Measuring with Astrolabe, 15th Century

Measuring with Astrolabe, 15th Century

Anonymous (after Taccola) measuring a slope with an astrolabe. Between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, Siena developed a series of technical specialities. Siena's artist-engineers put their skills into practice for their small republic and demonstrated their skill in depicting machines and mechanical systems. The two most prominent Sienese engineers were Mariano di Iacopo, known as Taccola, and Francesco di Giorgio. An astrolabe is an elaborate inclinometer, historically used by astronomers, navigators, and astrologers. Its many uses include locating and predicting the positions of the Sun, Moon, planets, and stars, determining local time given local latitude and vice-versa, surveying, triangulation, and to cast horoscopes. It was used in classical antiquity, through the Islamic Golden Age, the European Middle Ages and Renaissance for all these purposes. DETAIL of JA0759 .

Album / Science Source / NYPL

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3240 x 4350 px | 40.3 MB

27.4 x 36.8 cm | 10.8 x 14.5 in (300 dpi)