Vincenzo Maria Coronelli
1650-1718, Italian theologian, cartographer, globemaker
Find Maps by Vincenzo Maria Coronelli
Coronelli was famous as a mathematician, cartographer and globe maker, and his influence led to a revival of interest in these subjects in Italy at the end of the seventeenth century.
A Franciscan priest, who spent time between Rome and Paris but was based in Venice for most of his life, he was appointed head or Father General of his order in 1699 and also served as 'Cosmographer to the Venetian Republic'.
Coronelli is credited with having founded the first geographical society in 1680, the 'Academia Cosmografica degli Argonauti'
Maps
In his lifetime he compiled and engraved over 500 maps including a large 13 volume work, the 'Atlante Veneto' (1691-1696) which was intended as a continuation of Blaeu's 'Atlas Maior'. Lists were included of ancient and modern geographers along with astronomical, geographical, historical and ecclesiastical detail.
The maps from the 'Atlante Veneto' are engraved in characteristic fine bold style, using the latest geographical information available. Many of the more important maps were engraved on two sheets, to allow greater detail. His two sheet map of Ireland is a wonderful embodiment of his skill and that same level of detail.
Globes
Coronelli was a seriously accomplished globe maker and constructed two large globes for the Duke of Parma, the success of which ensured an invitation to construct another, this time gigantic (fifteen feet in diameter) pair of globes for Louis XIV in Paris.
A globe of such a scale that trapdoors were inserted for the craftsmen to enter so that they could work from the inside. These globes bore painted rather than printed detail.
Image(s): Celestial globe by Vincenzo Maria Coronelli, now in the National Library, Vienna
