August 13, 2003

Volvelles

In 1540, the German astronomer and mathematician Petrus Apianus (1495-1552), published his magnum opus: the Astronomicon Caesareum. This lavish exposition of Ptolemaic astronomy was notable for its inclusion of thirty-five intricate ‘volvelles’, movable illustrations made from as many as six layered paper discs.

First of four volvelles from Apianus' 'Astronomicon' taken from the ETH library site.Second of four volvelles from Apianus' 'Astronomicon' taken from the ETH library site.
Third of four volvelles from Apianus' 'Astronomicon' taken from the ETH library site.Last of four volvelles from Apianus' 'Astronomicon' taken from the ETH library site.

Amongst his several accomplishments, Apianus (also known as Peter Apian, or by his given surname of Bennewitz, or Bienewitz) was the first to use darkened glass for observation and to recognise that the tails of comets always point away from the Sun. He became Professor of Mathematics at Ingolstadt and ‘Imperial Mathematician’ to the German Emperor Charles V.

First of four volvelles from Apianus' 'Astronomicon' taken from the 'Book Barn' site.Second of four volvelles from Apianus' 'Astronomicon' taken from the 'Book Barn' site.
Third of four volvelles from Apianus' 'Astronomicon' taken from the 'Book Barn' site.Last of four volvelles from Apianus' 'Astronomicon' taken from the 'Book Barn' site.

The first batch of images above were lifted from a page at the ETH (the Swiss Institute of Technology), in Zurich. The second batch are latterday facsimiles, taken from this page.

Posted by misteraitch at August 13, 2003 12:00 PM | TrackBack