Title plate from 'The collection of the most notable things seen by John Wilkins, erudite English bishop, on his famous trip from the Earth to the Moon... (Raccolta delle cose più notabili Vedute da Giovanni Wilkins erudito Vescove Inglese nel suo famoso viaggio dalla Terra alla Luna...) 1783 - 1813

Filippo Morghen created this title plate, sometime around the late 18th century, as an introduction to a collection of fantastical lunar observations attributed to John Wilkins. The plate is from an era when the enlightenment's spirit of scientific inquiry was often blended with imaginative speculation. Here, we find a fanciful depiction of a balloon voyage, framed by baroque ornamentation, that reflects a world where the lines between science and fantasy were blurred. The balloon, a symbol of enlightenment aspirations, is rendered here as both a vehicle for exploration and a source of wonder. Note how this image plays into the cultural fascination with the moon, a celestial body long associated with mystery and the imagination. By presenting a journey to the moon as a feat of human ingenuity, Morghen's engraving captures the spirit of an age eager to expand the boundaries of human knowledge and experience. It invites us to consider how the pursuit of knowledge is intertwined with cultural dreams.