The Zodiac — Etching

This etching presents a complex, circular arrangement of the heavens, featuring classical constellations rendered as both human figures and beasts. At the center lies a snake coiled around a smaller animal, while the outer rings are populated by recognizable figures such as Hercules, Perseus, and the ship Argo, all labeled in Latin. The composition serves as a visual guide to the night sky, reflecting early modern efforts to map the cosmos through the lens of classical mythology.

This print is a significant example of early modern cosmological mapping, where the scientific observation of the stars is integrated with the mythic and archetypal layers of the Western tradition. It exemplifies the 'Cosmos' genre where celestial mechanics are inseparable from the cultural and narrative legacy of antiquity.