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’Estrées a consacré 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 esté executées 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 arrestè le Cours de Ses Conquestes, et prescrit des bornes a Sa Valeur, plus grande encore que sa Fortune. M.DC.LXXXIII.” “To His August Majesty Louis the Great, the Invincible, the Happy, the Wise, the conquering. Cesar Cardinal d’Estrées 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.LXXXIII.”
Below this dedication, likewise below the corresponding dedication on the celestial globe, we read “Cet ouvrage a eté inventé et achevé par le Père 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 cum 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, cum insignem globum, 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’Estrées 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 Zanbèsi absolument fantaisiste. Il faut arriver au fameux globe de Coronelli pour y trouver en 1683 le cours de Zambèse tracé comme sur la carte que nous reproduisons. Il est évident que ce géographe vénitien a pu consulter des documents portugais aujourd’hui perdus, cartes ou relations de voyages, qui viendraient jeter un jour infiniment précieux sur les explorations des Portugais et les relations qu’ils entretenaient avec les populations belliqueuses du bassin du Chiré.” “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 documents 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 Chiré.”[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 Château 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 Bibliothèque 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 assurance, 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 manuscript, cited by Fiorini, which assures 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 document reads: “Rispondendo il P.r̄e Cosmografo Coronelli alii di lei questiti per la fabbrica delli globi, gli dice, che il farà tanto grandi, quanta sarà la capacità della stanza, e bisognando fabbricare anco una stanza dentro del Globo, resta solo che il Principe che la desidera, habbia curiosità e volontà do spendere; limitandosi però 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 assegnare il luogo alle figure vi vorrà 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 potrà fare quella spesa che parerà più propria al Principe, che desidera; mentre in questi si può o meno. E perchè il Principe conosca il genio dell’ autore in questa materia, osserverà 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 parerà propria alia generosità del Principe. S’aggiunge, un quinternetto della supputazione delle stelle d’Orione, perchè 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 space 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 virtù raccomanda all’eternità il nome di Cesare Cardinale eminentissimo d’Estrées, 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 MDCLXXXVIII.” “The genius of virtue commends to posterity the name of Cesar, most eminent Cardinal d’Estrées, 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. Serenità li Globi del Mondo, Teatro delle cospicue attioni de’ Principi, perchè mentre corre il terzo decimo secolo (ch’è 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 così reguardevole sin dove si vada sempre più estendendo la gloria del Veneto Nome. Quella che se ne assume 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 passing (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 assumed 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 è perfissa nell’anno futuro 1700 acciocchè l’arte in quest’ opera precorra quel tempo che per natura dovrà consumarla. Prevenendo questo globo tardo il Corso veloce del Cielo, comparisce presente il secolo venturo acciò possi ognuno con ordine più 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 seguirà 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 anticipates 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. Osservò 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 cioè 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 trasportò a tal effetto nell’Isola S. Elena, coll’aggiunta d’altre osservatione, così 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 Peacock, 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.”