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Robert Hooke, author, artist
English, 1635 - 1703
Micrographia: or some physiological Descriptions of minute Bodies made by Magnifying Glasses. With Observations and Inquiries thereupon (London: printed by Jo. Martyn and Ja. Allestry, printers to the Royal Society, 1665), 1665
Book with 38 engravings
31.5 x 21 x 3.8 cm (object)
Museum purchase, The Herman Michels Collection, bequest of Vera Michels 1993.1.1-38

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sponsor/ publisher, The Royal Society of London~printer/publisher, Joseph Martyn and James Allestry

Artist Credit: all

Artist Biography: Physicist who discovered the law of elasticity, known as Hooke's law, and who did research in a remarkable variety of fields. Made scientific illustrations.~~Hooke's law of elasticity states that the stretching of a solid body (e.g., metal, wood) is proportional to the force applied to it. The law laid the basis for studies of stress and strain and for understanding of elastic materials. He applied these studies in his designs for the balance springs of watches. In 1662 he was appointed curator of experiments to the Royal Society of London and was elected a fellow the following year. ~~Hooke was one of the first men to build a Gregorian reflecting telescope. His detailed sketches of Mars were used in the 19th century to determine~that planet's rate of rotation. In "Micrographia" (1665; "Small Drawings") he included his studies and illustrations of the crystal structure of snowflakes, discussed the possibility of manufacturing artificial fibres~by a process similar to the spinning of the silkworm, and first used the word cell to name the microscopic honeycomb cavities in cork.

Related Keywords
1665 Society Royal the to printers Allestry Ja Martyn Jo printed London thereupon Inquiries and Observations With Glasses Magnifying by made Bodies minute of physiological some or Micrographia Vera bequest Michels Herman purchase Museum TREASURES95 illustration astronomical mathematical means sense archaic scheme word related examined objects first Remarks History Exhibition matching quite paper repaired removed stamp page title century 17th possibly signature old Provenance Europe England engravings 38 Book apparatus scientific moon inorganic matter vegetable insects telescope also microscope primarily viewed specimens inanimate animate various illustrations descriptions Robert Hooke English The Royal Society of London Joseph Martyn and James Allestry 3306201405410079 A028259 1993.1.1-38 AFGA