{ "viewingDirection": "left-to-right", "metadata": [ { "label": "Uniform Title", "value": "Systema cosmicum" }, { "label": "Origin Place", "value": "Strasbourg" }, { "label": "Physical Location", "value": "Cambridge University Library" }, { "label": "Extent", "value": "Leaf height: 198 mm, width: 198 mm." }, { "label": "Funding", "value": "" }, { "label": "Abstract", "value": "
This image is the engraved title-page of Galileo's Systema cosmicum<\/i>, the 1635 Latin edition of his Dialogue<\/i>. Belonging to the iconographical tradition of philosophical conversation (typified by Raphael's School of Athens<\/i>), this image presents an imagined conversation between three men, representing from left to right, Aristotle, Ptolemy, and Copernicus. Between them spanning an historical period from Antiquity to the sixteenth century, these three illustrious predecessors of Galileo represent both the development and antiquity of his discipline. Reference is also made to the importance of instruments to astronomy; both Ptolemy and Copernicus hold models of the cosmos as they understood it, Ptolemy holding an armillary sphere and Copernicus holding a tellurium, a model showing the Moon circling the Earth circling the Sun. This image is based on the frontispiece of the original Italian edition (1632), in which the face of Copernicus resembled Galileo's. The figure of Copernicus, on the right of the image, was reproduced by John Wilkins in the frontispiece of his 1640 A Discourse Concerning a New World and another Planet<\/i> (though reversed due to the process of tracing and engraving). In this later text, Copernicus's arm with open palm is replaced with one pointing heavenwards, but the clothing, posture, and even slightly protuberant knee are retained, as is the tellurium that Copernicus holds in his other hand.<\/p>" }, { "label": "Date of Creation", "value": "1635" }, { "label": "Title", "value": "Aristotle, Ptolemy and Copernicus with tellurium and armillary sphere" }, { "label": "Material", "value": "paper" }, { "label": "Classmark", "value": "M.10.47" }, { "label": "Note(s)", "value": "
Links to other items:<\/p>
Frontispieces and title-pages with religious, allegorical or emblematic representations: Whipple STORE 55:13 (Title-page with zodiac signs)<\/a><\/p> Allegorical frontispieces showing astronomy and its fathers (ancients and moderns): CUL Norton.c.32 (Personification of Astronomy)<\/a><\/p> Allegorical frontispieces showing astronomy and its fathers (ancients and moderns): CUL M.7.36 (Frontispiece weighing up cosmological systems)<\/a><\/p> Allegorical frontispieces showing astronomy and its fathers (ancients and moderns): CUL Syn.8.64.51 (Heliocentric cosmos with Copernicus, Galileo and Kepler)<\/a><\/p> Astronomers, representations of: CUL L*.9.44(C) (Capital letter with astronomer and armillary sphere)<\/a><\/p> Allegorical frontispieces showing astronomy and its fathers (ancients and moderns): CUL Inc.5.B.3.96c[1702] (Personification of Astronomy)<\/a><\/p> Allegorical frontispieces showing astronomy and its fathers (ancients and moderns): CUL L*.9.44(C) (Frontispiece with geographers and astronomers)<\/a><\/p> Allegorical frontispieces showing astronomy and its fathers (ancients and moderns): Wren T.18.31 (Frontispiece to Hevelius' Selenographia<\/em>)<\/a><\/p> Allegorical frontispieces showing astronomy and its fathers (ancients and moderns): CUL Norton.b.14 (Personification of Astronomy, with large armillary sphere)<\/a><\/p> Frontispieces and title-pages with religious, allegorical or emblematic representations: Whipple STORE 55:2 (Title-page with armillary sphere)<\/a><\/p> Frontispieces and title-pages with religious, allegorical or emblematic representations: Whipple STORE 55:13 (The author and instruments for astronomy and navigation)<\/a><\/p> Frontispieces and title-pages with religious, allegorical or emblematic representations: Wren T.23.8 (Armillary sphere)<\/a><\/p> Frontispieces and title-pages with religious, allegorical or emblematic representations: CUL Adams.5.55.1 (Terrestrial globe)<\/a><\/p> Allegorical frontispieces showing astronomy and its fathers (ancients and moderns): CUL Syn.6.51.5 (Personification of Astronomy)<\/a><\/p> Frontispieces and title-pages with religious, allegorical or emblematic representations: CUL Qq*.2.158(B) (Mystical frontispiece with heavenly rose and the portrait of Saint Bathildis)<\/a><\/p> Frontispieces and title-pages with religious, allegorical or emblematic representations: CUL Qq*.2.158(B) (Title-page with the bear emblem of the Orsini family)<\/a><\/p> Allegorical frontispieces showing astronomy and its fathers (ancients and moderns): CUL T*.4.18(D) (Frontispiece of Galileo's Dialogo<\/em>)<\/a><\/p> Astronomers, representations of: CUL M.8.33 (Mural quadrant)<\/a><\/p> Astronomers, representations of: CUL M.10.47 (Portrait of Galileo Galilei engraved by Jacob van der Heyden)<\/a><\/p>