Description
Philippe de la Hire was a French mathematician, physicist, astronomer and theorist of architecture. The son of artist Laurent de La Hire, he first studied painting in Rome around 1660. On his return to Paris, he began studying science and mathematics. His most important work deals with conic geometry, but he also published treatises on other topics including mechanics, stone cutting, and architecture. He became a member of the Academy of Sciences in 1678. He also taught at the Royal Academy of Architecture beginning in 1687. From 1682 to 1718 he performed daily meteorological measurements at the Observatory of Paris. De La Hire’s figures were influenced by Johann Bayer’s great star atlas (Uranometria, 1603). In addition, scholar Deborah Jean Warner identifies Sir Edmund Halley as one of the prime sources for the text surrounding the constellations in La Hire’s work.
Harmanus van Loon was a Flemish engraver who mostly worked in Paris. In 1695 he published one of his notable works, Les Forces de l’Europe, containing plans of cities and their fortifications.
Louis-Charles Desnos was a French globe maker. For more information see our Guide to Globe Makers.
Full publication information: A Paris chez Desnos Géographe et Ingenieur pour les Globes et Spheres rue St. Jacques au Globe 1770. van Loon Sculpcit.
Condition: Generally very good, recently professionally cleaned and restored, including restoration to minor marginal chips and tears as backed on Japanese tissue, now overall very good and bright with light remaining toning and wear.
References:
Bénézit, E. Dictionnaire critique et documentaire des Peintres, Sculpteurs, Dessinateurs et Graveurs. France: Librairie Gründ, 1966. Vol. 5, p. 628 (van Loon).
“Northern Celestial Planisphere / by Monsr. from La Hire.” Bibliotheque Nationale de France. https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b59714379 (6 December 2019).
“Philippe de La Hire.” Wikipedia. 18 July 2019. https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippe_de_La_Hire (6 December 2019).