P. Vincenzo Maria Coronelli Paintings

Vincenzo Maria Coronelli was an Italian Franciscan friar, cosmographer, cartographer, publisher, and encyclopedist known for his exquisite and detailed maps and globes. Born on August 16, 1650, in Venice, Italy, he was educated in Ravenna and entered the Franciscan order in 1665. Coronelli was also a theologian but is best remembered for his contributions to cartography and globe-making.

Coronelli's skills in cartography were apparent from an early age, and by his thirties, he had already gained fame for his maps. In 1678, he was commissioned to create two large globes for the Duke of Parma. These globes, each with a diameter of approximately 5 feet, were so well-received that they led to a commission from King Louis XIV of France to construct a pair of even more massive globes, each with a diameter of 12 feet, for the Palace of Versailles. These globes, completed in the early 1680s, were remarkable feats of both science and art and are considered masterpieces of baroque cartography.

Throughout his life, Coronelli founded the Accademia Cosmografica degli Argonauti, the first geographical society in the world, in 1684. He was also appointed Cosmographer of the Republic of Venice. His prolific output included over 100 titles wherein he dealt with the cartography and geography of his time. His most famous works are the Atlante Veneto and the Corso Geografico Universale, which were comprehensive volumes of maps and geographic information.

Coronelli also produced a series of smaller globes that were widely distributed, contributing to the spread of geographic knowledge during his time. His meticulous work included updates based on the latest discoveries during an age when the world's geography was rapidly expanding due to exploration.

Vincenzo Maria Coronelli passed away on December 9, 1718, in Venice. His legacy lives on through his influential maps and globes, which remain valuable to historians for their representation of the world view during the Age of Discovery. His contributions to cartography and his innovative techniques continue to be studied and admired in the field of the history of cartography.