded on other globes nor in other maps. Special mention is made of information given concerning the interior regions of Africa, noting that "besides outlining the Monomotapa and Abyssinia countries, we have been the first to describe correctly the source as well as the course of the Nile River correcting, by many degrees the errors of the ancients."

Andrea Baba, public censor and secretary of the Argonauts, notes, in his letter to the reader appearing in the first volume of the 'Atlante Veneto,' that the author of the two globes, constructed for the King of France, had obtained numerous authentic reports of geographers and explorers, which he had included in his work. Ludolf, writing in the year 1691 concerning Ethiopia, records "Ethiopia: Nostram tabulam chorographicam comunicavimus c.u.m P. Vincentio Coronellio, nunc cosmographo Veneto, qui eam adhibuit in globis quos Cardinalis Estresius pro rege Galliae construi fecit, maximos, qui unquam visi fuerint. Ibi in Globo terrestri Habessina et Nilus secundum nostram delineationem visitur. Satis mature eam communicaverim Adamo Oleario, c.u.m insignem glob.u.m, qui Gottorfii cernitur, construeret, sed ille mihi, ut tum temporis juveni, fidem non habuit." "Ethiopia: we made known our chorographic record to P. Vincentio Coronelli now cosmographer of Venice, who included it on his globe which Cardinal d'Estrees had made for the King of France, the largest globe ever seen. There, on the terrestrial globe, Abyssinia and the Nile are seen following our representation. Quite a long time ago we made this known to Adam Olearius, when he was making the renowned globe which may be seen at Gottorp, but he, as I was then a young man, did not have confidence in me."[97]

Marcel, in writing of the Portuguese in Africa, observed: "Si nous examinons les cartes de Mercator, de Bertius, de Hondius, de Meursius, de Sanson, de Duval, nous y trouvons un cours du Cuama ou Zanbesi absolument fantaisiste. Il faut arriver au fameux globe de Coronelli pour y trouver en 1683 le cours de Zambese trace comme sur la carte que nous reproduisons. Il est evident que ce geographe venitien a pu consulter des doc.u.ments portugais aujourd'hui perdus, cartes ou relations de voyages, qui viendraient jeter un jour infiniment precieux sur les explorations des Portugais et les relations qu'ils entretenaient avec les populations belliqueuses du ba.s.sin du Chire." "If we examine the maps of Mercator, of Bertius, Hondius, Meureius, Sanson, Duval, we will find the course of the Cuama or Zambesi absolutely fantastic. One must examine the famous globe of Coronelli to find in 1683 the course of the Zambesi represented as on the map which we reproduce. It is evident that the Venetian geographer had been able to consult Portuguese doc.u.ments which today are lost, maps or accounts of Voyages which would throw light of great value on the explorations of the Portuguese and the relations they had with the warlike people of the basin of the Chire."[98]

Coronelli adorned his globe map with very artistic representations of merchant ships sailing over the ocean highways, and with elaborate pictures of many naval battles.

It was in the year 1704 that these globes were placed in the royal Chateau Marly,[99] where they remained until the year 1722, when they were placed in the old Palace of the Louvre. A final resting place was found for them in the Royal Library, now known as the Bibliotheque Nationale, in a room especially constructed to receive them. Recent information from the library notes that, on account of certain reconstructive work, they have been placed in an inaccessible part of the building, and cannot be photographed.

The success of this first endeavor to construct globes of large size led other Princes to entertain the thought of adorning their palaces with similar productions. It is not known, however, that the great Venetian actually set himself to the task of duplicating his French masterpieces; we have rather the a.s.surance, as is noted below, that he thought better of a plan for issuing globes of smaller size, whose map records should contain practically all he had been able to include in his large work.

The Royal Estense Library of Modena possesses a ma.n.u.script, cited by Fiorini, which a.s.sures us that Coronelli had been approached with a proposition to construct for Francis II of Modena a pair of globes equal in size to those he had prepared for the French King. This doc.u.ment reads: "Rispondendo il P.re Cosmografo Coronelli alii di lei quest.i.ti per la fabbrica delli globi, gli dice, che il fara tanto grandi, quanta sara la capacita della stanza, e bisognando fabbricare anco una stanza dentro del Globo, resta solo che il Principe che la desidera, habbia curiosita e volonta do spendere; limitandosi per il P. Cosmografo alia grandezza di Globi di diametro di quindici piedi, dice, che per il solo pagamento di materiali, e degli Artifici, si ricercano ducento doppie; che per delineare la Geografia, scriveri, collocarvi le stelle, ed a.s.segnare il luogo alle figure vi vorra di spesa quattrocento doppie.

