In one of his publications[70] Weigel describes his several mechanical devices, including his globes, to which he refers as “Globus Mundanus,” “Viceglobus,” “Globus coelestis perpetuus,” and “Geocosmus,” the latter being referred to by the author as a useful terrestrial globe, which exhibits not only all countries, but the time of the day and of the year in all localities; also the wind and the rain and volcanic eruptions. Coronelli gives a brief description of the same, which he calls a “Pancosmo, o Mondo Universale,” from which, in the main, the following is taken.[71]
This machine, he says, has a circumference of thirty-two feet, being constructed in the form of an armillary sphere. On its surface the stars are represented, each in its proper size and place, and Coronelli, perhaps indirectly quoting Weigel’s own opinion of his production, notes its real superiority to nature, for he states that the stars, as represented, can be seen at all hours of the day and night and as well in sunshine or rain. This “Pancosmo” was made to appear, in its mounting, as if standing or resting on the clouds, the whole being supported by two statues each eight feet in height, the one representing Hercules and the other Athene. Through a door, which was practically invisible, the great sphere could be entered by a considerable number of persons at one time, and be enjoyed by them, implies Coronelli, some standing and some sitting. It was so arranged within that when one half of the celestial sphere was lighted the other half remained in darkness, the revolution of the sphere giving a representation of the rising and the setting of the stars. At the center was placed a small terrestrial globe within which was a reservoir; this could be made to serve in a representation of the subterranean fires which issued, at times most opportune, from the craters of volcanoes represented, such as Vesuvius and Aetna in the south of Italy, others in the East Indian Islands and still others in America. “They give out steam, flames, and pleasant odors,” says Coronelli, “which please the spectators.” By means of a screen and lantern it was made possible to represent the inhabitants of any country desired, moving about as in actual life, even “the antipodes,” says the author, “with heads downward and feet upward.” At pleasure a breeze could be made to blow from any desired quarter, meteors could be made to flit across the sky; rain- and hailstorms, lightning and thunder, could be imitated. On the surface of the terrestrial globe were represented the several countries of the earth, likewise the several seas. Coronelli notes that which Weigel seems to have regarded an especially commendable feature, the grouping of the stars into new constellations, which grouping was particularly designed to aid the memory. This of all the large globes constructed in the period seems especially to have represented the ultrapractical, and we have no knowledge that it was ever regarded in any other light than as a great mechanical wonder. The final disposition of this “Pancosmo” is unknown. Günther doubts that globes such as Weigel proposed to construct are still in existence. He, however, refers to a globe in the collection of the Germanisches Museum which exhibits the constellations somewhat after Weigel’s plan.
That a certain preference manifested itself in Italy, during the greater part of the sixteenth century, and among certain individuals interested in geographical and astronomical matters, in engraved metal globes or in globes with manuscript maps, has been previously noted. An argument frequently advanced in opposition to that favoring the use of printed maps was that the manuscript globe could the more easily be made of large size, indeed could easily be made of any desirable size. The later years of the seventeenth century furnish us with excellent examples in proof that a preference for such globes lingered in certain circles in the peninsula.
Carlo Benci (1616-1676), a Silvestrian monk, born in the Tuscan town of Montepulciano, may be named as one of the foremost among the manuscript globe makers of the period.[72] At the age of twenty-one he entered the monastery of S. Benedetto of Fabriano, receiving in the ceremony attending his admission the name D. Doroteo. One year later we find him in the monastery of S. Giovanni in Montepulciano, and in the year 1652 in the convent of S. Stefano del Cacco of Rome, on entering which he changed his name to D. Carlo Benci, we are told, attained to a place of eminence among men of learning in Italy on account of his philosophical and theological studies. In the year 1645 he was chosen for an administrative office in his order, and later he successively became sacristan, curate prior, and titular abbé of S. Bonifazio near Cingoli in the Marche, retaining to the end of his life the headship of the parish of S. Stefano.
