Geometria en Astronomia 1563 - 1573

This engraving by Marin Bonnemer depicts Geometry and Astronomy as allegorical figures, each holding instruments pertinent to their discipline. On the left, Geometry holds a compass, an emblem of precise measurement and earthly knowledge. Consider the compass, seen across medieval maps and Renaissance architectural plans – a tool but also a symbol of divine order imposed upon the chaos of the world. The geometrical arrangement of the Garden of Eden painted by Jan van Eyck for the Ghent Altarpiece, for example, reflects this vision of order. Astronomy, on the right, is accompanied by an armillary sphere, representing celestial harmony. The sphere has appeared throughout history, from ancient Greek astronomical devices to the globes Renaissance scholars used to map the heavens. These motifs resonate with humanity’s eternal quest to understand our place in the cosmos, reflecting an ancient drive to decipher the universe’s order, a quest that continues to evolve through shifting cultural and scientific landscapes.