Bilder Athanasius Kircher (1602–1680) – Map of Scandinavia showing the Maelstrom – Engraving (1664)

Beskrivning

"Descriptio Vortices Norvegiæ et Bodniæ" provides a geographical view of Scandinavia, the Baltic Sea, and the Gulf of Bothnia, specifically highlighting the location of major whirlpools. The engraving illustrates Kircher's theory of a subterranean connection between the Norwegian Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia, represented by dotted lines and whirlpool symbols intended to explain the movement of tides and currents. This work was published in Amsterdam in 1664 within Mundus Subterraneus, Kircher's expansive scientific treatise on the hidden mechanisms of the earth. The map serves as a primary example of seventeenth-century speculative geography where empirical observation was blended with theoretical models of the planet's interior.

Athanasius Kircher was a German Jesuit scholar and polymath who became one of the most prolific and influential scientific figures of the seventeenth century. Based in Rome, he published approximately forty major works covering diverse fields including geology, medicine, oriental studies, and music. He is often referred to as the master of a hundred arts due to his vast range of interests and his early use of the microscope for medical research. Kircher's Mundus Subterraneus was a landmark in early earth sciences, proposing revolutionary, though often speculative, theories about the interior of the earth and the movement of water.

Artist or Maker:
Athanasius Kircher.

Dimensions:
Approximately 40 cm x 24 cm.

Medium:
Engraving.

Date:
1664.

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.