In what has been stated above concerning globe makers of Italy in the late seventeenth century and the early eighteenth, it has been noted that a number of those most prominent were members of some one or other of the many monastic orders. Benci and Moroncelli were of the Silvestrin Congregation; Coronelli was a Minorite, being honored with an election to the office of General of the Franciscan Order. It was in the late seventeenth century that Giovanni Battista da Cassine,[105] a Capuchin monk, began to achieve distinction as a map and globe maker, in particular, however, through the maps he drafted of the various provinces of his order which he described in his ‘Descrizione cosmografica della Provincie e dei Conventi de FF: Min. Cappuccini di S. Francesco.’[106] He was a native of Cassine in the district of Alessandria, and entered in early life into the Convent of the Immaculata Concezzione of Milan. He tells us, in his introduction to his work noted above, that he constructed two globes for the library of his convent in Milan, a terrestrial and a celestial, adding, “Quondam aedificabam, simul et delineabam pro Bibliotheca nostra Immacolatae Conceptionis duos satis grandes Globos nimirum coelestem unum, terrestrem alium.” “I once designed and constructed for our library of the Immaculate Conception, two large globes, one a terrestrial, the other a celestial.” We do not know the exact date of the construction of these globes, but it probably was near 1700.[107] It is further probable that these globes were examples of Italy’s best productions within this field. They, however, cannot now be located, having disappeared at the time of the dissolution of the convent in the year 1810.
George Christopher Eimmart (1638-1705), a native of Ravensburg, was one of Germany’s most famous mathematicians of the seventeenth century.[108] He is reported to have been for some time associated with Erhard Weigel in the University of Jena, where he won distinction for himself in his mathematical and law studies. It was about the year 1658, after the death of his father, that he became especially interested in the art of copper engraving, and in the year 1660 he established himself in this business in the city of Nürnberg. The study of mathematics, however, continued to interest him, and we soon find him giving especial attention to astronomical science, to the construction of astronomical instruments, such as quadrants, sextants, telescopes, astronomical clocks, and celestial spheres. In one of the fortifications of the city he erected a small observatory, in which he carried on his astronomical studies, evincing, as the months passed, much interest in giving practical instruction to many of the young students of the city, among whom may be named Johannes Philipp Würzelbauer, who later was ennobled by Emperor Leopold on account of his scientific attainments, and who at the time of the reception of this honor changed his name to Wurzelbau. Eimmart counted among his friends, with whom he was in constant communication, Leibnitz, Cassini, La Hire, Flamsteed, Hevel, and others. His correspondence with these distinguished men of science, together with his numerous papers relating to his mathematical and astronomical studies, are still preserved in manuscript, filling no less than fifty-seven volumes.[109] In the year 1695 he published a description of an armillary sphere which he had constructed to represent the Copernican system, but this cannot now be located.[110] In the year 1705, the year of his death, he issued a pair of globes, an example of each being now kept in the Museo Astronomico of Rome. These spheres of papier-mâché, each having a diameter of about 30 cm., are supplied each with a base of wood, consisting of four turned columns, which support a horizon circle of wood, on which are the usual engraved concentric circles bearing respectively the names of the principal directions or winds, the names of the zodiacal constellations, with their respective figures, the names of the principal festivals, and names of the saints. They are made to revolve within a graduated meridian circle which is adjusted to move within the horizon circle. The globe balls are covered with engraved gore maps, each consisting of twelve sections cut at the equatorial line and in latitude 80 degrees, the polar areas being covered with a circular disc, having the necessary radius of ten degrees.
