Invention of the Compass, preliminary design for 'Lapis Polaris Magnes,' plate 2 in the Nova Reperta (New Inventions of Modern Times) print series, Jan van der Straet, called Stradanus, Flemish, 1523–1605, Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash, black chalk on paper, Recto: A scholar in his richly furnished study, seated at his desk using a compass. (He is identified in the related print as the legendary Flavius of Amalfi, thought to have invented the compass.) A low bowl stands in the right foreground supported by four lion feet over which human heads rise, representing the quarters of the globe: 'ocsidens / tramontane / levanus / meridiens.' A ship model hangs from the ceiling. Verso: an inscription in Stradanus' hand, 'brief vanden 25 jannuare 3 hebben...', Florence, Italy, ca. 1590, figures, Drawing, Drawing
Keywords:
Invention, Compass, preliminary design, 'Lapis Polaris Magnes, plate 2, Nova Reperta, New Inventions, Modern Times, print series, Jan van der Straet, Stradanus, Flemish, 1523–1605, Pen, brown ink, brush, brown wash, black chalk, paper, Recto, scholar, richly furnished study, seated, desk using, compass, identified, related print, legendary Flavius, Amalfi, thought, invented, compass, low bowl stands, right foreground supported, four lion feet, human heads rise, representing, quarters, globe, 'ocsidens, tramontane, levanus, meridiens, ship model hangs, ceiling, Verso, inscription, Stradanus' hand, 'brief vanden 25 jannuare 3 hebben.., Florence, Italy, ca, 1590, figures, Drawing, Drawing
Image ID:
The watermark in the image will not appear on the final download.