Cometographia frontispiece
Date
1668
Sitter
Johannes Hevelius (1611 - 1687, German/Polish) , Astronomer
Creator
Lambert Visscher (1633 - 1691, Dutch) , Engraver
After
Andreas Stech (1635 - 1697, Polish) , Draughtsman
Object type
Library reference
RCN 44014
Material
Technique
Subject
Content object
Description
View of Hevelius’s observation terrace with a group of revellers in the background and three figures in the foreground. The terrace shows astronomers using brass sextants and other instruments to observe a comet, which can be seen at the left corner of the image. The three figures in the foreground represent Aristotle (left), Hevelius (centre, seated) and Johannes Kepler (right).
Aristotle is shown holding a diagram of his theory on comets. The solar system is shown as a geocentric model with the Earth in the middle, comets are shown between the Earth and the Moon, with the planet Mercury included to reference the wider solar system. This demonstrates Aristotle’s belief that all comets originated between the Earth and the Moon.
Kepler is seen demonstrating his theory on comets, that they travel through the solar system in straight lines. His diagram shows a heliocentric system with the tails of the comets facing away from the sun.
Hevelius is seated in the centre of the scene, calmly explaining his comet theory to his astronomical predecessors. He is seen pointing at a diagram which shows a comet in parabolic orbit around the sun, having originated from one of the outer planets of the solar system.
A celestial globe is shown in the foreground, amongst other astronomical instruments. Many of the figures visible in the background can be seen looking up at the stars or pointing towards the comet.
Frontispiece to Johannes Hevelius’s Cometographia.
Inscribed below: ‘JOHANNIS HEVELII/COMETOGRAPHIA.’ ‘Andr. Stech delin.’ ‘L. Vischer 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.
Aristotle is shown holding a diagram of his theory on comets. The solar system is shown as a geocentric model with the Earth in the middle, comets are shown between the Earth and the Moon, with the planet Mercury included to reference the wider solar system. This demonstrates Aristotle’s belief that all comets originated between the Earth and the Moon.
Kepler is seen demonstrating his theory on comets, that they travel through the solar system in straight lines. His diagram shows a heliocentric system with the tails of the comets facing away from the sun.
Hevelius is seated in the centre of the scene, calmly explaining his comet theory to his astronomical predecessors. He is seen pointing at a diagram which shows a comet in parabolic orbit around the sun, having originated from one of the outer planets of the solar system.
A celestial globe is shown in the foreground, amongst other astronomical instruments. Many of the figures visible in the background can be seen looking up at the stars or pointing towards the comet.
Frontispiece to Johannes Hevelius’s Cometographia.
Inscribed below: ‘JOHANNIS HEVELII/COMETOGRAPHIA.’ ‘Andr. Stech delin.’ ‘L. Vischer 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.
Related fellows
Johannes Hevelius (1611 - 1687, German/Polish) , Astronomer
Associated place