Artwork
Title Page to J. Moxon, Ductor ad Astronomianet Geographiam
Title Page to J. Moxon, Ductor ad Astronomianet Geographiam is an ink print by the Baroque artist Unknown 19th Century. It dates from 1699 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. This printed title page, executed as an engraving, introduces J.
About this work
Overview
This printed title page, executed as an engraving, introduces J. Moxon’s work titled *Ductor ad Astronomianet Geographiam*. The composition features elaborate lettering that spells out the full title, surrounded by a series of diminutive vignettes that frame the central text.
Subject & Meaning
The miniature scenes depict figures engaged in astronomical observation and geographic surveying, illustrating the practical applications of the scientific subjects the book addresses. By pairing textual information with visual examples, the page serves as an instructional aid as well as a decorative frontispiece.
Technique & Style
The engraving combines traditional ornamental typography with more contemporary illustrative motifs, reflecting a transitional aesthetic of the early modern period. Fine line work defines the letters, while the surrounding images employ a slightly looser hand, creating a dialogue between established and emerging visual conventions.
History & Provenance
Printed as the opening leaf of Moxon’s scientific manual, the title page would have been bound with the volume and circulated among scholars and practitioners of astronomy and cartography. Copies of the work have been preserved in several institutional collections, including the National Gallery of Art in Washington.
Artist & collection
Artist
