Vincenzo Maria Coronelli

Vincenzo Maria Coronelli (1650–1718) was an Italian Franciscan friar, cosmographer, and cartographer, born in Venice. Trained in theology and mathematics, he became a member of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual and later served as the official cosmographer to the Republic of Venice. Coronelli first gained international fame in the 1680s when he was commissioned by Louis XIV of France to construct two monumental terrestrial and celestial globes, each over 12 feet in diameter. This achievement established him as one of the leading makers of globes and maps in Europe during the late seventeenth century.

Over his career, Coronelli produced hundreds of maps, globes, and atlases, blending scientific precision with artistic flair. His Atlante Veneto (1690–1701) and the Isolario dell’Atlante Veneto are among his best-known works, offering detailed charts of the world and islands accompanied by elaborate baroque ornamentation. He also founded the Accademia Cosmografica degli Argonauti, considered the first geographical society in the world. Coronelli died in Venice in 1718, leaving a legacy as one of Italy’s most important cartographers, whose globes and atlases remain celebrated for both their craftsmanship and scholarly value.