Athanasius Kircher Correspondence about Museum - Revision history

Christopher Winter: /* Valentin Stansel SJ, to Athanasius Kircher */

2025-07-23T23:14:13Z

Valentin Stansel SJ, to Athanasius Kircher

Martín M. Morales at 13:11, 10 July 2025

2025-07-10T13:11:44Z

Martín M. Morales at 13:05, 10 July 2025

2025-07-10T13:05:37Z

Martín M. Morales: /* Raffaello Maffei to Athanasius Kircher */

2025-07-10T13:04:44Z

Raffaello Maffei to Athanasius Kircher

Martín M. Morales: /* Athanasius Kircher to Pope Alexander VII (Fabio Chigi) */

2025-07-10T13:04:23Z

Athanasius Kircher to Pope Alexander VII (Fabio Chigi)

Martín M. Morales at 13:04, 10 July 2025

2025-07-10T13:04:01Z

Martín M. Morales at 13:02, 10 July 2025

2025-07-10T13:02:37Z

Martín M. Morales at 13:01, 10 July 2025

2025-07-10T13:01:51Z

Martín M. Morales at 13:00, 10 July 2025

2025-07-10T13:00:58Z

Show changes

Christopher Winter at 07:47, 10 June 2025

2025-06-10T07:47:54Z

@@ Line 108: / Line 108: @@
 (1669-06)[[Index:AKC_1669_06_00_559-89.pdf|APUG Ms. 559, f. 89r-90v]] da completare;<br>
 (1670-06-09)[[Index:AKC_1670_06_09_560-93.pdf|APUG Ms. 560, f. 93r-94v]];<br>
-(1674-04-20)[[Index:AKC_1674_04_20_566-183.pdf|APUG Ms. 566, f. 183r-v]] da completare.<br>
+(1674-04-20)[[Index:AKC_1674_04_20_566-183.pdf|APUG Ms. 566, f. 183r-v]].<br>
 <br>
 ==='''Andreas Schaffer SJ, to Athanasius Kircher'''===
 * Several letters dealing with the collection of information and specimens of minerals from Hungarian mines under Kircher's request, which [[Page:Romani_Collegii_Societatis_Jesu_Musaeum_Celeberrimum_1678.pdf/66|were incorporated into the museum]] and informed the writing of Kircher's ''Mundus subterraneus''.

