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| The frontispiece of De Eclipse Solari, by J Balde. The drawing shows an astronomer, aghast at the sight of the eclipse of August 1654. His instruments lie scattered around him. 'Hem! personatum solem sic posse iocari!' he exclaims - roughly translated, 'Oh! The masked sun is jesting with us!' The conceit, illustrated by the drawing, is that the personified sun has donned the moon's mask in a theatrical gesture. (Royal Astronomical Society) | 
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| The frontispiece of Scientia Eclipsium by Simonelli et al (1747). The Latin caption reads: 'Insuetam eclipsuim spectans Dionysius inquit aut Deus aut illo sol patiente dolet' (roughly translated: Gazing at the unprecedented eclipse, Dionysius [the Roman god] says that either God or the sun is in mourning for the suffering of man.') Note the Roman legions looking at each other in confusion, the astronomer demonstrating the scientific principles of the eclipse in the foreground, and Dionysius' followers in the background. The priest points towards pseudo-hieroglyphics on an obelisk, which appear to represent Noah's Ark, a snake wearing an ancre, and various other symbols. (Royal Astronomical Society) | 
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| The July 1860 eclipse in Spain, photographed in its late partial phase. Photography was still in the early stages of its development. (Royal Astronomical Society) | 
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| The July 1860 eclipse in Spain. This photograph shows totality, despite the 'pinhole' effect created by an early camera. (Royal Astronomical Society) | 
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