The Astronomer (painting)

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The Astronomer
Johannes Vermeer, c. 1668
Oil on canvas
51 × 45 cm
Musée du Louvre, Paris

The Astronomer is a painting finished about 1668 by the Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer. It is oil on canvas, 51cm x 45 cm, and is on display at the Louvre, Paris.[1]

Portrayals of scientists were a favourite topic in 17th century Dutch painting[1] and Vermeer's oeuvre includes both this astronomer and the slightly later The Geographer. Both are believed to portray the same man,[2][3][4] possibly Anton van Leeuwenhoek. [5]

The astronomer's profession is shown by the celestial globe (version by Jodocus Hondius) and the book on the table, Metius's Institutiones Astronomicae Geographicae[2][3][4]. Symbolically, the volume is open to Book III, a section advising the astronomer to seek "inspiration from God" and the painting on the wall shows the finding of Moses—Moses may represent knowledge and science ("learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians"[6]).

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b L'Astronome ou plutôt L'Astrologue (French). Atlas: the database of the exhibited works of art. Musée du Louvre. Retrieved on 2006-10-14.
  2. ^ a b Bailey, Anthony (2001). Vermeer: A View of Delft, 165-170. ISBN 0-8050-6930-5. 
  3. ^ a b Bailey, Martin (1995). Vermeer, 102-104. 
  4. ^ a b van Berkel, Klaas. "Vermeer and the Representation of Science", The Scholarly World of Vermeer, 13-14. ISBN 90-400-9825-5. 
  5. ^ Van Berkel, K. (February 24 1996). Vermeer, Van Leeuwenhoek en De Astronoom. Vrij Nederland (Dutch magazine), p. 62–67.
  6. ^ Acts 7:22
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