Early Telescopes and Ancient Scientific Instruments in the Paintings of Jan Brueghel the Elder

TL;DR

This paper analyzes early scientific instruments depicted in Jan Brueghel the Elder's paintings, highlighting the earliest known representations of spyglasses and their possible connection to Keplerian telescopes, with links to historical instrument makers.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the origin and diffusion of early telescopes and scientific instruments through art analysis, suggesting the depiction of the earliest spyglass and potential early Keplerian telescopes.

Findings

Earliest reproduction of an early spyglass from 1609-1612.

Depictions of sophisticated draw-tube spyglasses possibly representing early Keplerian telescopes.

Most instruments linked to Michiel Coignet, a notable instrument maker.

Abstract

Ancient instruments of high interest for research on the origin and diffusion of early scientific devices in the late XVI - early XVII centuries are reproduced in three paintings by Jan Brueghel the Elder. We investigated the nature and the origin of these instruments, in particular the spyglass depicted in a painting dated 1609-1612 that represents the most ancient reproduction of an early spyglass, and the two sophisticated spyglasses with draw tubes that are reproduced in two paintings, dated 1617-1618. We suggest that these two instruments may represent early examples of keplerian telescopes. Concerning the other scientific instruments, namely an astrolabe, an armillary sphere, a nocturnal, a proportional compass, surveying instruments, a Mordente's compass, a theodolite, etc., we point out that most of them may be associated with Michiel Coignet, cosmographer and instrument maker at the Court of the Archduke Albert VII of Hapsburg in Brussels.