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

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 Sphaeridicum,” 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.

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 principal winds or directions, rests upon two semicircles, which in turn rest on a support of brass ornamented by six allegorical figures. In this supporting base there has been placed a compass. 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 latitude 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 latitude and co-latitude by fives. Adjusted to this meridian is a circle representing the colures, likewise graduated both for latitude and co-latitude, 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 Mirandulanus Feccit 1689.” The supporting base is triangular in shape, having a compass 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 Mirandulanus Dom^us,” 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 principal 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 pass.

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^us 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 illustrious 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.