To his fame as philosopher and theologian he seems to have added that of expert cosmographer, winning through the wide extent of his interests the special favor of Pope Clement X, who selected him as his spiritual adviser. It must be noted, however, that his name nowhere appears especially conspicuous among contemporary writers on philosophical, theological or scientific subjects, and we have only the tangible evidence of his cosmographical interests in a fine pair of globes constructed in the year 1671, now belonging to Prince D. Camillo Massimo of Rome.
These globes have a diameter of about 1 m. and still retain the greater part of their original mounting, which, in each, consists of a meridian circle (this in the terrestrial globe is modern) not graduated, within which they are adjusted to revolve on their equatorial polar axes, of a horizon band, likewise not graduated, being circular on the inner edge, but octagonal on the outer, the whole being supported by four turned legs joined by crossbars at their lower extremities. Both spheres are of papier-mâché and are well preserved, the terrestrial having suffered slightly more injury than the celestial. The spheres are covered with somewhat irregular pieces of paper, though carefully matched, which are yellow with age. On this paper surface the maps terrestrial and celestial were drawn with a stylus.
On a plate attached to the terrestrial globe we find a dedication to Pope Clement X, this being surmounted with a coat of arms of the Altieri family, of which family Pope Clement was a member. This dedication reads:
“Beatissimo Padre. Non si debbono questi due globi rappresentanti il Cielo e la Terra da me con diligente studio composti consecrare ad altri che alla Sta Vra, come quella, che dell’ uno maneggia le Chiavi e dell’ altra regge lo Scettro. Considerava io, che l’ Imperio di Vra Beatitne per non avere confini, che lo restringano, è contanto vasto, che non può quasi essere da humano intendimo compreso, poichè non ha la Terra, nè monte, nè fiume, nè l’Oceano istesso, che i termini gli prescriva, nè ha il Cielo, nè Asterismo, nè gruppo di stelle sì folto che faccia sbarra et impedisca che l’ autorità della St̄a V.r̄a non giunga alle porte dell’ Empireo, che chiude e disserra a suo talento. Quindi riflettendo io sopra l’ampiezza o per così dire incomprensibilità del suo sacro Regno, per agevolare il suo conoscimo mi disposi di portare quasi in compendio de l’ uno e l’altro orbe, cioè Celeste e Terreno, in queste due moli di giro non ordinario la descritione dove possa l’occhio con un semplice sguardo ravvisare ciò che non può la nostra mente con la sua acutezza comprendere, e dove la S.t̄a V.r̄a, sollevata tal’ hora dal peso delle cure gravissime, possa rivolgere le luci per contemplare la D. grandezza del suo Sacro dominio. Di qui spero che V.r̄a Beatitudine sia per gradire queste mie deboli fatiche, come di un suddito che porta il carattere di suo servitore attuale, e che sia per misurare dalla grandezza di queste Sfere l’eccesso delle obbligazioni che le professo. E. qui augurandole l’età e gl’ anni di Nestore, le bacio humilmente prostrato a terra i Santissimi piedi.
“Di S. Stefano del Cacco di Roma li 28 di Dicembre 1671 “Di V.r̄a Beatitudine.
“Hummo Devotmo Obligmo servre e Suddito
“D. Carlo Benci Monco Silvestrino.”[73]
“Most blessed Father. These two globes, which represent the heavens and the earth, constructed by myself with painstaking industry, ought not to be dedicated to any one but to Your Holiness, who with one hand controls the keys and with the other wields the scepter. I reflect that the empire of Your Holiness, having no boundaries to restrict it, is so vast that it scarcely can be grasped by the human imagination, since earth has not mountain, river, or even ocean that can set limits thereto; nor is there sky, or planet, or star, or constellation so dense as to check or hinder Your Holiness from reaching the gate of empyrean which You open and shut at will. Reflecting therefore upon the expanse, and so to speak, upon incomprehensibleness of Your Holiness’ Empire, I determined, with a view to furthering the knowledge of it to give a representation of both worlds (that is of the celestial and of the terrestrial), much reduced, as it were, upon these two spheres of no mean size, on which the eye will be able at one glance to recognize what the human intellect with all its powers is impotent to grasp; and over which Your Holiness, when at times relieved from the pressure of overwhelming responsibilities, will be able to cast your glance in order to view the aforesaid vastness of Your Dominion.