Oronce Fine
Back to people overviewOronce Fine was a French polymath, accomplished in mathematics, astronomy, and cartography.
In 1531, he was appointed the chair of mathematics at the Collège Royal, founded by Francis I of France. In 1525, Fine published the ‘Nova Totius Galliae Descriptio’, which was the first printed map of France. However, he is best known for his double-cordiform world map on a polar projection, which was frequently reused by other famous cartographers of his generation such as Petrus Apianus and Gerard Mercator.
His maps demonstrate an interest in reconciling New World 'discoveries' with medieval legends about the East. In 1542 Fine published the book, ‘De mundi sphaera’, which summarised his methods and tools, passing down his knowledge to a new generation of cosmographers.