On the terrestrial globe we find the following author and date legend: “Cum geographica Orbis Terrarum descriptio secundum long. et lat. non nisi vel per peregrinationes marittimas vel observationes coelestes emendatior in dies prodeat, istud autem per experimenta propria (quo ad exiguam saltem partem) perfecisse, e’ mille, vix uni contigat; Oportuit nos Recentiorum accuratissimis observationibus insistore et quatenus cum veritate congruant vel discrepent exactiori tuo judicio relinquest. Nos eadem loca bona fide, nihil immutantes, prout ab auctoribus novissimis accepimus usui tuo exhibibemus. Norimbergae apud G. C. Eimmartum Ao Christi 1705.” “Since the geographical description of the earth according to latitude and longitude, both by maritime voyages and by celestial observations becomes more accurate day by day, it happens to scarcely any one man to perfect (a globe) by his own observations for these can be partial only. Therefore it behooves us to make use of the most accurate modern observations. In so far as they agree with the truth or depart from it it is left for you with your more exact judgment to decide. We, for our part, exhibit for your use the places in all good faith, as we have received them from the latest authorities and have changed nothing. Nürnberg. By G. C. Eimmart, 1705.”
Meridians and parallels are represented at intervals of five degrees, the ecliptic and the equator being graduated. Compass roses are numerous, from which radiate numerous loxodromic lines. The several compass roses are located on the equator, and at latitude 35 degrees and 70 degrees both north and south, where these parallels are crossed by the prime meridian and the meridians of 90 degrees, of 180 degrees, and of 270 degrees.
In the southern hemisphere of the celestial globe is the following inscription: “Loca stellarum coelesti huic Globo insertarum a Jo. Hevelio astronomo insigni ad ann. 1700 complet. sum̄o studio ac diuturnis vigiliis restituta sunt; quae in hujusmodi Typum ad perpetuam Coeli conformitatem juxta modum quem Problema inferius adjectum praescribit noviter redacta a G. C. Eimmarto.” “The position of the stars inscribed on this celestial globe were determined by J. Hevelius, renowned astronomer, and completed to the year 1700 through deep study and nightly vigils. And these observations on this globe are made perpetually to conform, according to the method which is described below, and these have been revised by G. C. Eimmart.”
Attention is called to the stars of the various magnitudes up to the seventh by an appropriate illustration of each placed in a small but artistically designed wreath. Latin names are given to the several constellations and to a number of the individual stars, though one finds an occasional Arabic name. Among the several constellations one notes certain modern names such as “Scutum Subiescianum.”
In addition to the pair referred to above, a copy of the celestial globe may be found in the Biblioteca Civico of Bergamo.
Joseph Moxon (1627-1700) (Fig. [116]) was an English mathematician and hydrographer of great distinction.[111] His earliest business, dating from about 1655, was that of a maker and vender of mathematical instruments, but he later turned his attention toward the designing of letters and the making of printing types, achieving, for his work in this field, a very remarkable reputation. It was in his early years, when especially interested in making mathematical instruments in his shop in Russell Street, at “The Sign of the Atlas,” that his thought was turned toward geography, astronomy, and navigation; at any rate, he published in the year 1657 an edition of Edward Wright’s ‘Certain errors in navigation detected and corrected.’[112] In 1659 he published in London the first edition of his important work which he called ‘A Tutor to Astronomy and Geography, or an easie and speedy way to know the Use of both the Globes, Celestial and Terrestrial.’ This work, frequently reissued during his lifetime, was followed at intervals by a number of publications chiefly relating to the art of printing.[113] As to the importance he attached to his own knowledge of globes, he states on the title-page of his book on their uses that he explains therein “More fully and amply than hath yet been set forth, either by Gemma Frisius, Metius, Hues, Wright, Blaeu, or any others that have taught the Use of the Globes: and that so Plainly and Methodically, that the meanest Capacity may at first Reading apprehend it, and with a little Practice grow expert in these Divine Sciences.” In his address “To the Reader,” appearing as an introduction to this same work, he gives us further word not only concerning his own globes, but an interesting insight into what a globe maker of that time conceived as essential points to be noted when directing attention to his own special work. Though somewhat lengthy, it is here quoted as an interesting early statement. He observes in his introductory paragraph that he is writing not “to expert Practitioners but to Learners; to whom Examples may prove more Instructive than Precepts.