Per accomodare il luogo che sia capace per la fabrica delli Globi di questa grandezza, vi vogliono cinquanta doppie. Per gli ornamenti della Pittura, Miniatura, Scultura, et altri, si potra fare quella spesa che parera piu propria al Principe, che desidera; mentre in questi si pu o meno. E perche il Principe conosca il genio dell' autore in questa materia, osservera nella picciolezza delle due mostre, ch'esibisce, confrontandole colle migliori carte, di qual perfetione e pulizia sarebbe questa di quindici piedi. Il P. Coronelli per ricompensa desidera una pensione annua sua vita durante di quella soma che parera propria alia generosita del Principe. S'aggiunge, un quinternetto della supputazione delle stelle d'Orione, perche il Principe osservi l'accrescimento delle stelle di questa costellazione, come sono accresciute di gran numero tutte le altro del Globo del Cielo del P.

Coronelli." "Father Coronelli, in reply to your questions regarding the construction of the globes which you say you wish to have made as large as the capacity of the room will allow, and with s.p.a.ce in the globe itself, says that all that is necessary is to know how much his Excellency the Prince should wish to expend. However Father Coronelli limits himself to the construction of globes of fifteen feet in diameter, for which the cost of the material alone and of the workmanship is two hundred doubloons. For outlining the geographical map, for the proper placing of the stars, and the representation of the figures, the cost will be four hundred doubloons. To arrange a place for globes of this size another fifty doubloons will be necessary. For the decorations, the miniatures and engravings His Excellency can spend as much as he desires. In order that His Excellency the Prince may appreciate the great genius of the author in this matter, he will please take note of the two small globes which he exhibits, (and think) how perfect and attractive those fifteen feet in diameter will be in comparison with the best of maps. Father Coronelli desires, as compensation, an annual pension for life, such sum as His Excellency the Prince considers sufficiently generous. We enclose an account showing the representation of the stars of Orion, in order that the Prince may note the increase in the number of the stars in this constellation, and also note how all of the other constellations as represented on the globe of Father Coronelli show an increase in the number of stars."[100]

There is no evidence known that this work was actually undertaken by our Venetian globe maker, the presumption being that the matter did not receive further consideration.

As an expression of appreciation for the honors shown to him by the Academy of the Argonauts, Coronelli decided to issue his Paris globes reduced in size, choosing a diameter of three and one half feet or about 107 cm. instead of fifteen feet. His globes, therefore, of the year 1688 were the largest to date in which engraved gore maps had been employed in construction. In one of his legends he thus alludes to the Academy. "Il genio della virtu raccomanda all'eternita il nome di Cesare Cardinale eminentissimo d'Estrees, Duca e Pari Francia, mentre fece elaborare per Ludovico il Magno dal P. Coronelli due gran Globi l'idea dei quali ha poi epilogata in questi per l'Accademia cosmografica degli Argonauti. L'anno MDCLx.x.xVIII." "The genius of virtue commends to posterity the name of Cesar, most eminent Cardinal d'Estrees, Duke and Peer of France, since he had constructed for Louis the Great by P.

Coronelli two large globes, the idea of which he then summarized herewith for the Cosmographical Academy of the Argonauts. In the year 1688." The dedication, the same as that on the celestial globe, reads as follows: "Alla Serenissima Republica e Serinissimo Principe Francesco Morosini Doge di Venezia Capitan Gen: de Mare. Vincenzo Coronelli M. C.

Suddito Cosmografo e Lettore publico." "To the Most Serene Republic and the Most Serene Prince Francesco Morosini, Doge of Venice, Captain General of the Sea, by Vincenzo Coronelli M. C., the above mentioned cosmographer and public reader." Placed below this legend in a cartouch containing the portrait of the author is the inscription "P. V.

Coronelli M. C. Cosmografo Publico." There is an inscription on the celestial globe which reads, "Si presentano a V. Serenita li Globi del Mondo, Teatro delle cospicue attioni de' Principi, perche mentre corre il terzo decimo secolo (ch'e quasi la quarta parte della vita d'esso) ne' quali la Serenissima Republica agisse ugualmente e collo splendore delle lettre e col luminoso dell'armi, Vede l'Universale delle genti col mezzo di Stampa cos reguardevole sin dove si vada sempre piu estendendo la gloria del Veneto Nome. Quella che se ne a.s.sume l'Accademia Cosmografica degli Argonauti nella presente dedicazione e chi vive di V.

