Star Lore Art Constellation Cycle English Manuscript, ca. 1400

The Warburg Institute Iconic Database, which is part of the University of London presents a set of folios with descriptions and drawings of Ptolemy's constellations. There is no author named in the publication. The provenance given provides a date (ca. 1400), a previous owner (King Louis XII of France) and the current owner, the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, California. The description of the folios explains that they were based on the Libros del saber de astronomía, the "Books of wisdom of astronomy of King Alfonso X of Castile." The rather crude drawings are included in this collection because of their uniqueness. They do not seem to be copies of any of the more popular works of the time but authentic interpretations of the constellations by an unknown 15th century artist. All images on the site are taken from the site of the Warburg Institute Iconic Database. Click on the pictures for larger images.

Phases of the Moon

Folio 1r Ursa Maior; Ursa Minor

Folio 1v Draco; Cepheus; Bootes; Corona (Corona Borealis)

Folio 2r Hercules; Cassiopeia; Testudo (Lyra); Gallina (Cygnus)

Folio 2v Perseus; Auriga; Serpentarius (Ophiuchus) with Serpens; Sagitta; Aquila; Delphinus

Folio 3r Equus Minor; Equus (Pegasus); Andromeda; Triangulum; Aries

Folio 3v Taurus; Gemini; Cancer

Folio 4r Leo; Virgo; Libra; Scorpius

Folio 4v Sagittarius; Capricornus; Aquarius

Folio 5r Pisces; Canis Minor; Canis Maior; Cetus; Eridanus; Lepus; Orion

Folio 5v Ara; Argo Navis; Centaurus; Lupus; Corona Australis; Corvus; Crater; Hydra

Folio 6r Piscis Magnus (Piscis Australis)

Constellation names are spelled as they appear in the folios. In cases where the names used divert from those commonly use, Ptolemy's names are given in parentheses.

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