This is an original 2 colour linoleum block print showing Copernicus and his model of the celestial spheres, or as we would say, the solar system. Copernicus is shown in green with a lily of the valley, the standard Renaissance symbol to indicate a medical doctor. His planetary model is shown as he conceived it in gold. Using the ancient Greek and Roman symbols, the heliocentric solar system has the following planets: Mercury (the fleet-footed messenger with his serpents and staff, the caduceus), Venus (goddess of beauty - the mirror, like an ankh), Earth (4 cardinal directions), Mars (spear and shield), Jupiter (thunderbolt) and Saturn (the scythe of Time). The outer planets had yet to be discovered. Beyond Saturn, he envisioned the sphere of the "fixed stars".
Happy birthday to Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543)! This is my #linocut showing Copernicus and his model of the celestial spheres, or as we would say, the solar system. 🧪🐡🔭🎢 #histsci Copernicus is shown in green with a lily of the valley, the standard Renaissance symbol to indicate a medical doctor 🧵