Volume Ii Part 11 (2/2)

Christoph Sturm. In the year 1700, after some months pa.s.sed at the University of Halle, he determined to add to his equipment for his life work such experience as could be gained through travel; accordingly he visited in turn the more important cities of his own country and those of Holland and England, spending in his travels a period of ten years.

Among his more important publications may be mentioned a translation of the 'Astronomy' of Thomas Street,[149] a work by Bion in a German translation from the French, which at the same time he enlarged.[150]

His 'Einleitung zur Geographie,' appearing as an introduction to Homann's 'Atlas' issued in the year 1714, and his 'Atlas Coelestis,'

issued in the year 1742, are among his more important works original in character, which he published on the subject of geography and astronomy.

His princ.i.p.al work is his 'Notes' on the mathematicians and artists of Nurnberg.[151]

It was doubtless through his connection with the cartographical establishment of Homann that he felt induced to undertake the construction of his globes, examples of which exist dated 1728. In the collection belonging to The Hispanic Society of America (Fig. 126) there may be found a fine example of his terrestrial globes, which has a diameter of about 32 cm. Over a carefully prepared hollow wooden ball twelve gores, cut at the line of the equator and five degrees from each pole, have been pasted. The small polar s.p.a.ces lying between lat.i.tudes 85 degrees, both north and south, are covered by circular discs, having a diameter of but ten degrees, on the one is engraved ”Polus Arcticus”

and on the other ”Polus Antarcticus.” The globe is furnished with a narrow graduated meridian of bra.s.s within which the sphere turns on its polar axis, a horizon circle of wood, circular on its inner edge but octagonal on the outer. The engraved paper strip containing the zodiacal figures, calendar, and directions, has practically disappeared. The base support consists of four small turned columns of wood, attached at their lower extremities by crossbars over which is a circular plate, provision having been made for insertion into its surface of a compa.s.s, which instrument, however, has disappeared. Excepting slight damage to its horizon circle the globe may be said to be in an excellent state of preservation. In a neat cartouch in the North Pacific is the t.i.tle legend reading, ”Globus terrestris in quo locorum insigniorum situs terraeque facies secundum praecipuas celeberrimorum nostri aevi Astronomorum et Geographorum observationes opera Joh. Gabr. Doppelmaieri Mathem. Prof. Publ. Norib. exhibentur, concinnatus a Joh. Georg.

Puschnero Chalcographo Norib. A. C. 1728.” ”Terrestrial globe on which the position of the princ.i.p.al places on the surface of the earth are shown according to the princ.i.p.al observations of the most celebrated astronomers and geographers of our times by the labor of John Gabriel Doppelmayr, mathematician, professor and publisher of Nurnberg. Engraved by John George Puschner, engraver of Nurnberg[152] in the year 1728.” An interesting legend in the South Pacific tells us ”Exprimit Globus hic noster quicquid Geographia recens ex Observationibus fide dignis suppeditat tam in situ locorum plurium, quam in terrarum novarum etiam mariumque ambitu. Meridia.n.u.s primus per Insulam Fer inter Canarias (quae olim Fortunatae dicebantur) occidentalissimam ductus a quo Parisiensis Meridia.n.u.s Probatissimarum Observationum testimonio 20 Gradibus, Noribergensis vero 28 Gr. 40 Min: distat.” ”This globe of ours shows that which the latest geographical information furnishes from the trustworthy observations both as regards the location of new places and the extent of the new lands and seas. The first meridian pa.s.ses through the Island of Ferro in the Canary Islands (called the Fortunate Islands), which is the most western point and from which the meridian of Paris, according to the testimony of the most approved observations differs by 22 degrees, while that of Nurnberg differs by 28 degrees and 40 minutes.” Around this legend are the engraved portraits of famous explorers, ”Mart. Bohemus Norimbegus,” ”Americus Vesputi,” ”Franc.

Draco,” ”Schouten,” ”Georg Spilbergius,” ”R. P. Tachard,” ”Wilh.

Dampier,” ”Mon. de la Salle,” ”Thomas Candisch,” ”Olivirius a Nord,”

”Ferdin. Magellanicus,” ”Christ. Columbus.”

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 126. Terrestrial Globe of Johann Gabriel Doppelmayr, 1728.]

