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A spectacular celestial and terrestrial composition by Johann Baptist Homann, charting the path of the total solar eclipse of May 12, 1706, as it would have appeared across Europe. Issued in Nuremberg in the same year as the event, this map is a rare intersection of astronomy, geography, and baroque theatricality.
The map traces the central path of the moon’s umbra across the European continent, sweeping from the Strait of Gibraltar and the Iberian Peninsula northeastward through France, Switzerland, the Holy Roman Empire, Poland, and the White Sea. It overlays the eclipse’s shadow atop a detailed political map of Europe.
The title cartouche in the upper left corner of the map is a richly allegorical composition, emblematic of Homann’s baroque style and the ideological underpinnings of early 18th-century cartography. The central banner, inscribed with “Europa Christiani Orbis Domina” (Europe, Mistress of the Christian World), is upheld by cherubs and crowned with symbols of terrestrial and ecclesiastical authority. A crowned female figure representing Europa sits enthroned on dark clouds, draped in classical robes and holding a scepter and laurel wreath, the attributes of rule and victory.
Surrounding her are putti bearing emblems of sovereignty, including a cross and a papal tiara, while below, two cherubs play among a scattering of golden crowns—each one symbolizing the multitude of Christian monarchies that comprise the European political order. Above them all, emerging from a radiant burst of divine light, is an equilateral triangle enclosing the Tetragrammaton, a reference to the Christian conception of divine providence watching over the affairs of Europe. The scene weaves monarchy, religion, and cartographic mastery into a visual statement of Europe’s ordained supremacy in the heavens and on the earth.
The Eclipse
The solar eclipse of May 12, 1706, depicted in this map, was one of the most widely observed astronomical events of the early Enlightenment, with its path of totality sweeping across much of Europe from Portugal to Russia. Its broad visibility and precise timing offered astronomers a rare opportunity to refine ephemerides, test predictions, and contribute to the growing accuracy of longitude measurements. The eclipse was studied by leading scientific figures, including Johann Gabriel Doppelmayr, whose calculations form the basis of the map’s projection of the umbra.
Johann Baptist Homann (1663-1724) was a mapmaker who founded the famous Homann Heirs publishing company. He lived his entire life in Bavaria, particularly in Nuremberg. Initially, Johann trained to become a priest before converting to Protestantism and working as a notary.
In 1702, Johann founded a publishing house that specialized in engravings. The firm flourished, becoming the leading map publisher in Germany and an important entity in the European map market. In 1715, Johann was named Imperial Geographer to the Holy Roman Empire by Charles VI and made a member of the Prussian Academy of Sciences. Most importantly for his business, his reputation and contacts gained him imperial printing privileges which protected his publications and recommended him to customers. Johann is best known for this Grosser Atlas ueber die ganze Welt, or the Grand Atlas of the World, published in 1716.
After Johann died in 1724, the business passed to his son, Christoph (1703-1730). Upon Christoph’s early death, the company passed to subsequent heirs, with the name of the company changing to Homann Erben, or Homann Heirs. The firm continued in business until 1848.
