Iconography on Early Modern Scientific Instruments

早期现代科学仪器上的图像学

• 批准号: 391009060
• 负责人: Professor Dr. Volker Remmert
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Astronomisch-Physikalisches Kabinett und Planetarium
• 依托单位国家: 德国
• 项目类别: Research Grants
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 德国
• 起止时间: 2016-12-31 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/391009060?language=en
• 关键词: Iconography; Early; Modern; Scientific; Instruments

During the Scientific Revolution scientific instruments, such as astrolabes, air pumps, microscopes and telescopes became increasingly important for the study of nature. In the early modern period they had not yet reached the status of standardized and impersonal means to study nature. Rather they usually were unique items, which by their function as well as their design could serve the mediation between scholars, social elites and beyond. In this context the iconography on the instruments played a crucial role. In fact a great number of early modern instruments are adorned with images, that in themselves have no relevance for the use of the instruments, as for instance the depiction of Atlas and Hercules on an astrolabe by Praetorius (1568, Dresden) or the line of tradition in astronomy and geometry on an astronomical clock by Bürgi (1591, Kassel) stretching from the church fathers to Copernicus. As of now such imagery on instruments and its contexts have only sporadically been analysed.The project Iconography on early modern scientific instruments specifically analyses the imagery on the instruments. It aims for the first time at a systematic analysis of the multifaceted visual material on the instruments asking for its role in the various contexts of the adorned instruments (genesis, function, use) and its importance for setting up or supporting stories/histories of success and relevance within the emerging field of the sciences. The iconography points to quite a few significant topics as, for instance, statements of specific positions in theoretical debates (e.g. Copernican question), mediation and illustration of knowledge, in particular by picturing the usability of the instruments, or the role of instruments as patronage artefacts with specific iconographic programmes. The analysis of the imagery is likewise highly relevant in order to understand the intellectual, cultural and artistic contexts shaping and determining the production of instruments in the early modern period. It opens a window on the investigation of collaborative processes during the conception, design and construction of instruments in the multi-layered field between instrument makers, artists, artisans, patrons and scholars.

在科学革命期间，诸如星盘、气泵、显微镜和望远镜等科学仪器对研究自然变得越来越重要。在近代早期，它们还没有达到研究自然的标准化和非个人化手段的地位。相反，它们通常是独特的物品，通过它们的功能和设计可以为学者、社会精英和其他人之间的调解服务。在这种情况下，乐器上的图像发挥了至关重要的作用。事实上，许多早期的现代仪器都装饰着图像，这些图像本身与仪器的使用无关，例如Praetorius（1568年，德累斯顿）在星盘上描绘了阿特拉斯和赫拉克勒斯，或者b<s:1> rgi（1591年，卡塞尔）在天文钟上描绘了从教父到哥白尼的传统天文学和几何学。到目前为止，对仪器及其背景的这种图像只进行了零星的分析。“早期现代科学仪器的图像学”项目具体分析了仪器上的图像。它的目的是第一次系统地分析仪器的多方面视觉材料，要求其在装饰仪器的各种背景下（起源，功能，使用）的作用，以及它在新兴科学领域中建立或支持成功的故事/历史的重要性。图像指出了相当多的重要主题，例如，理论辩论中特定立场的陈述（例如哥白尼问题），知识的调解和说明，特别是通过描绘工具的可用性，或工具作为赞助人的作用，具有特定的图像程序。为了理解塑造和决定早期现代乐器生产的智力、文化和艺术背景，对图像的分析同样高度相关。它为乐器制造商、艺术家、工匠、赞助人和学者之间多层次领域的乐器概念、设计和建造过程的合作研究打开了一扇窗口。