The iconic depiction of the Copernican solar system

CELLARIUS, Andreas.

Scenographia Systematis Copernicani.
Amsterdam, Schenk & Valk, 1708. Coloured. 440 x 515mm.

Repaired tears.

The most famous Dutch celestial chart, showing the heliocentric solar system as theorised by Nicolaus Copernicus. A human-faced sun dominates the plate, lighting the sides of four 'Earths', positioned at each equinox, all showing California as an island a circling Moon. Rings mark the orbits of the known planets, within a band decorated with the signs of the Zodiac.
The four corners are filled with angels, cherubs and allegorical figures.
It was engraved by Jan van Loon and for the 'Atlas Coelestis; seu Harmonia Macrocosmica', first published by Jan Jansson in 1660. This was the only celestial atlas to be produced in the Netherlands before the nineteenth century. It was a compilation of maps of the Ptolemaic universe and the more modern theories of Copernicus and Brahe, and remains the finest and most highly decorative celestial atlas ever produced.

KOEMAN: Cel 3.
Stock ID : 24383