Curio

State Library of New South Wales
De Groote Nieuwe Vermeerderde Zee-Atlas ofte Water-Waerld

De Groote Nieuwe Vermeerderde Zee-Atlas ofte Water-Waerld

1695
Bound volume
Amsterdam: J Van Keulen, 1695?
Bequest of Sir William Dixson, 1952
DL F69/2

In the 17th century, celestial charts were produced in the same lavish style as terrestrial charts and maps. Here the constellations, including the 12 zodiacal constellations from Aries to Pisces, are beautifully depicted as images of Greek gods and mythical creatures, often highlighted in gold.

The atlas was published by the Van Keulen family, who operated a chart-making and publishing firm in Amsterdam for nearly 200 years.

Cetus Balena

At the top of the right hemisphere is Cetus Balena, the whale or sea monster first documented in the 3rd century BC. Sent by Neptune (Poseidon) to devour Andromeda, Cetus turned to stone at the sight of the Medusa's head (Algol) in the hand of Perseus. Here Cetus is positioned on the banks of a river, with the other side of his body bordered by the constellation Pisces.