Bilder Athanasius Kircher (1602-1680) – Map of Asia and Southeast Asia – Etching (1665)

Beskrivning

"Tabula Geographica Hydrophylacium Africae Meijoris exhibens". This work presents a speculative geographic and hydrographic view of Asia, stretching from Persia and the Arabian Peninsula to China, Japan, and the East Indian Archipelago. The map is notable for its depiction of Kircher's theory of a subterranean world, specifically showing a large "hydrophylacium" or underground water reservoir beneath the Himalayas, which he believed fed the great rivers of Asia like the Ganges and the Indus. This etching is a double-page plate from the influential work Mundus Subterraneus, published in Amsterdam by Johannes Janssonius van Waesberghe in 1665. The work is famous for blending seventeenth-century scientific observation with fantastical theories about the Earth's internal structure and volcanic systems.

Athanasius Kircher was a German Jesuit scholar and polymath who published around forty major works on subjects ranging from oriental studies and geology to medicine and music. Based in Rome at the Collegio Romano, he was one of the most famous scientists of his age, often compared to Leonardo da Vinci for the breadth of his interests. Kircher was a pioneer in the use of the microscope and was among the first to propose that infectious diseases were caused by microorganisms. His Mundus Subterraneus was a foundational text in the early history of geology and physical geography, attempting to explain the Earth's mysteries through a combination of global data collection and speculative reasoning. Despite the eventual scientific rejection of his hollow-earth theories, his maps remain highly regarded for their intricate detail and artistic quality.

Artist or Maker:
Athanasius Kircher.

Dimensions:
Approximately 39 cm x 43 cm.

Medium:
Etching.

Date:
1665.

Condition Report:
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.