On 12 August the Moon will once again cover the Sun over much of Spain, and for a few minutes there will be a total solar eclipse visible that day. It will be nowhere near the first time an eclipse has left humanity open-mouthed in amazement.
Nor will it be the first time someone has tried to capture it with a paintbrush. For centuries, painters, illuminators and engravers have tried to fix on canvas, fresco or copper plate something that in reality lasts only a few minutes.
