Theory of the Moon, Demonstrating Its Motion Through Eccentric and Epicycle
1660
Imagine trying to explain the moon's orbit using nothing but circles within circles—that's exactly what Andreas Cellarius did in this spectacular 1660 diagram. Surrounded by chubby cherubs holding Latin banners and a colorful ring of zodiac signs, this complex chart turns heavy astronomical math into a Baroque masterpiece. It comes from his famous atlas, the *Harmonia Macrocosmica*, which was essentially the last hurrah for the ancient Ptolemaic view of the universe. Even though scientists like Kepler were already proving this model wrong, Cellarius's lavish, hand-colored engravings made sure the old way of seeing the stars went out in style.
- Technique
- Hand-colored engraving
- Material
- Paper
Views: 1