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Science in Culture: A miracle in sight

2006; Nature Portfolio; Volume: 443; Issue: 7109 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1038/443276a

1476-4687

Martin Kemp,

Science Education and Perceptions

Adam Elsheimer painted the starry heavens in 1609. Adam Elsheimer, born in Frankfurt but painting many of his major works in early seventeenth century Rome, is well known for small-scale works that make use of novel light effects. His Flight into Egypt is a particularly fine example. The light effect here is the Milky Way. Painting a year before Galileo published his telescopic observations that resolved the Milky Way into its component stars, Elsheimer was uncannily accurate. Martin Kemp ponders how he managed it.