V. Coronelli Cosmografo della medesima." "There are hereby presented to Your Serene Highness these globes of the world, the scene of the remarkable deeds of Princes, in order that while the thirteenth century is pa.s.sing (which makes nearly a fourth part of the life of the world) wherein the Most Serene Republic has proceeded equally with the splendor of letters and the brilliancy of arms may be seen by the universality of the races; by means of this so important publication however there is more widely spread the glory of the Venetian name; of which glory a portion is a.s.sumed by the Cosmographical Academy of the Argonauts, in the present dedication, and by him who lives by our permission, Coronelli, Cosmographer of the same."

The author selected the year 1700 as that in which to indicate the position of the stars which he represented on his globe, referring to this fact in his legend. "L'epoca di questo globo e perfissa nell'anno futuro 1700 acciocche l'arte in quest' opera precorra quel tempo che per natura dovra consumarla. Prevenendo questo globo tardo il Corso veloce del Cielo, comparisce presente il secolo venturo acci possi ognuno con ordine piu facile ridurre agli anni scorsi le stelle fisse colla sottrazione di 51 secondi come piace a Ticone, o 50 seguendo il parere del Ricciolo. Volendo specolare il sistema degli anni anco posteriore all'epoca stabilita, aggiungasi proporzionalmente al 1700 che seguira la riduttione senza errore sensibile per tutto lo spazio di 400 anni." "The epoch of this globe is fixed for the year 1700, in order that the labor in its construction may have the time which naturally will be required for its completion. As this belated globe antic.i.p.ates the rapid movement of the sky, the coming century appears as though present, anyone may be able in easier fashion to change to past years the fixed stars, by the subtraction of fifty-one seconds as Tycho reckons, or fifty according to the opinion of Ricciola. If one desires to speculate also upon the system of the years posterior to the established epoch, let him add proportionally to 1700, and the change will follow without sensible error for the entire period of 400 years."

To the constellations he makes the following reference: "Furono osservate molte stelle in vicinanza del Polo antartico incognite non solo agli Egizij e Greci, ma ancora a Ticone Brahe. Osserv parimente Federico Houtmano, nell'Isola Sumatra, molte stelle vicine al Polo medesimo, le quali essendo state incognite agli accinnati autori, le ridussero in 13 costellazioni cioe Fenice Colomb Mosca, Pesce volante, Camaleonte, Triangolo Australe, Uccello Indiano, Pavone, l'Uomo Indiano, la Gru, il Toucan, l'Hindro e il dorado; altri dopo v'hanno aggiunto la Nube Grande, la Picciola e la Romboide. Noi abbiamo arricchito questo Globo d'un maggior numero di stelle, scoperte dall' Hallei Inglese, che si trasport a tal effetto nell'Isola S. Elena, coll'aggiunta d'altre osservatione, cos do questo come d'altri scritton." "There have been observed many stars in the vicinity of the Antarctic pole, unknown not only to the Egyptians and Greeks, but also to Tycho Brahe. There have been observed likewise by Frederick Houtmann, on the Island of Sumatra, many stars near the same pole which having been unknown to the above-mentioned authors, they reduced to 13 constellations, namely the Phoenix, the Dove, the Fly, the Flying Fish, the Chameleon, the Southern Triangle, the Indian Bird, the Peac.o.c.k, the Indian Man, the Crane, the Toucan, the Water-Snake, and the Goldfish; others since then have been added to these, the Greater Cloud and the Lesser, and the Rhomboid. We have enriched this globe with a considerable number of stars discovered by the Englishman Halley, who was sent to the Island of St. Helena for this purpose, with the addition of other observations as they have written."

Thirty-eight constellations are designated in the northern hemisphere, twelve in the zodiac, and thirty-three in the southern hemisphere, thus adding thirty-five to the number as given by Ptolemy. Instead of Ptolemy's 1022 catalogued stars, including fifteen of the first magnitude, forty-five of the second, two hundred and eight of the third, four hundred and seventy-four of the fourth, two hundred and seventeen of the fifth, forty-nine of the sixth, and forty which were nebular and indistinct, Coronelli gives the number as 1902, including eighteen of the first, sixty-eight of the second, two hundred and thirty-seven of the third, four hundred and ninety-six of the fourth, four hundred and eighty-nine of the fifth, five hundred and sixteen of the sixth, and seventy-eight which were nebular and indistinct. Five of the latter, having been discovered in the previous one hundred and twenty-five years, had wholly or in part disappeared in Coronelli's day, of which, that making its appearance in the constellation Ca.s.siopeia in the year 1572 disappeared in the year 1574, that discovered in the year 1596 in the Whale was rapidly diminishing in size, that discovered by Tycho Brahe in the Swan in the year 1600 ceased to be visible in the year 1629 to reappear in the year 1659, that in the Serpent larger than the planet Jupiter which was visible but thirteen months, that in the head of the Swan discovered in the year 1670 and still visible.