@@ Line 42: / Line 42: @@
 * (1669-07-19) Sbarra mentions the wondrous things shown by Kircher at his "Gallery" as inspiration for his own inventions, one of which - his ''stenographia'' - he sends to Kircher. [[Index:AKC_1669-07-19_564_c.150.pdf|APUG Ms. 564, f. 150rv]].
-''' Baldassar Sozzifonti to Athanasius Kircher'''
+===''' Baldassar Sozzifonti to Athanasius Kircher'''===
 * (1677-12-10) Sozzifonti mentions a visit to the museum. [[Index:AKC_1677-12-10_566_cc.28-30.pdf|APUG Ms. 566, f. 28r-29v]] da completare.
 * (1679-05-30) Sozzifonti thanks Kircher in advance for the museum catalogue that was sent to him. APUG Ms. 566, f. 35rv.
@@ Line 60: / Line 60: @@
 (1655-12-19) [[Index:AKC_1655_12_19_568_157.pdf|APUG Ms. 568, f. 156rv]]<br>
 * (1656-02-13) Among other subjects, Scafili comments on Kircher's report of the visit of Queen Christina of Sweden to his museum and the machines created for the occasion. APUG Ms. 568, f. 160r-161v
-<br>
+==='''Alexandro Favián (Alejandro Fabián) to Athanasius Kircher'''===
-==='''Alexandro Favián (Alejandro Fabián) to Athanasius Kircher'''===, trascribed and published in [[Bibliography:AHSI_130_1408| OSORIO ROMERO, 1993]]
+* Trascribed and published in [[Bibliography:AHSI_130_1408| OSORIO ROMERO, 1993]]
 * (1664-08-26) Among other subjects, Favián asks for "things of study and science" to "adorn" a new museum that he was building, in exchange of which he promises to send "the most singular things that he can find" in New Spain for Kircher's museum and Cardinal Chigi's Gazophylacium. [[Index:AKC_1664_08_23_562_4-5.pdf|APUG 562, f. 4r–5v]].
 * (no date, post 19-dec-1665) Among many other topics, Favián mentions that he will send "peregrin and curious things" from New Spain for Kircher and Cardinal Chigi. [[Index:AKC_1665-1666_565_189-193.pdf|APUG 565, fol. 189r–193r]].
 * (no date, accompanied letter of 1666-03-12) This incomplete document lists the objects sent by Favián in one shipment, to be distributed by Kircher to several recipients: Pope Alexander VII, Emperor Leopold I, Cardinal Chigi, the Jesuit Father General Oliva, the Rector of the Roman College, and Kircher himself. The extant folios include objects "from China" and local products from New Spain, among which are several feather pictures. [[Index:AKC_1666_03_565_160-161.pdf|APUG 565, fol. 160v-161v]].
-* (1666-08-02). Among other topics, Favián mentions that he is preparing another shipment for Kircher with many "good" and "curious" objects.[[Index:AKC_1666_08_02_564-167.pdf| APUG Ms. 564, f. 167r-168v]]. Obs.: [[Index:AKC_1666_08_02_564_21-22.pdf|APUG 564, fols 21r–22v]], dated 1666-07-31, has the same content. da completare <br>
+* (1666-08-02). Among other topics, Favián mentions that he is preparing another shipment for Kircher with many "good" and "curious" objects.[[Index:AKC_1666_08_02_564-167.pdf| APUG Ms. 564, f. 167r-168v]]. Obs.: [[Index:AKC_1666_08_02_564_21-22.pdf|APUG 564, fols 21r–22v]], dated 1666-07-31, has the same content. Da completare.<br>
 Favián's donations to the museum are [[Page:Romani_Collegii_Societatis_Jesu_Musaeum_Celeberrimum_1678.pdf/46|mentioned in the 1678 catalogue]].
 <br>
@@ Line 106: / Line 106: @@
 (1664-08-04)[[Index:AKC_1664_08_04_563-013.pdf|APUG Ms. 564, f. 13r-v]];<br>
 (1666-08-10)[[Index:AKC_1666_08_10_564-133.pdf|APUG Ms. 564, f. 133r-v]];<br>
-(1669-06)[[Index:AKC_1669_06_00_559-89.pdf|APUG Ms. 559, f. 89r-90v]]da completare;<br>
+(1669-06)[[Index:AKC_1669_06_00_559-89.pdf|APUG Ms. 559, f. 89r-90v]] da completare;<br>
 (1670-06-09)[[Index:AKC_1670_06_09_560-93.pdf|APUG Ms. 560, f. 93r-94v]];<br>
 (1674-04-20)[[Index:AKC_1674_04_20_566-183.pdf|APUG Ms. 566, f. 183r-v]] da completare.<br>

