Iconography on Early Modern Scientific Instruments

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于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客观化手段的地位。相反，它们通常是独特的物品，其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，乐器上的图像起到了至关重要的作用。事实上，大量的早期现代仪器都装饰有图像，这些图像本身与仪器的使用无关，例如Praetorius（1568年，德累斯顿）在星盘上描绘的Atlas和Hercules，或者Bürgi（1591年，卡塞尔）在天文钟上描绘的传统天文学和几何学，从教父到哥白尼。到目前为止，对仪器上的图像及其背景的分析只是零星的。早期现代科学仪器图像学项目专门分析了仪器上的图像。它的目的是第一次系统地分析仪器上的多方面视觉材料，要求其在装饰仪器的各种背景下的作用（起源，功能，使用）及其在新兴科学领域内建立或支持成功和相关性的故事/历史的重要性。图像学指向了相当多的重要主题，例如，在理论辩论中的特定立场的陈述（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，或者工具作为特定图像方案的赞助人人工制品的作用。对这些图像的分析同样具有高度的相关性，以便理解塑造和决定现代早期乐器生产的知识，文化和艺术背景。它打开了一个窗口，在仪器制造商，艺术家，工匠，赞助人和学者之间的多层次领域的仪器的概念，设计和建造过程中的合作过程的调查。

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.