Coronelli seems to have made every endeavor to produce maps for his terrestrial globes which should omit nothing of real interest and value to geographers, navigators, and explorers. He added a rather unusual number of legends, explanatory and informative in character, but never seemed to crowd the s.p.a.ce which he had at his disposal. So exquisitely engraved were his maps that he was able to avoid the appearance of confusion noticeable on certain other globes of his century, as, for example, in the Old World parts of Blaeu's globe of 1622. It is very evident that many pages would be required for anything like a detailed description of his records, and the great majority must necessarily be omitted. To those quoted above a few, however, may be added.

Blaeu's reference to the prime meridian was cited in full as was that of Moroncelli; Coronelli's reference is here likewise cited, which, it will be noted, is not without errors. It is one having to do with problems concerning the determination of longitude, hence involving interests of vital concern to navigation. "Del primo meridiano. Sono in questo 72 meridiani, 36 con linee continuate, le altre sono di punti, da ciascuno dei quali e diviso in G. 5 di longitudine che e il corso del Sole in un terzo d'oro. Li Geografi antichi e moderni non convengono nel luogo dove pa.s.sa il primo meridiano; tra li primi Eratostene l'ha posto alle Colonne d'Hercole, Marino di Tyr all'Isole Fortunate, Tolomeo nella sua Geografia ha seguito la stessa opinione; ma ne' suoi libri di Astronomia l' ha pa.s.sato per Alessandria d'Egitto. Tra li moderni Ismaele Abulfeda lo segna a Cadiz, Alfonzo a Toledo, Pigafetta et Herrera hanno fatto il medisimo; Copernico lo pone a Freudenburgo; Renoldo a Monte Reale o Konisberg; Keplero a Uraniburgo; Longo Montano a Kopenhagen; Lansbergius a Goes; Ricciolo a Bologna. Gli Atlanti di Jansonio e di Blaeu a Monte Pico. Per continuare l'origine della mia Geografia ho posto in questo Globo il primo meridiano nella parte piu occidentale della Isola di Ferro, com'onche per seguire il Decreto di Luigi XIII, che col consiglio de' Geog. nel 1634 lo determin in questo stesso luogo." "Concerning the first meridian. There are represented on this 72 meridians, 36 with continuous lines--the others are marked,--by each of which it is divided into 5 degrees of longitude, which is the course of the sun in one third of an hour. The ancient and modern geographers do not agree upon the place through which the first meridian pa.s.ses: among the former, Eratosthenes put it at the Pillars of Hercules; Marinus of Tyre at the Canary Islands; Ptolemy in his geography has followed the same opinion, but in his books on astronomy he has located it as running through Alexandria in Egypt. Among the moderns, Ismail Aboulfeda puts it at Cadiz; Alfonso at Toledo; Pigafetta and Herrera have done the same; Copernicus puts it at Freudenberg; Reinhold at Mount Royal (Konigsberg); Kepler at Uranienburg; Longomonta.n.u.s at Copenhagen; Lansberg at Goa; Ricciola at Bologna; the atlases of Jansson and Blaeu at Mount Pico. To continue the precedent of my geography I have on this globe placed the first meridian in the most western part of the Island of Ferro,--as also to follow the decree of Louis XIII, who on the advice of the geographers in 1634 a.s.signed it to this same place." California he lays down as an island, west of which is a legend relating to "Nuova Albione," and north in the Pacific one relating to "Stretto di Anian." There is reference to the route to Goa, which is placed near the Island of Madagascar. The reference to the Zambesi River clearly gives evidence of acquaintance with Portuguese records of which we have no other knowledge. This legend reads, "Rio Zambese: Citta e fortezza di Tete de Portugal; Fortezza di S. Estevao; Minere di Ferro; Minere d'argento che il Re di Monom. promise al Re di Spagna nel 1604; Fortezza di Chicova." "Zambesi River: City and fortress of Tete of Portugal; fortress of S. Estevao; iron mines; silver mines which the King of Monomotapa promised to the King of Spain in 1604; fortress of Chicova." Like the other leading map makers of the period he has indicated the course of certain transoceanic expeditions, occasionally noting the distance sailed on each successive day, with other valuable and interesting information relating to the position of the sun and the moon, to atmospheric conditions, to the appearance of sea birds and of certain marine animals.

