Research: An Astronomer - Ferdinand Bol

 

Astronomers are scientists who study the universe, its objects and how it works. They aim to push the boundaries of human knowledge about how the universe works by observation and theoretical modelling. 

- The painting shows an astronomer at a table, on which terrestrial and celestial globes sat.

- Draws on themes of Melencolia I, an engraving by Durer - the implication behind this was that a scholars research would inevitably lead to an awareness of the futility of human endeavour in the face of death

- Books and globes express key repositories of knowledge

The astronomer is posed in the classic thinker's pose; hand on chin with eyes staring into the middle distance

- Most likely an idealised depiction of an astronomer as a scientist and thinker

- On the celestial globe, it is possible to make out two figures: Babuleus, a figure from Greek mythology, and the other is often thought of as Hercules due to their positioning in the sky.

- Many references to the classical worls

- In the background, a roman or greek stone pillar is visible

- The combination of classical learning and scientific enquirey was then entirely conventional: the divide between artists and scientists was not as distinct then as it is today.

Since this man is an astronomer, all of his tattoos are representative of space. The astronaut, planets, stars and rocket all represent the human curiosity of space. The thinker tattoo is a nod to his pose as it is similar to the pose of the Thinker by Auguste Rodin.