LUNAR LORE AND PORTRAITURE. 515 



senting the moon accordiDg to the prevailing theory of the time, as 

 seen by the naked eye or through the telescope. In the picture-writ- 

 ings of both continents, in their carvings and metal castings, were seen 

 the first rude presentations of the planet in her various phases. 



The first astronomical moon-drawing is attributed to Anaxagoras ; 

 it was probably executed more than twenty-three centuries ago. Since 

 his time numberless drawings have been made, all more or less imper- 

 fect. In 1609, Galileo, from observations made with a telescope of his 

 own invention, constructed the first lunar map, which is valuable only 

 as marking the first great advance toward precise knowledge of the 

 moon's surface. 



Scheiner, a German professor, and Schirlaus, made numerous 

 sketches of a like character ; during the same century Langrenus exe- 

 cuted special drawings of different points on the moon, naming them 

 after celebrated personages. 



About the year' 1647 appeared the " Selenographia," a work by 

 Hevelius, of Dantzic, wherein was the first lunar map at all approach- 

 ing correctness. Although Father Riccioli, of Bologna, published a 

 chart in 1651, and Dominic Cassini another in 1680, fuller as to detail, 

 Hevelius's chart was considered the best authority for one hundred 

 years after its issue, his knowledge of drawing contributing greatly to 

 its success. 



In 1775 appeared Tobias Mayer's small lunar chart, the most accu- 

 rate yet published, and consulted as such until 1824. The first scien- 

 tific attempt to delineate the characteristic features of the moon in 

 detail was made by Lohrmann, a land-surveyor in Dresden : he intended 

 to publish a chart on a large scale in twenty-five sections, but failing 

 eyesight compelled him to forego his ambitious project ; he, however, 

 executed a fine lunar map, fifteen and a quarter inches in diameter, in 

 1838. 



Schroeter, of Lilienthal, labored with the greatest patience, making 

 a long series of observations, but, owing to a lack of graphic skill, 

 his " Selenographische Fragmente^" was not a true exponent of his 

 ideas. 



In 1837 appeared Beer and Miidler's "Der Monde," one of the 

 most valuable contributions to astronomical literature ; the chart ac- 

 companying it shows an immense amount of detail, all the principal 

 objects seen through the telescope being given in outline. Webb's 

 " Map of the Moon," reduced from this chart, is of great value to the 

 student, retaining as it does all the most important features and omit- 

 ting confusing detail. 



The most interesting and wonderful chart yet published is that 

 recently completed by Schmidt, of Athens, the result of more than a 

 quarter of a century's observations of the moon, and for which the 

 author made more than a thousand drawings. 



The most diffuse and clearly illustrated work published within the 