Globes of this 1688 edition may be found in the Biblioteca Comunale of Fano; in the Biblioteca Comunale of Faenza; in the Konigliche Mathematisch-Physikalischer Salon of Dresden, celestial undated; in the Biblioteca Civico of Bergamo; in the Biblioteca Gonzaga of Mantua; in the Biblioteca Marciana of Venice (Figs. 112, 113); in the Museo Civico of Venice; in the Biblioteca Universitario of Naples; in the Palazzo Manin of Pa.s.seriano. The twelve gores of the terrestrial globe may be found in the British Museum; a fine copy of the twelve gores may also be found in the Library of Congress, Washington; a copy of the mounted terrestrial globe belongs to the Biblioteca Emanuele of Rome; three copies of this globe in addition to the pair referred to above belong to the Museo Civico of Venice.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 112. Terrestrial Globe of P. Vincenzo Coronelli, 1688.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 113. Celestial Globe of P. Vincenzo Coronelli, 1688.]

It appears that Coronelli's terrestrial globe gores of the year 1688, which were frequently reissued, were but little altered in the several editions. His celestial globe in successive issues seems to have been much altered. France had specially honored the Venetian globe maker in giving to him every facility for the production of his great masterpieces, the Marly globes. The Societe Gallica of Paris decided, in the year 1693, to add to his honors, and to give expression to an appreciation of his merits through the publication of a new edition of his globes, at least of the celestial, the Venetian terrestrial of 1688 being made to serve as a companion. In the following legend we have information concerning the date, and concerning the partic.i.p.ants in its preparation: "Orbis coelesti typus. Opus a Coronelli Serenissimae Reipublicae Cosmographo inchoatum Societatis Gallicae sumptibus absolutum, Lutetiae Parisiorum. Anno N. S. MDCXCIII. Delin. Arnoldus Deuvez Regiae Acad. Pictor; Sculp. I. B. Nolin Reg. Chr. Calcographus."

"Representation of a celestial globe. A work begun by Coronelli, the cosmographer of the Venetian Republic; finished at the expense of the French Society at Paris in the year 1693. Drawn by Arnold Deuvez painter of the Royal Academy; I. B. Nolin Royal Cartographer, draughtsman."

The Parisian Society did not find it necessary to subst.i.tute the French language in the legends for the language of the author, as appears in the address to the reader, which of course is not Coronelli phrasing.

"Amico lettore. Rappresenta questa Globo le Costellazioni del Firmamento, quali agli occhi nostri compariscono e non come negli altri esposte, poiche nel centro loro bisogna immaginarsi d'essore per intenderle. Le stelle d'esso calcolate all'Epoca 1700 sono pubblicati.

Quelle comprese dalle Costellazioni di Baiero, come le piu cognite, perche con maggiore facilita si possino colle nostre confrontare, sono accompagnate cogli caratteri greci e latini da es so usati. Le stelle, ch' appres...o...b..iero, restano informi, sono, da noi segnate di giallo; le Nuove colorite di minio; le osservate dal P. Antelmo di verde, quelle dell' Hallei di pavonazzo, l'altre di Hevelio di lacca; le corrette da Baiero di Cinabro, e l'osservazioni fatte dagli altri autori si distinguono nel nostro Epitome Cosmografico, stampato in Venetia nel 1693. In questo pure vengono dilucidati gli Numeri, Caratteri, le Frezze, che pa.s.sano diametralmente per le stelle, la loro Obliquita, Lunghezza, l'Ac.u.me, gli Pianeti che l'accompagnano; il moto diario delle Comete, disegnate di molti secoli, ed ogni altro perticolare che per l'angustia del sito non e permesso esprimere senza il di cui libra non possono avere uso gli Globi presenti che pure restano descritti nel nostro Atlante Veneto non per cos diffusamente." "Dear reader. This globe represents the constellations of the firmament as they appear to our eyes and not as shown by others, since it is necessary to imagine that one is in their center in order to conceive them. The stars of the globe are represented as calculated for the year 1700. Those included in the constellations of Bayer, as the best known, in order that they, with greater ease may be compared with ours, are designated by the Greek and Latin characters used by him. Stars, which according to Bayer remain undetermined, are indicated by us as yellow; the new ones colored with red; those observed by P. Antelmo, with green, those of Halley with violet, the others of Hevelius with lake color; the stars corrected by Bayer with cinnabar; and the observations made by other authors are distinguished in our Cosmographical Epitome, printed in Venice in 1693.

In this also are elucidated the numbers, characters, the lines that pa.s.s diametrically through the stars, their obliquity, length, extremity, the planets that accompany them, the daily movement of the comets, traced for many centuries, and every other particular which because of the limitations of s.p.a.ce it is not here permitted to express,--without which book it is not possible to make use of the present globes, which are also described in our Venetian Atlas, but not so detailed."