Terrestrial and Celestial Globes Volume 2 / Their History and Construction Including a Consideration of their Value as Aids in the Study of Geography and Astronomy

by Edward Luther Stevenson

A pair of his earliest globes is in the possession of the Biblioteca di S. Marco of Venice (Fig. [105]). These were probably constructed as early as the year 1672 for the monastery of Cassenesi, located on the Island of S. Georgio Maggiore. The director of the S. Marco Library informs the author[75] that they have a diameter of more than 2 m., and that through want of proper care they are in a very bad state of preservation, being so darkened with age as to render their maps quite illegible. On the terrestrial globe there is a portrait, opposite which is a representation of the coat of arms of a bishop. The celestial globe is somewhat better preserved, having a title, only a part of which can be deciphered, reading “In hoc coelesti globo adnotantur omnes stellae fixae ad annum ... ac cometae,” and concluding “Extruxit D. Silvester Amantius Moroncellus Fabrianensis benedictinus sub congregationem Silvestri Abbatis. Venetiis in Augustissima bibliotheca S. Georgii Majoris....” The director of the library reads the date as 1683, others have thought it to be 1672.

Fig. 105. Terrestrial Globe of Silvester Amantius Moroncelli, 1672.

In the Biblioteca Alessandrini of Rome may be found two manuscript globes of Moroncelli, a terrestrial and a celestial, each having a diameter of about 88 cm. These spheres are covered with paper gores fashioned as are printed gore maps, eighteen in number, the polar space being covered with semicircular sections, two in number for each pole. On this paper covering the maps were drawn by hand. Each of the globes is furnished with a brass meridian circle and a horizon circle of wood, the whole being supported by a plane base. Under the portrait of Pope Innocent XI is the following inscription: “Regnante Innocentio XI. Hos cosmographicos globos toto studio construxit, calamoque conscripsit, D. Silvester Amantius Mon. Benedictinus Cong. Silvestrin. Ann. D. MDCLXXVII.” “In the Pontificate of Innocent XI these cosmographic spheres were constructed with all zeal, and completed with the pen, by D. Silvester Amantius a monk of the Benedictine order and of the Silvestrin Congregation. In the year 1677.” The legend containing the usual address to the reader is taken from Greuter’s globe of 1632 or from Blaeu’s globe of 1622,[76] concluding, however, with the following, “D. Silvester Amantius Moroncellus Fabrianensis Monachus Silvestrinus auctor, construxit et notavit. Aetatis suae an. 27. 1679.” “D. Silvester Amantius Moroncelli of Fabriano, a monk of the Silvestrin order; constructed and lettered (this globe) in the 27th year of his age. 1679.” On the terrestrial globe meridians and parallels are indicated at intervals of ten degrees, the prime meridian passing through the Canary Islands.

On the celestial globe is the following legend or inscription: “Laudatissimum Astronomiae studium atquum sit difficilimum, jucunditas tamen cum difficultate conjungitur, prospere ut homines et coelum potius quam calcata intueri. Creator noster omnipotens cetera animantia per terram sternere jussit, at homines non sic, sed totum ad sidera extolli. Pronaque cum spectent animalia cetera terrae Os homini sublime dedit coelumque videre Jussit, et erectos ad sidera tollere vultus. Et ideo optimum erat ut aliquod exemplum sub oculis hic opponeretur quod non immerito in medio sapientiae sistit, ut sciant non aliter quam et per sapientiam ipsum posse cognosci.

“In isto igitur per ipsum coelestium siderum ordinem cognoscent et nomina astrorum juxta exactum observationem Hipparchi, Ptolomei, Alphonsi, et Copernici per Ticonem Brahe ad trutinam examinatiae, et ne octium me opprimeret, in istud quod cernunt per me accurate delineata. Ita ut omnes cognoscant in vita quod post mortem omnibus opto valeant. Romae apud S. Stephanum supra Caccum die VI men. Jan. MDCLXXX. D. Silvester Amantius Moroncellus Fabrianensis Mon. Cong^is Silvestrinorum.” “The much lauded study of astronomy, although it is very difficult, yet pleasure is joined with the difficulty, for it is a happier lot for men to look at the sky, than to look at the road trodden by their feet; our Omnipotent Creator ordained that other living beings should be prone on the earth, that man should not be so, but should be wholly lifted up to the stars. For while other living beings look earthward, He has given man an uplifted countenance and bidden him look heavenward, and raise his uplifted face toward the stars. And therefore it was good that some example should be placed here under his eyes, which might assist him to stand in the midst of wisdom, so that men might understand that God could be known in no otherwise than by wisdom. On this globe therefore, and by its aid will be known the order and the names of the celestial stars according to the exact observations of Hipparchus, Ptolemy, Alfonso, and Copernicus, and arranged for general use by Tycho Brahe; and that idleness might not oppress me, accurately depicted by me, according to their discoveries. This I have done in order that all men may know in their lifetime what I hope they may all attain to know after their death. At Rome, from S. Stevens on the hill, January 6th, 1680. D. Silvester Amantius Moroncelli of Fabriano, a monk of the Silvestrin Congregation.”

The tropics, the polar circles, and the ecliptic are represented, and the figures of the several constellations are artistically drawn, the effect being heightened by skilful shading.

The Biblioteca Municipale of Fermo possesses a fine manuscript terrestrial globe made by Moroncelli and dated 1713. This globe is not a perfect sphere, having a polar diameter of 180 cm. and an equatorial diameter of 194 cm. The ball is composed of thin strips of wood extending from pole to pole, having first, over the same, a covering of heavy parchment paper, and over this somewhat irregular but well-joined pieces of fine draughting paper. It is furnished with a meridian circle of iron, a horizon circle of wood, the whole resting on a wooden base. The author and date legend, placed in a shield-shaped cartouch, reads, “Opus meccanicum hoc mirifice compositum ab Ill. m̄o Domino Philippo Antonio Morrono Archipresbitero Firm^no Mirificentius vere geographice distinctum a Rev^mo P. Abb. D. Silvestro Amantio Moroncello Fabrianensi. Anno a Redemptore nato MDCCXIII.” “This mechanical work was marvelously constructed by the Illustrious D. Philip Antony Morono, Archdeacon of Fermo. Its geographical details were wonderfully inserted by the Rev. Father Abbot D. Silvester Amantius Moroncelli of Fabriano, in the year of Redemption, 1713.”

In a cartouch similar to that containing the legend just quoted, though much larger and resting on a representation of the imperial eagle of Fermo, having a white cross on its breast and the motto “Firmum firma fides Romanorum colonia,” there is drawn a picture of the city of Fermo with a red background. Near the Tropic of Cancer, on the meridian of 250 degrees, there is a shield with the coat of arms of the Morone family, and below the Tropic of Cancer, on the meridian of 200 degrees, is the coat of arms of the author, likewise within a shield and artistically sketched. The picture of a Moor and of a black eagle, around which is a band of blue with three golden stars, the whole surmounted by a prelate’s black hat with tassels, the Moor indicating the origin of the name Moroncelli, and the prelate’s hat honoring the author’s intimate friend, Gian Francesco Albani, who became Pope Clement XI and who had nominated him a domestic prelate.