Telescope
Date
1673
Sitter
Johannes Hevelius (1611 - 1687, German/Polish) , Astronomer
Creator
Isaac Saal (Polish) , Engraver
After
Andreas Stech (1635 - 1697, Polish) , Painter
Object type
Library reference
44015
Material
Technique
Dimensions
height (plate): 315mm
width (plate): 365mm
width (plate): 365mm
Subject
Content object
Description
Johannes Hevelius' 150 foot refracting telescope.
The lenses are arranged inside a wooden trough, and the trough is suspended from a 90 foot pole. Work men and horses can be seen at the base of the telescope, operating it via a system of ropes and pulleys, and Hevelius stands at the eyepiece gesturing skyward in the bottom right corner [as viewed]. A crowd gathers to observe the spectacle, and a town, likely Danzig, is visible in the background.
Plate 21 from Johannes Hevelius' Machinae coelestis pars prior…, Vol. 1.
Inscribed below: ‘A. Stech Delin I. Saal Sculps’
Johannes Hevelius (1611-1687) Polish astronomer was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1664. He devoted much of his life to constructing astronomical instruments, and developed a well-equipped observatory in Danzig, Poland.
The lenses are arranged inside a wooden trough, and the trough is suspended from a 90 foot pole. Work men and horses can be seen at the base of the telescope, operating it via a system of ropes and pulleys, and Hevelius stands at the eyepiece gesturing skyward in the bottom right corner [as viewed]. A crowd gathers to observe the spectacle, and a town, likely Danzig, is visible in the background.
Plate 21 from Johannes Hevelius' Machinae coelestis pars prior…, Vol. 1.
Inscribed below: ‘A. Stech Delin I. Saal Sculps’
Johannes Hevelius (1611-1687) Polish astronomer was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1664. He devoted much of his life to constructing astronomical instruments, and developed a well-equipped observatory in Danzig, Poland.
Object history
The Royal Society possess a copy of Volume 1 of Machinae coelestis pars prior… only. Volume 2 is rare, as many copies were burned in the fire of Hevelius' home and observatory in 1679.
Associated place