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 * (1662-09-20) Kircher thanks Pope Alexander for the medal he sent, which Kircher exhibits in the Museum. Transcription published in [[Bibliography:AHSI_120_1272|BARTOLA, 1989]]. [[Index:AKC_1662_09_20_555-178.pdf|APUG Ms. 555, f. 178rv]].
 * (no date) Kircher asks the Pope to give permission for Elisabetha Palatina, wife of the Duke of Luneburg, to visit the Roman College and the Professed House to see "his museum" and the library. [[Index:AKC_s.d._555-102.pdf|APUG Ms. 555, f. 102rv]].
-<br>
 ==='''Duke August II of Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel (also Brunswick-Lüneburg) and Athanasius Kircher'''===
 Summaries of these documents were published by John Fletcher in [[Bibliography:AHSI_112_720_(18)|1986]] and [[Bibliography:AHSI_132_1363|1988]].
@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 * (1666-03-18) Draft - Kircher sends August as a gift, among other things, a manuscript of the Four Gospels in Estranghelo-Syriac, which until then was exhibited in the museum. [[Index:AKC 1666 03 18 555-113.pdf|APUG, Ms. 555, f. 113r-114v]].
 * Other letters between Kircher and Duke August preserved at the Herzog August Bibliothek are accessible [http://diglib.hab.de/edoc/ed000005/startx.htm at this link].
-<br>
 ==='''Johann Friedrich, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, to Athanasius Kircher'''===
@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 (1652-10-02) [[Index:AKC_1652_10_02_556-135-136.pdf|APUG Ms. 556, f. 135r-136v]];<br>
 (1652-11-03) [[Index:AKC_1652_11_03_556-137-138.pdf|APUG Ms. 556, f. 137r-138v]].<br>
-<br>
 ==='''Athanasius Kircher to Count Raimondo Montecuccoli'''===
 *(1675-06-18) Kircher thanks Count Montecuccoli for the gift of "military trophies" to his museum, where people from all over the world will be able to see them as a monument to the count's memory and generosity. The gift is [[Page:Romani_Collegii_Societatis_Jesu_Musaeum_Celeberrimum_1678.pdf/15|mentioned in the 1678 catalogue]]. [[Index:AKC 1675 06 18 566-230.pdf|APUG Ms. 566, f. 230r-v]].
-<br>
 ==='''Johann Friedrich, Count of Waldstein, to Athanasius Kircher'''===
 * (1667-09-28) Among other subjects, the count sends Kircher a portrait of himself. The portrait is listed in the museum catalogue of 1678, [[Page:Romani_Collegii_Societatis_Jesu_Musaeum_Celeberrimum_1678.pdf/15|in a passage in which the count is identified as an extraordinary benefactor of the museum and of learning]]. [[Index:AKC_1667_09_28_558-061.pdf|APUG Ms. 558, f. 61rv]].
@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 ==='''Johannes Fridericus Reinhard, secretary to the Elector of Saxony, to Athanasius Kircher'''===
 * (1680-02-10) Reinhard thanks Kircher for the affection expressed towards the figure of the Elector through the courtesy shown to D. Henricus Liber, baron of Frisen, Camerarius and Consiliarius to the Elector, who visited Kircher's museum during his trip to Italy. [[Index:AKC_1680_02_10_566-101-102.pdf|APUG Ms.566, f. 101r-102v]].
-<br>
 ==='''Raimond Sanset de Puiy to Athanasius Kircher'''===
 * (1677-11-02) De Puiy reminisces about admirable things seen at Kircher's museum. [[Index:AKC_1677_11_02_565-247.pdf|APUG Ms. 565, f. 247rv]].
-<br>
 ==='''Manfredo Settala to Athanasius Kircher'''===
 * (1674-02-08) Settala comments on Kircher no longer guiding visitors to the Roman College "gallery", mentions some recent illustrious visitors to his own collection, promises to send asbestos as requested by Kircher, and briefly notes on newly acquired objects from Asia, Congo, and Brazil. [[Index:AKC_1674_02_08_566-035_035a.pdf|APUG Ms. 566, f. 35arv, 35rv]].
@@ Line 41: / Line 41: @@
 ==='''Filippo Sbarra to Athanasius Kircher'''===
 * (1669-07-19) Sbarra mentions the wondrous things shown by Kircher at his "Gallery" as inspiration for his own inventions, one of which - his ''stenographia'' - he sends to Kircher. [[Index:AKC_1669-07-19_564_c.150.pdf|APUG Ms. 564, f. 150rv]].
-<br>
 ''' Baldassar Sozzifonti to Athanasius Kircher'''
 * (1677-12-10) Sozzifonti mentions a visit to the museum. [[Index:AKC_1677-12-10_566_cc.28-30.pdf|APUG Ms. 566, f. 28r-29v]] da completare.
 * (1679-05-30) Sozzifonti thanks Kircher in advance for the museum catalogue that was sent to him. APUG Ms. 566, f. 35rv.
-<br>
 ==='''Raffaello Maffei to Athanasius Kircher'''===
 * (1662-03-27) Among several subjects, Maffei gifts Kircher with an inkstand (calamaio) made from 5 types of alabaster/marble, [[Page:Romani_Collegii_Societatis_Jesu_Musaeum_Celeberrimum_1678.pdf/67|which is listed in the 1678 catalogue of the museum]]. APUG Ms. 559, f. 110rv.