While the representation of the world is not so detailed in certain respects as we find, for example, on the Valk globes, there nevertheless is the evidence that the author wished to include such information as in his judgment should be recorded. There are records of interest in the newly explored regions of America. California is laid down as a peninsula. In about lat.i.tude 41 degrees there appears a Drake record reading ”Pt. F. Drack.” ”Fretum Anian” is represented at lat.i.tude 45 degrees. Sixty degrees to the west of this is the somewhat indefinitely indicated coast line of ”Terra Borealis incognita detecta Dom. Ioh. de Gama,” this being separated from the coast of ”Kamtzadalia Terra Jedso”

by ”Fretum Vries.” The recently explored regions in the Far East, as in Australia, New Zealand, Van Diemen's Land,--each, however, being represented as imperfectly known,--are made very prominent. There are scarcely any map records of the period more interesting than are those to be found on this globe of Doppelmayr's. The routes of Magellan, 1519; Nord, 1600; Roggeveen, 1722; Dampier, 1700; Tasman, 1624; Loys, 1708; Lemaire, 1616, are all laid down. In lat.i.tude 60 degrees south and longitude 300 degrees we find, ”Port detecta per Fr. Drack,” and again in lat.i.tude 67 degrees south and longitude 310, ”I. deton detecta per F.

Drack.”

To accompany his terrestrial globe, Doppelmayr issued a celestial globe bearing the same date. A t.i.tle legend on the latter reads, ”Globus coelestis novus Stellarum fixarum loca secundum celeberrimi astronomi Dantiscicani Joannis Hevelii Catalogum ad annum 1730 compl. sistens opera Joh. Gabr. Doppelmaieri M. P. P. exhibitus a Johanne Georgio Puschnero Chalcographo Noribergensi. A. C. 1728.” ”A new celestial globe giving the location of the fixed stars according to the record of the celebrated Danish astronomer Johannes Hevelius conforming to the year 1730, by the labor of Johannes Gabriel Doppelmayr, mathematician, professor, publisher, engraved by Johannes George Puschner, engraver of Nurnberg, in the year 1728.” In size and in general features of construction these globes seem to agree, being scientifically and carefully constructed. A pair of these globes may be found in the Biblioteca Capitolare of Verona, a pair in the Geographisches Inst.i.tute of Gottingen, a copy of the celestial in the Mathematical Salon of Dresden, a copy of the terrestrial in the Museo di Fisica of Pavia, a pair dated 1728 in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum of Nurnberg, a pair dated 1736, 20 cm. in diameter, and three copies each of his globes issued in 1730, 20 cm. in diameter, and a celestial globe dated 1730 and 20 cm. in diameter, in Dresden. (Fig. 126a.)

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 126a. Celestial Globe of Johann Gabriel Doppelmayr, 1728.]

Fiorini notes the existence of a large terrestrial globe belonging to the Marquis Luigi Cusani,[153] which probably was constructed in the early eighteenth century, perhaps before 1730, by order of Cardinal Agostino Cusani. The globe, unsigned and undated, is of papier-mache, having a diameter of about 120 cm. The paper gores with which the sphere is covered are not all of like form, but all are cut at the line of the equator and at lat.i.tude 80 both north and south, the usual circular disc being provided for covering the polar areas. On its surface the map has been drawn by hand, and practically all of the geographical names recorded are in the Italian language. The globe is mounted on a solid base, having a heavy horizon circle of wood, which is graduated, and on its surface are the names and the signs of the several zodiacal constellations, the names of the months and of the princ.i.p.al winds or directions. The meridian circle, within which the sphere revolves, is of bra.s.s and is graduated. It is reported to be in a good state of preservation.

The Biblioteca Comunale of Siena possesses two anonymous terrestrial globes, according to report of Fiorini, the one having a map in ma.n.u.script, the other having an engraved map.[154] The first of these, unsigned and undated, probably of the second quarter of the century, has a diameter of about 120 cm. The sphere is of wood, the surface of which is covered with mastic or varnish, and on this the map has been drawn.

It is constructed to revolve within its simple mounting of wood by means of a crank. The t.i.tle legend reads ”Globe terrestre Dresse selon les observations de l'Acad. Royale de Paris et des autres Acad. plus celebres d'Europe.” ”Terrestrial globe constructed according to the observations of the Royal Academy of Paris and of other Academies the most celebrated in Europe.” In addition to the above legend one finds the following inscription: ”On a pris la longitude des villes princ.i.p.ales des Tables de M?? Philippe de La Hire. Les autres villes ou il n' a point d'observations sont icy places en la meme distance des villes princ.i.p.ales dans la quelle on les voit dans les cartes de M.

