Harmonia Macrocosmica
 PLANISPHÆRIVM COPERNICANVM. Plate 22 of the First Edition | |
| Author | Andreas Cellarius |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Frederik Hendrik van den Hove, Johannes van Loon e.a. |
| Language | Latin, Dutch, German, French |
| Publisher | Johannes Janssonius |
Publication date | 1660 |
| Publication place | Netherlands |
| Media type | Stellar Atlas |
| number of plates = 29 | |
 | This article includes alist of references,related reading,orexternal links,but its sources remain unclear because it lacksinline citations.(April 2018) |
TheHarmonia Macrocosmicais astar atlaswritten byAndreas Cellariusand published in 1660 byJohannes Janssonius.The first part of the atlas contains copper plate prints depicting the world systems ofClaudius Ptolemy,Nicolaus Copernicus,andTycho Brahe.At the end are star maps of the classical and furtherconstellations,the latter ones as introduced byJulius Schillerin hisCoelum stellatum christianumof 1627.
For its importance in thehistory of cartography,particularly ofcelestial cartography,theHarmonia Macrocosmicais considered one of the notable masterworks from theGolden Age of Dutch/Netherlandish cartography(c.1570s–1670s), along withAbraham Ortelius'sTheatrum Orbis TerrarumandJohannes Blaeu'sAtlas Maior.It is often described as the most beautiful celestial atlas ever published.
History
[edit]In the foreword to hisChronologica,Gerard Mercatorstated the intention to publish an atlas which would cover everything of the then-known cosmos, geography and history of the earth. During his life, Mercator published five volumes of his atlas, the last one being published by his sonRumold.After Mercator's death, the Amsterdam cartographerJohannes Janssoniustook over the project. He and fellow-cartographerHendricus Hondiuspublished theirNovus Atlasin 1636, which featured over 320 maps in four languages. In 1660, Andreas Cellarius'Harmonia Macrocosmicawas published as the seventh volume of the project. With the final addition of a volume describing the cities of the world from 1657, the project was finally completed.
Origins of the engravings
[edit]Of the various engravers and authors who worked on the plates of the atlas, only two have signed their work. The frontispiece of the atlas was created by Frederik Hendrik van den Hove and ten other plates were engraved by Johannes van Loon. Moreover, all the designs of the classical constellations were taken from the ones created byJan Pieterszoon Saenredam.
References
[edit]- Van Gent, Robert H. (2006),Andreas Cellarius, Harmonia Macrocosmica of 1660,TASCHEN,ISBN978-3-8228-5290-3
- Bio-bibliography of Andreas Cellarius
External links
[edit]
Media related toCellarius Harmonia Macrocosmicaat Wikimedia Commons