@@ Line 48: / Line 48: @@
 ==='''Raffaello Maffei to Athanasius Kircher'''===
 * (1662-03-27) Among several subjects, Maffei gifts Kircher with an inkstand (calamaio) made from 5 types of alabaster/marble, [[Page:Romani_Collegii_Societatis_Jesu_Musaeum_Celeberrimum_1678.pdf/67|which is listed in the 1678 catalogue of the museum]]. APUG Ms. 559, f. 110rv.
-<br>
 ===''' Giovanni Giacomo Scafili, Secretary of Trepani, to Athanasius Kircher'''===
 * There are several letters related to gifts of coral and shell specimens sent from Scafili to Kircher, which are [[Page:Romani_Collegii_Societatis_Jesu_Musaeum_Celeberrimum_1678.pdf/70|mentioned in the catalogue from 1678]].

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 * (no date) Kircher asks the Pope to give permission for Elisabetha Palatina, wife of the Duke of Luneburg, to visit the Roman College and the Professed House to see "his museum" and the library. [[Index:AKC_s.d._555-102.pdf|APUG Ms. 555, f. 102rv]].
 <br>
-==='''Duke August II of Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel (also Brunswick-Lüneburg) and Athanasius Kircher'''=== <br>
+==='''Duke August II of Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel (also Brunswick-Lüneburg) and Athanasius Kircher'''===
 Summaries of these documents were published by John Fletcher in [[Bibliography:AHSI_112_720_(18)|1986]] and [[Bibliography:AHSI_132_1363|1988]].
 * (1656-05-26) Extract - Duke August promises to send to Kircher his portrait "set in diamonds" and anything else rare that turns up. The portrait is listed in the [[Page:Romani_Collegii_Societatis_Jesu_Musaeum_Celeberrimum_1678.pdf/15|1678 catalogue of the museum]]. APUG Ms. 556, f. 56rv.
@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 * Other letters between Kircher and Duke August preserved at the Herzog August Bibliothek are accessible [http://diglib.hab.de/edoc/ed000005/startx.htm at this link].
 <br>
 ==='''Johann Friedrich, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, to Athanasius Kircher'''===
 * Four letters related to the gift of a crocodile from the Duke, which was requested by Kircher, [[Page:Romani_Collegii_Societatis_Jesu_Musaeum_Celeberrimum_1678.pdf/43|which is described in the museum catalogue of 1678]]:

@@ Line 68: / Line 68: @@
 <br>
 <br>
-==='''Philipp Müller, SJ, and Athanasius Kircher'''===
+==='''Philipp Müller SJ, and Athanasius Kircher'''===
 * (1655-09-14) Fr. Müller discusses, among other subjects, a portrait of King Leopold I (later emperor), to be made in the same dimensions and quality of the portraits of the Emperor Ferdinand III and of the deceased King Ferdinand IV. [[Page:Romani_Collegii_Societatis_Jesu_Musaeum_Celeberrimum_1678.pdf/14|These portraits are listed in the 1678 catalogue of the museum]]. APUG Ms. 561, f. 144rv
 * (1668-03-17) Kircher, among other subjects, mentions a planned visit from the cardinal-nephew (Rospigliosi) to the Roman College and the improvements he was making to his Gallery for the illustrious visitor. Cardinal Leopoldo de' Medici was also expected to visit the museum soon. [[Index:AKC 1668 03 17 558-079.pdf|APUG Ms. 558, f. 79r-v]].
 * (1675-02-09) Fr. Müller, among other subjects, comments on Kircher's report of the donation made by Raimondo Montecuccoli to the Museum ([[Page:Romani_Collegii_Societatis_Jesu_Musaeum_Celeberrimum_1678.pdf/15|which is listed in the catalogue from 1678]]). APUG Ms. 566, f. 175rv.
 <br>
-==='''Domenico Brunacci, SJ, to Athanasius Kircher'''===
+==='''Domenico Brunacci SJ, to Athanasius Kircher'''===
 * (1668-10-12) Brunacci, then rector of the Roman College, orders Kircher and his companion to return to the college as soon as possible to put the museum in order before the visit of Cardinal Leopoldo de' Medici. APUG Ms. 564, f. 165rv.
 <br>
-==='''Heinrich Roth, SJ, to Athanasius Kircher'''===
+==='''Heinrich Roth SJ, to Athanasius Kircher'''===
 * (1664-09-07) Mentions the portraits of three Asian "kings" sent to Kircher, which are [[Page:Romani_Collegii_Societatis_Jesu_Musaeum_Celeberrimum_1678.pdf/15|listed in the 1678 catalogue]] of the museum. [[Index:AKC_1664_09_07_563-281.pdf|APUG Ms. 563, f. 281r-v]].
 <br>
@@ Line 82: / Line 82: @@
 * (1672-01-21) Gruszynski mentions a monument from 1625 related to China which had been incorporated into the museum. APUG Ms. 560, f. 135rv.
 <br>
-==='''Stanislaus Koprowski, SJ, to Athanasius Kircher'''===
+==='''Stanislaus Koprowski SJ, to Athanasius Kircher'''===
 * (1664-03-01) Koprowski thanks Kircher for displaying in the museum a picture that he painted. APUG Ms. 563, f. 288rv.
 <br>
-==='''Joannes Grueber, SJ, to Athanasius Kircher'''===
+==='''Joannes Grueber SJ, to Athanasius Kircher'''===
 * (1664-10-09) Grueber mentions the [[Page:Romani_Collegii_Societatis_Jesu_Musaeum_Celeberrimum_1678.pdf/15|three portraits of Asian "kings" previously sent to Kircher]]. APUG Ms. 562, f. 122r-v.
 * (1665-10-20) Grueber promises to send to Kircher Fr. Heinrich Roth's ''Thesaurus'' of the Indian language. Roth's manuscripts about India are [[Page:Romani_Collegii_Societatis_Jesu_Musaeum_Celeberrimum_1678.pdf/90|listed in the museum catalogue]] of 1678. [[Index:AKC_1665_10_20_562-137.pdf|APUG Ms. 562, f. 137r-v]].
 * (1666-02-26) Grueber promises to send Fr. Roth's manuscripts along with Grueber's own description of their trip from China to Europe by land and any Chinese material that might be useful to Kircher. Several Chinese objects and manuscripts about China are listed in the 1678 catalogue, and Grueber's travel report was one of the sources for Kircher's ''China illustrata''.  [[Index:AKC_1666_02_26_562-079.pdf|APUG Ms. 559, f. 79r-v]].
 <br>