Guillaume de l'Isle.” ”The longitudes of the princ.i.p.al towns have been taken from the tables of M?? Philippe de La Hire.[155] The other towns which have not been located from observation are placed at the same distance from the princ.i.p.al towns as they are located on the maps of M.

Guillaume de l'Isle.”

It seems probable that this globe was constructed in France, and from the particular references to La Hire and Delisle one may infer, as noted above, that it belongs to the early eighteenth century. Parallels and meridians are drawn on the surface of the globe at intervals of ten degrees, and one conspicuous wind rose with sixteen radiating lines is placed in lat.i.tude 30 degrees north and longitude 350 degrees counting from the prime meridian, which pa.s.ses through the Island of Ferro. This globe, it is thought, came to the Siena Library about the year 1810, at the time of French rule in Tuscany, together with the library of the Convent of S. Augustine, but how it came to have place in the Augustine convent is unknown.

The second Sienese terrestrial globe, like the one just described, probably belongs to about the same date.[156] It has the following legend conspicuously placed: ”Globo terracqueo corretto et accresciuto secondo le nuove scoperte. Anno 1744. In Roma nella Calcografia del R:C:A: al Pie di Marmo.” ”Terrestrial globe corrected and enlarged according to recent discoveries. 1744. In Rome in the engraving establishment of R. C. A. at the foot of the marble.” The globe ball is of wood, having a diameter of about 50 cm. Additional information concerning this globe it has not been possible to obtain. Copies of it may be found in the Biblioteca Comunale of Imola, in that of Osimo, in that of Savignano, and in the Seminario Vescovile of Ivrea.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 126b. Celestial Globe of Johann Puschner, 1730.]

In the Museo di Strumenti Antichi of Florence there is a well-preserved armillary sphere,[157] having the usual large circles the outer one measuring about 15 cm. in diameter, of four lesser ones and of these there are two small ones representing the sun and the moon. The meridian and the equator are graduated, as is likewise the ecliptic, having engraved on its surface the names of the princ.i.p.al winds in the Italian language, and the ecliptic having engraved in Latin on its surface the names of the signs of the zodiac. On one of the arms which supports the horizon circle is the author and date legend, reading, ”Joseph Torricelli F. Florentiae 1739.” Fiorini thinks it probable that Joseph was a relative of Evangelista Torricelli, inventor of the barometer.

Pietro Maria da Vinchio, a monk of the order of St. Francis, deserves a word of special praise for the skill with which he labored as a map and globe maker about the middle of the eighteenth century.[158] He seems to have followed in the main the work of Moroncelli, and that of the unknown maker of the Cusani globe, yet he should be counted a workman possessing greater technical ability. His first pair of globes have a diameter of about 60 cm. The mounting consists of a meridian and a horizon circle of wood, the whole resting on a somewhat elaborate wooden base. The gores with which he covered his spheres are in each instance eighteen in number, but each gore has been cut into three sections--at the parallel of 40 degrees, both north and south, and also at the parallel of 80 degrees, the polar s.p.a.ces having the usual circular disc covering. The terrestrial globes have represented on their surfaces the polar and the tropical circles, also the ecliptic and the equator, together with the several parallels and meridians at intervals of ten degrees. Artistic wind roses are placed at each of the equinoctial points, each with points representing the eight princ.i.p.al directions.

The t.i.tle legend reads, ”Globus terrestris juxta geographicas mappas novissime editas accurate descriptus, in quibus, exactiori observatione praemissa, errores multiplices sunt emendati, qui in veteri geographia detinebantur impressi. F. Petri Mariae a Vinchio opus et labor 1739.”

”Terrestrial globe accurately delineated according to the most recent geographical maps in which, by more exact observations, numerous errors are corrected which continued to be printed in the old geography. Fra Peter Maria a Vinchio, his work and labor, 1739.”

The celestial globe, similar in its construction in practically every respect to the preceding, has its system of circles represented according to the equatorial system instead of the ecliptic system. All of the Ptolemaic constellations are represented, the figures of the several constellations being very artistically painted. Its dedication reads, ”Illmo ac Revmo D. D. Petro Hieronymo Caravadossi Episcopo Casalensi Ordinis Praedicatorum parvum hoc Firmamentum dicatum a F.

Petro Maria de Vinchio Ord. Min. Stric. Obser. operis auctor. 1745.”

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