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This detailed engraving is from the Description de L'Univers, first published in Paris in 1683 by Allain Manesson Mallet. The image exemplifies the artistic and scientific convergence of the 17th century, showcasing both astronomical and geographical elements.
The centerpiece of the figure is an armillary sphere, also known as a spherical astrolabe. This instrument shows the equinoctial, ecliptic, and tropical lines. The Meridian is labeled in the image. The sphere stands atop a Nicolosi globular world map, showing what can be guessed as Eurasia and Africa in green and the Americas in pink. Aside it are a celestial globe, showing the constellations, and a terrestrial globe. The theme in all of these images is the equator (or, the "middle line"), as named atop this work.
Allain Manesson Mallet was a renowned French cartographer and engineer whose Description de L'Univers is a monumental work that explores various aspects of the known world, including geography, astronomy, and history. The book reflects the scientific curiosity and intellectual rigor of the Enlightenment, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of the universe as perceived in the late 17th century.
Mallet's work is celebrated for its detailed illustrations and accessible explanations, bridging the gap between complex scientific concepts and the educated public. The inclusion of both celestial and terrestrial elements in this engraving highlights the period's integrative approach to knowledge, where the study of the heavens was intrinsically linked to the understanding of the Earth.
Alain Mannesson Mallet (1630-1706) was a French mapmaker and engineer who served in the armies of Louis XIV. After rising through the ranks, Mallet was appointed as Inspector of Fortifications, a job which also required mathematical skills and which made him a competent military engineer. Eventually, he joined the court of Louis XIV at Versailles, where he taught math and focused on writing.
Mallet is best known for his Description de L’Univers, first published in 1683, in five volumes. A wide-ranging geographical work, the Description included textual descriptions of the countries of the world, as well as maps of the celestial sky and the ancient and modern worlds. The Description continued to be published until the early eighteenth century. He also published a work in three volumes on warfare (1684) and a primer on geometry (1702).
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