Anthropography
Original
This do I call Anthropographie. Which is an Art restored, and of my preferment to your Seruice. I pray you, thinke of it, as of one of the chief pointes, of Humane knowledge. Although it be, but now, first Cõfirmed, with this new name: yet the matter, hath from the beginning, ben in consideration of all perfect Philosophers. Anthropographie, is the description of the Number, Measure, Waight, figure, Situation, and colour of euery diuerse thing, conteyned in the perfect body of MAN: with certain knowledge of the Symmetrie, figure, waight, Characterization, and due locall motion, of any parcell of the sayd body, assigned: and of Nũbers, to the sayd parcell appertainyng. This, is the one part of the Definition, mete for this place: Sufficient to notifie, the particularitie, and excellency of the Arte: and why it is, here, ascribed to the Mathematicals. Yf the description of the heauenly part of the world, had a peculier Art, called Astronomie: If the description of the earthly Globe, hath his peculier arte, called Geographie. If the Matching of both, hath his peculier Arte, called Cosmographie: Which is the Descriptiõ of the whole, and vniuersall frame of the world: Why should not the description of
(MAN is the Lesse World.)
him, who is the Lesse world: and, frõ the beginning, called Microcosmus (that is. The Lesse World.) And for whose sake, and seruice, all bodily creatures els, were created: Who, also, participateth with Spirites, and Angels: and is made to the Image and similitude of God: haue his peculier Art? and be called the Arte of Artes: rather, then, either to want a name, or to haue to base and impropre a name? You must of sundry professions, borow or challenge home, peculier partes hereof: and farder procede: as, God, Nature, Reason and Experience shall informe you. The Anatomistes will restore to you, some part: The Physiognomistes, some: The Chyromantistes some. The Metaposcopistes, some: The excellent, Albert Durer, a good part: the Arte of Perspectiue, will somwhat, for the Eye, helpe forward: Pythagoras, Hipocrates, Plato, Galenus, Meletius, & many other (in certaine thinges) will be Contributaries. And farder, the Heauen, the Earth, and all other Creatures, will eche shew, and offer their Harmonious seruice, to fill vp, that, which wanteth hereof: and with your own Experience, concluding: you may Methodically register the whole, for the posteritie: Whereby, good profe will be had, of our Harmonious, and
(Micro Cosmus.)
Microcosmicall constitution.
(* ☞)
The outward Image, and vew hereof: to the Art of Zographie and Painting, to Sculpture, and Architecture: (for Church, House, Fort, or Ship) is most necessary and profitable: for that, it is the chiefe base and foundation of them.
(* Lib. 3. Cap. 1.)
Looke in * Vitruuius, whether I deale sincerely for your behoufe, or no. Looke in Albertus Durerus, De Symmetria humani Corporis. Looke in the 27. and 28. Chapters, of the second booke, De occulta Philosophia. Consider the Arke of Noe. And by that, wade farther. Remember the Delphicall Oracle NOSCE TEIPSVM (Knowe thy selfe) so long agoe pronounced: of so many a Philosopher repeated: and of the Wisest attempted: And then, you will perceaue, how long agoe, you haue bene called to the Schole, where this Arte might be learned. Well. I am nothing affrayde, of the disdayne of some such, as thinke Sciences and Artes, to be but Seuen. Perhaps, those Such, may, with ignorance, and shame enough, come short of them Seuen also: and yet neuerthelesse they can not prescribe a certaine number of Artes: and in eche, certaine vnpassable boundes, to God, Nature, and mans Industrie. New Artes, dayly rise vp: and there was no such order taken, that,
(☞)
All Artes, should in one age, or in one land, or of one man, be made knowen to the world. Let vs embrace the giftes of God, and wayes to wisedome, in this time of grace, from aboue, continually bestowed on them, who thankefully will receiue them: Et bonis Omnia Cooperabuntur in bonum.
Musean translation
Modern machine-assisted Musean edition by Mouseia, from Dee's 1570 Praeface. Latin quotations and titles are translated into English, using Dee's own English glosses where provided. Printer's type-size markup is normalized; marginal notes are kept as asides. Billingsley's separate address is omitted. Uncertain readings are marked.
This I call Anthropography: an art restored, and an advancement of mine in your service. I ask you to think of it as one of the chief points of human knowledge. Although it has only now first been confirmed with this new name, yet the matter has, from the beginning, been under consideration by all perfect philosophers. Anthropography is the description of the number, measure, weight, figure, situation, and color of every diverse thing contained in the perfect body of man, with certain knowledge of the symmetry, figure, weight, characterization, and due local motion of any assigned part of the said body, and of the numbers belonging to that part. This is the one part of the definition suited to this place, sufficient to show the particularity and excellency of the art, and why it is here ascribed to the mathematical sciences. If the description of the heavenly part of the world has a peculiar art called astronomy; if the description of the earthly globe has its peculiar art called geography; if the matching of both has its peculiar art called cosmography, which is the description of the whole and universal frame of the world; why should not the description of
Man is the lesser world.
him who is the lesser world, and from the beginning called Microcosmus (that is, the lesser world), and for whose sake and service all other bodily creatures were created, who also partakes with spirits and angels and is made in the image and similitude of God, have its peculiar art, and be called the art of arts, rather than either lack a name or have too base and improper a one? You must borrow or claim back for yourself the peculiar parts of this from sundry professions, and proceed farther, as God, nature, reason, and experience shall inform you. The anatomists will restore to you some part; the physiognomists, some; the chiromantists, some; the metaposcopists, some; the excellent Albert Durer, a good part; the art of perspective will help the eye forward somewhat; Pythagoras, Hippocrates, Plato, Galen, Meletius, and many others, in certain things, will be contributors. And farther, the heavens, the earth, and all other creatures will each show and offer their harmonious service to fill up whatever is lacking hereof; and, concluding with your own experience, you may methodically register the whole for posterity, by which good proof will be had of our harmonious and
The microcosm.
microcosmic constitution.
