The weighing of the world-views.

Engraving, 32 x 21,4 cm, laid paper, signed in plate at bottom "F. Curtus Bon. Incid." (trimmed to borderline, hinged by upper corners on paper mount).

A very rare frontispiece to G. B. Riccioli's "Almagestum novum", published in 1651. The frontispiece is one of the masterpieces of Baroque book illustration, drawn by Francesco Curti under the guidance of Riccioli. The publication was one of the most important anti-Copernican works. Its frontispiece depicts two standing figures who are performing a weighing of world systems. The one on the left is the Copernican system, with the Sun at the center and the Earth as a planet. On the right is a modified Tychonic system, with the Earth at the center, the inner planets orbiting the Sun, and the outer planets orbiting the Earth. The results of the weighing shows that the modified Tychonic sytem is more substantial and to be preferred. The figure on the right is Astraea/Virgo, with her zodiacal belt; she is holding the balance. The left-hand figure is Argus; as an emblem for the astronomical observer he can look everywhere. One of his eyes, on his knee, even observes the Sun through a telescope. In the background we see Ptolemy who says "Egiror dum Corrigor" ("I am enlightened even while being corrected").
Ref. DBS VI:1798:2. - Houzeau & Lancaster 9223. - Rhodes (BL) 746. - Riccardi I:2:371:1. - Norman 1826.