John Herschel, Exterior view of the Amphitheatre, Nimes, September 21, 1826, pencilon paper, camera lucida drawing, 9 7/8x 15 3/16 in. (25.1x 38.6 cm), Sir John Herschel was one of the most accomplished men of science in nineteenth-century Britain. He was especially famous as an astronomer, but also worked in math, chemistry, and botany. As a meticulous draftsman, he created drawings of botanical specimens, landscapes, and the built environment, often aided by the use of an optical device known as a camera lucida. This drawing depicts the ancient Roman amphitheater in Nimes, France. Built in the first or second century CE, it is one of the best preserved Roman ruins in France and was in Herschel's day a frequent destination for artists and travelers on the Grand Tour. Herschel visited Nimes in 1826. He drew the exterior view of the amphitheater and annotated it with a mathematical inscription in the lower left--an indication that he was using the camera lucida to make perspectival calculations.
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John Herschel, Exterior view, Amphitheatre, Nimes, September 21, 1826, pencilon paper, camera lucida drawing, 9 7/8x 15 3/16, 25.1x 38.6 cm, Sir John Herschel, accomplished men, science, nineteenth-century Britain., famous, astronomer, worked, math, chemistry, botany., meticulous draftsman, created drawings, botanical specimens, landscapes, built environment, aided, optical device, camera lucida., drawing depicts, ancient Roman amphitheater, Nimes, France. Built, first, second century CE, best preserved Roman ruins, France, Herschel's day, frequent destination, artists, travelers, Grand Tour. Herschel visited Nimes, 1826., drew, exterior view, amphitheater, annotated, mathematical inscription, lower left-- indication, using, camera lucida, perspectival calculations
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