Total Eclipse of the Sun, 1882

Beautiful color print titled “Total Eclipse of the Sun. Observed July 29, 1878, at Creston, Wyoming Territory,” originally published in 1882 by Étienne Léopold Trouvelot.

Printed on heavyweight, museum-quality Hahnemühle Fine-Art paper.

Étienne Léopold Trouvelot was a versatile French artist, astronomer, and amateur entomologist. He is best known for his extraordinary astronomical illustrations and scientific papers, which greatly advanced the field of astronomy. His most renowned works are the 15 pastel drawings published in 1882 as The Trouvelot Astronomical Drawings, of which this print is a remarkable example.

Trouvelot’s talent earned him a place at the Harvard College Observatory under Joseph Winlock, and in 1875, he was invited to use the U.S. Naval Observatory’s 26-inch refractor, one of the most powerful telescopes of the time. Over his career, he published around 50 scientific papers, including his discovery of “veiled spots” on the Sun in 1875, a previously unknown phenomenon.

Despite his contributions to astronomy, Trouvelot’s legacy is marked by controversy. In the mid-1860s, he inadvertently introduced the European Gypsy moth to North America, a species that has since caused extensive damage to forests and crops.

This stunning reproduction is a celebration of Trouvelot’s artistic and scientific legacy, making it a perfect addition for lovers of astronomy and historical art.