-==='''Kaspar Schott, SJ, to Athanasius Kircher'''===
+==='''Kaspar Schott SJ, to Athanasius Kircher'''===
 * (ca. 1655-12) Schott comments that the Fr. Provincial wants him to "describe and print" Kircher's gallery. [[Index:AKC_s.d._567-052.pdf|APUG Ms. 567, f. 52r-v]].
 * (1656-04-01) Schott comments on Queen Christina of Sweden's visit to the museum. [[Index:AKC_1656_04_01_561-040.pdf|APUG Ms. 561, f. 40r-v]]
@@ Line 97: / Line 97: @@
 * (1657-06-16) Schott asks Kircher to send him Fr. Valentin Stansel's description of the "Gallery", or at least the main parts of it, to be inserted in his ''Magia Universale Naturæ et Artis''. [[Index:AKC_1657_06_16_567-045.pdf|APUG Ms. 567, f. 45r-v]].
 <br>
-==='''Nicolò Mascardi, SJ, to Athanasius Kircher:'''===
+==='''Nicolò Mascardi SJ, to Athanasius Kircher'''===
 * (1671-02-10) Two versions of a letter written from Chile, with observations regarding astronomy, geography, the seas, people's habits and beliefs, agriculture, animals, and plants, in Latin [[Index:AKC_1671_02_10_565-185.pdf|(APUG Ms. 565, f. 185r-186v)]] and in Italian[[Index:AKC_s.d._566-217.pdf|(APUG Ms. 566, f. 217r-220v)]]. A [[Page:Romani_Collegii_Societatis_Jesu_Musaeum_Celeberrimum_1678.pdf/91|manuscript from Mascardi regarding these subjects]] is listed in the museum catalogue from 1678.
 <br>
-==='''Valentin Stansel, SJ, to Athanasius Kircher:'''===
+==='''Valentin Stansel SJ, to Athanasius Kircher'''===
 * (1659-03-26) From Lisbon, Stansel sends some "trinkets" he was able to buy locally: a Brazilian nut called "coccum", ''Canna indica'' seeds, a coconut from the Maldives, and fruits from a Brazilian tree called ''Sementilhas'' or ''coquilhos'' which were used to make rosaries. These objects are listed in Bonanni's catalogue of the museum published in 1709. [[Index:AKC_1659_03_26_567-066.pdf|APUG Ms. 567, f. 66r-68v]]
 *Five letters in which Stansel discusses with Kircher the publication of works concerning geographic and astronomical observations from Brazil. [[Page:Romani_Collegii_Societatis_Jesu_Musaeum_Celeberrimum_1678.pdf/91|These manuscripts are listed in the museum catalogue from 1678]]:
@@ Line 109: / Line 109: @@
 (1674-04-20)[[Index:AKC_1674_04_20_566-183.pdf|APUG Ms. 566, f. 183r-v]] da completare.<br>
 <br>
-==='''Andreas Schaffer, SJ, to Athanasius Kircher'''===
+==='''Andreas Schaffer SJ, to Athanasius Kircher'''===
 * Several letters dealing with the collection of information and specimens of minerals from Hungarian mines under Kircher's request, which [[Page:Romani_Collegii_Societatis_Jesu_Musaeum_Celeberrimum_1678.pdf/66|were incorporated into the museum]] and informed the writing of Kircher's ''Mundus subterraneus''.
 (1659-07-19) [[Index:AKC_1659_07_19_567-115.pdf|APUG 567, f. 115rv]]<br>

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-==='''Athanasius Kircher to Pope Alexander VII (Fabio Chigi)===
+==='''Athanasius Kircher to Pope Alexander VII (Fabio Chigi)'''===
 * (1662-09-20) Kircher thanks Pope Alexander for the medal he sent, which Kircher exhibits in the Museum. Transcription published in [[Bibliography:AHSI_120_1272|BARTOLA, 1989]]. [[Index:AKC_1662_09_20_555-178.pdf|APUG Ms. 555, f. 178rv]].
 * (no date) Kircher asks the Pope to give permission for Elisabetha Palatina, wife of the Duke of Luneburg, to visit the Roman College and the Professed House to see "his museum" and the library. [[Index:AKC_s.d._555-102.pdf|APUG Ms. 555, f. 102rv]].