Celestial globe

The celestial globe and its mate, a terrestrial globe, are precious examples of enlightened wealthy patronage late 16th century: hand-painted in gilded oils directly onto the gesso globe in an age when globes already were being produced more cheaply by glueing on printed wedges. The brass circles sustaining and encircling the globes are original, and bear the expected markings. The antartic circles of both globes bears a still unidentifid crest evidently belonging to the patron: two inclined yellow bars on a dark field topped with a cardinal's hat. The lion-footed tripod bases are 19th century. The globes, probably purchased at the end of the 19th century, are still displayed--as all other objects in the museum--in their original places, thus contributing to the authentic "time capsule" ambiance.