Volume I Part 16 (2/2)
The Biblioteca Laurentiana of Florence possesses four small armillary spheres, bearing neither date nor author legends.[328] The larger of these has a diameter of about 32 cm., is of bra.s.s, and rests upon an artistic support composed of a group of bronze satyrs. The other three, by reason of their close resemblance, appear to be the work of the same artist. Each has a diameter of about 23 cm. and a base of bra.s.s on which stands a small bronze statue, which bears on its shoulders a globe. This globe supports the several circles composing the armillary sphere. The supporting statue in one of these is clad and is represented as wearing sandals on the feet, supposedly representing the mythical Atlas. In another of these the statue is that of a man resting on the right knee with the left hand uplifted, while in the third the statue is that of a woman resting upon the left knee, having the right hand uplifted. These globes are reported as not being in good condition, but each exhibits artistic merit of a high order.
There is likewise to be found in the Biblioteca Nationale of Florence a small celestial globe of bronze, and a celestial and terrestrial globe of silver. These globes are neither signed nor dated but are thought to belong to the period now under consideration. The bronze globe has the constellations represented in relief. It is exceedingly small, having a diameter of about 10 cm. The silver globes have diameters about half the preceding, or about 4.5 cm. They are furnished with horizon and meridian circles, and have mountings which clearly are modern. The several constellations represented on the celestial globe are exceedingly well done, as are all of the decorative figures appearing on the terrestrial globe. Geographical names are necessarily few because of the size of the globe.
Attention has been called to the references which Ruscelli makes in his 'Geografia' to globe construction.[329] Notice may likewise here be called to a similar reference, though much more brief, made by Francesco Maurolico, a native of Messina, and often referred to as the new Archimedes, because of his great fame acquired in the field of mathematics and astronomy. In his work, published in the year 1575,[330]
he devoted part of one chapter to the subject ”De sphaera solida,”
describing the construction of a celestial globe, and the use of the same. We have no evidence that he was ever engaged in the construction of such instruments as aids in the study of his science.
Lastly, in this chapter, mention may be made of the work of Mario Cartaro. It appears that with his work that of the Italian globe makers of the century practically came to a close; the names of but two or three appear in the last quarter.
Cartaro first achieved distinction as a designer and engraver in Rome, where he issued a work containing the portraits of the first twenty-four Roman Emperors.[331] From Rome it appears that he went to Naples, where he continued to reside until the time of his death. That he was much favored in Naples is attested by the fact that he was given a commission to design or to represent all places and plants in the kingdom, and to receive for the same ”ten scudi per month.”[332] It is probable that as a result of this commission we have that fine ma.n.u.script atlas of thirteen maps now belonging to the Biblioteca Nationale of Naples, representing the provinces of the kingdom and signed ”M. Cartaro F.
1613.”[333] This ma.n.u.script gives striking evidence of his cartographical ability. The ma.n.u.script is of paper, its first map representing the ancient kingdom of Naples, on which is placed the Spanish coat of arms. The remaining twelve represent the following named provinces: Terra di Lavorro, Princ.i.p.ato Citra, Princ.i.p.ato Ultra, Basilicata, Calabria Citra, Calabria Ultra, Terra d'Otranto, Terra di Bari, Capitanata, Contado di Molise, Abruzzo Citra, Abruzzo Ultra.
Cartaro's globes are of solid wood about 16 cm. in diameter, the b.a.l.l.s being covered with engraved gore maps. On his celestial globes appears the inscription, ”Marius Cartarus Viterbensis Autor incidebat Romae cu priv. 1577.” The twelve or rather twenty-four half gores, since they are cut on the line of the ecliptic, are copper engraved. The equator, the tropics, the polar circles, and the colures are represented, the ecliptic and the equator being graduated, the degrees being alternately colored red and yellow. The several constellations are well drawn, are colored yellow with shading, and stand out prominently against a blue background representing the sky. His terrestrial globes bear the inscription ”Marius Cartarus Viterbensis Autor incidebat Romae MDLXXVII c.u.m privilegio,” the gores being divided, as in the preceding, into twenty-four. Meridians and parallels are drawn at intervals of fifteen degrees, alternate degrees being colored red and yellow, the prime meridian pa.s.sing through the Canary Islands and being graduated.
In the Osservatorio del Collegio Romano may be found two copies of the celestial and one example of the terrestrial globe, one of the former once belonging to the astronomer, Virgilio Spada, and later to the Biblioteca Vallicelliana. Neither of these globes is well preserved, the original mountings are wanting, and each rests on a base of wood which has been merely designed to serve as a support.
A copy of the celestial globe may be found in the Museo di Strumenti Antichi of Florence, which was presented to the museum by the Grand Duke Leopold I. This example is reported to be in good condition, being mounted on a base of wood, and having a horizon and a meridian circle of wood, both of which are graduated. On the horizon appear the names of the eight princ.i.p.al winds, with representations of the wind heads having distended cheeks.
A fairly well-preserved example of the terrestrial globe (Fig. 69) was recently purchased by Mr. Reed of New York City, by whose courteous permission it was photographed for reproduction in this work. It has a single pedestal base which is gilded, is furnished with horizon and meridian circles, the former being supported by two semicircles, which in turn rest on the pedestal base. Practically all of the inscriptions are in capitals, and all of the work of the engraver has been very artistically done. The outline of the New World resembles closely that given by Mercator and by Zaltiari. In North America we find interestingly represented a great lake drained by two rivers, apparently, but not accurately drawn as the Mississippi and the St.
Lawrence. The southwestern part is called ”Nova Spagna,” Mexico is designated as ”Nova Galitia”; in the northeast we find ”La Nova Franza,”
and ”Terra de Norubeca,” and in the southeast ”Florida,” although the peninsula is not well drawn. South America bears the name ”America,” so drawn as practically to cover the continent, and in addition we find ”Castiglia de Loro,” ”Para,” ”Peru Provin,” ”Chili,” and lake ”Tichia,”
located well inland. It will be noted in the reproduction that the sphere is well shot through by the industrious book- or woodworm.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 69. Terrestrial Globe of Mario Cartaro, 1577.]
NOTES
[290] See his catalogue No. XLII, item 133; also catalogue No. L, item 327. Nordenskiold. Facsimile Atlas. Plate XL reproduces the terrestrial globe gores.
[291] Marcel, G. Francois De Mongenet, geographe franc-comtois. (In: Bulletin de geographie, historique et descriptive. Paris, 1889. pp. 31-40.); Gunther, S. Die mathematischen Sammlung des Gesmanischen Museums zu Nurnberg. (In: Leopoldina, Heft 14, p. 110.)
[292] See above, p. 129.
[293] Vasari, op. cit., Vol. III, pp. 500, 512, 514.
[294] Ruscelli, G. La geografia di Claudio Tolomeo Alessandrino monumente tradotta di greco in italiano.
Venezia, 1561. p. 32.
[295] See above, p. 122.
[296] Joppi, V. Pittori e scultori. Venezia, 1881. p. 86.
[297] Fiorini, M. Le projezioni delle carte geografiche.
Bologna, 1881. Chap. vi, --5; same author. Le projezioni cordiformi nella Cartografia. (In: Bolletino della Societa Geografica Italiana. Roma, 1889. pp. 554-579.)
[298] Joppi, op. cit., pp. 71 ff.
[299] The t.i.tle-page reads, Della grandezza della terra et dell' acqua. Trattato di M. Alessandro Piccolomini, nuovamente mandato in luce all' Ill.u.s.tr. et Rev. S. Monsig.
M. Jacomo Cocco Arcivescovo di Corfu. Con privilegio. In Venetia MDLVIII.
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