9th December 1508, birth of Dutch physician, mathematician, cartographer, philosopher, and instrument maker Gemma Frisius [Jemme Reinerszoon], Frisius improved the mathematical instruments available at the time, to improve navigation, and also created celestial globes, which were greatly praised for their accuracy and quality. His students included the founder of modern human anatomy Andreas Vesalius, author of De humani corporis fabrica (On the Fabric of the Human Body), published in 1543; and John Dee the astronomer, astrologer and occult philosopher. 9th December 1608, birth of the English Poet John Milton, Milton during his lifetime championed the cause of the freedom of speech and the freedom of the press through the cause of 17th century Republicanism. He is best known for this epic blank verse poem Paradise Lost, composed from 1658 to 1664, while Milton was blind and impoverished. While at Cambridge University from 1625, Milton befriended the future founder of Rhode Island Roger Williams and taught him Hebrew in exchange for lessons in Dutch. Later devotees of John Milton, include William Blake who wrote Milton: A Poem in Two Books, and William Wordsworth. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein first edition 1818 has a quote from Paradise Lost on its title page. Despite the fact that John Dee died the same year that John Milton was born, Milton was aware of John Dee’s work, and his early learning was influenced by the continuation of studies of alchemy and magic, which were transforming into the sciences of mathematics, astronomy and geometry. Continued in the comments #gemmafrisius #historyofscience #johndee #alchemy #alchemyart #occult #occultart #occultartists #johnmilton #paradiselost #17thcentury #18thcentury #19thcenturyhistory #williamblake #maryshelley #frankenstein #tarotart #tarotillustration #illustrationhistory #historicalillustration #tarothistory #gothicliterature #gothicillustration https://www.instagram.com/p/CIszIVknrIP/?igshid=1m07s9fsigptb
