Collaert, Jan. Lapis polaris, magnes

Baroni Vannucci, A. Jan van der Straet, detto Giovanni Stradano: 697.2
Folger bibliographic ID: 335698
New Hollstein Dutch & Flemish etchings, engravings and woodcuts, 1450-1700: Collaert Dynasty 1206
Folger call number: ART Vol. f81 no.2
Folger holdings ID: 486879
Accession Number: 202670

Depiction of Flavio Gioia's supposed invention of the compass. He sits at a desk, measuring a compass while consulting a book; a globe and an hourglass are also on his desk. To viewer's left, another desk with books and an armillary sphere, with a model of a sailing ship (a caravel?) hanging from the ceiling above. In the foreground, a lodestone floats on a piece of wood or cork in large bowl of water

Edition

[State 1 of 3]

General notes

Title from item According to New Hollstein, engraved by Jan Collaert II Plate numbered "2." From Nova reperta, a set of 20 prints illustrating new inventions and discoveries, after drawings by Jan van der Straet. The set was published in Antwerp, first by Philips Galle (ca. 1591) and later by Karel de Mallery (after 1612), Theodoor Galle (before 1636) and Johannes Galle (before 1677) (New Hollstein) State from New Hollstein Also available as a digital reproduction

Exhibited

Washington, D.C., Folger Shakespeare Library, 1984

Item information about Folger ART Vol. f81 no.2

Trimmed to plate mark and inlaid to larger sheet

Extended title: Lapis polaris, magnes Ioan. Stradanus inuent
Alternate titles: Invention of the compass

Compasses (Direction indicators) Astronomical instruments Interiors Navigation Gioia, Flavio, active 13th century-14th century

printmaker: Collaert, Jan, 1566-1628
depiction: Gioia, Flavio, active 13th century-14th century
artist: Straet, Jan van der, 1523-1605
publisher: Galle, Philippe, 1537-1612