ROYAL ACADEMY – SPAIN and the HISPANIC WORLD
The much-anticipated RA Spanish Exhibition has opened, displaying works of magnificence and fascination from ancient to modern. Dialophiles and gnomonicists will however wish to concentrate on a single exquisite page spread from a book that dates to ± 1585, for this is the Manual of Nautical and Astronomical Instructions for Use by the Universidad de Mareantes. While the depiction is not of a sundial, the drawing demonstrates in very simple form the close relationship between sun, man, and ways in which the sun’s power can be harnessed scientifically. And anyway, Gaudium sub Sole goes beyond sundials…
The drawing is entirely charming, from the compass hole outwards. I enjoyed the sun’s rather grumpy / puzzled face and the man’s surprised / concentrating look. (He may be wondering why the ‘shadow’ is wearing boots while he wears shoes, but that is show-through from the reverse of the page).
Artist: , Unknown Artist
Title: Manual de instrucciones
nauticas y astronomicas para el uso
de la Universidad de Mareantes de
Sevilla
Date: ca. 1585
Medium: Illustrated manuscript.
27 x 19.7 x 1.8 27 x 18 cm.
Origin: Seville
ROYAL ACADEMY – SPAIN and the HISPANIC WORLD
Asociación de Amigos de los Relojes de Sol
Societat Catalana de Gnomònica
GAUDIUM SUB SOLE . SUNDIALS . MEDIEVAL TO MODERN 