The outward image and view of this is most necessary and profitable to the art of drawing and painting, to sculpture, and to architecture (for church, house, fort, or ship), for it is the chief base and foundation of them.
Book 3, chapter 1.
Look in Vitruvius, whether I deal sincerely for your benefit or not. Look in Albertus Durerus, On the Symmetry of the Human Body. Look in chapters 27 and 28 of the second book, On Occult Philosophy. Consider the Ark of Noah. And from that, wade farther. Remember the Delphic oracle "Know yourself", pronounced so long ago, repeated by so many a philosopher, and attempted by the wisest; and then you will perceive how long ago you have been called to the school where this art might be learned. Well, I am not at all afraid of the disdain of some who think the sciences and arts to be only seven. Perhaps such people may, with ignorance and shame enough, come short of those seven as well; and yet nevertheless they cannot set down a certain number of arts, nor in each art certain impassable bounds for God, nature, and human industry. New arts rise up daily; and no such order was taken that all the arts should be made known to the world in one age, or in one land, or by one man. Let us embrace the gifts of God and the ways to wisdom, in this time of grace, continually bestowed from above on those who will receive them thankfully: and to the good, all things shall work together for good.
Plain English translation
Modern machine-assisted Plain English edition by Mouseia, from Dee's 1570 Praeface. Latin quotations and titles are translated into English, using Dee's own English glosses where provided. Printer's type-size markup is normalized; marginal notes are kept as asides. Billingsley's separate address is omitted. Uncertain readings are marked.
This I call Anthropography. Which is an art restored, and which I put forward for your service. Please think of it as one of the chief points of human knowledge. Although it has only now first been confirmed with this new name, the matter has been considered from the beginning by all perfect philosophers. Anthropography is the description of the number, measure, weight, figure, situation, and color of every diverse thing contained in the perfect body of man: with certain knowledge of the symmetry, figure, weight, characterization, and proper local motion of any assigned part of the said body, and of the numbers belonging to that part. This is the part of the definition that fits this place: enough to show the particularity and excellence of the art, and why it is ascribed here to the mathematical sciences. If the description of the heavenly part of the world has its own art called astronomy: if the description of the earthly globe has its own art called geography: if the matching of both has its own art called cosmography, which is the description of the whole and universal frame of the world: why should not the description of
Man is the lesser world.
him who is the lesser world, and from the beginning called Microcosmus (that is, the lesser world), and for whose sake and service all other bodily creatures were created, who also shares with spirits and angels, and is made in the image and likeness of God, have its own art, and be called the art of arts, rather than either lack a name or have too base and improper a name? You must borrow or claim for yourself particular parts of this from various professions, and proceed further, as God, nature, reason, and experience shall instruct you. The anatomists will restore some part to you: the physiognomists some: the chiromantists some. The metaposcopists some: the excellent Albert Durer a good part: the art of perspective will help forward the eye somewhat: Pythagoras, Hippocrates, Plato, Galen, Meletius, and many others (in certain things) will contribute. And further, the heavens, the earth, and all other creatures will each show and offer their harmonious service to fill up whatever is lacking here: and concluding with your own experience, you may methodically register the whole for posterity: by which good proof will be had of our harmonious and
Microcosmus.
Microcosmic constitution.
The outward image and view of this, for the art of drawing and painting, for sculpture, and for architecture (for a church, house, fort, or ship), is most necessary and profitable, since it is the chief base and foundation of them.
Book 3, chapter 1.
Look in Vitruvius and see whether I am dealing sincerely for your benefit. Look in Albert Durer, On the Symmetry of the Human Body. Look in the 27th and 28th chapters of the second book, On Occult Philosophy. Consider the ark of Noah. And from that, wade further. Remember the Delphic oracle "know yourself", pronounced so long ago, repeated by so many a philosopher, and attempted by the wisest: and then you will see how long ago you have been called to the school where this art could be learned. Well, I am not at all afraid of the disdain of some who think the sciences and arts are only seven. Perhaps such people may, with enough ignorance and shame, fall short of those seven as well: and yet, nevertheless, they cannot set a certain number of arts, nor set in each certain impassable bounds against God, nature, and human industry. New arts rise up daily, and there was no order taken that,
All arts should be made known to the world in one age, or in one land, or by one man.
Let us embrace the gifts of God, and the ways to wisdom, continually bestowed from above in this time of grace on those who will receive them thankfully: and to the good, all things will work together for good.
About this section
Anthropography is part of The Mathematicall Praeface to the Elements of Geometrie by John Dee. This page sets the 16th-century English original beside 2 direct-source translations, so any line can be checked against the source. It is part 20 of 34 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
Open the work page for the full contents, every edition, and the download links, or go back to Explore to browse other complete works in the European tradition. The reader keeps your place when you are signed in and lets you compare the original with each translation, one edition at a time.