Minneapolis Institute of Art

Spherical Scenograph of the Celestial and Terrestrial Northern Hemisphere

Andreas Cellarius; Publisher: Gerard Valk and Peter Schenk, Amsterdam

Date

1660

Medium

Hand-colored engraving

Department

European Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

This pioneering illustration of the northern hemisphere, with the terrestrial and celestial globes shown together, provides an interesting snapshot of Dutch attitudes towards exploration (and colonization). The Japanese island of Urup, for instance, which is just below the elbow of Bootes, the club-wielding herdsman shown wearing a pink coat, is labeled Compagnies Lant. This is Dutch for Company Land and references how the Dutch East India Company had taken possession of the island after a 1643 expedition there. The costuming of the constellation Bootes is also noteworthy. Shown as a heroic nude in Dürer's woodcut, Bootes is depicted here in northern attire, wearing a fur hat, long coat, and warm boots. Netherlands, Europe

The authoritative record is held by Minneapolis Institute of Art. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.