the Tulse Luper Archetypes

The astronomer sits at a table, bending forward to turn the celestial globe. Above the cupboard are at least ten books of various sizes, and attached to the front is a curious diagram with a large circle and two smaller circles in the upper corners, all with 'hands', but its significance is obscure.

The book lying in front of the astronomer has been identified as the 1621 second edition of a work by Adriaen Metius, On the Investigation or Observation of the Stars, published in Amsterdam in 1621. It is open at the beginning of Book III, where not only knowledge of geometry and the aid of mechanical instruments are recommended for this research but also 'inspiration from God'. The painting that hangs on the wall behind the astronomer has for its subject the Finding of Moses.

The celestial globe, which sits on a four-legged grand, was first published by Jodocus Hondius in Amsterdam in 1600. In Vermeer's painting the constellations on the upper half of the globe which face the viewer include the Great Bear on the left, the Dragon and Hercules in the centre, and Lyra on the right. Below the globe lies a brass astrolabe, an instrument used in navigation and for measuring the position of celestial bodies, similar to that shown in the illustration on the left-hand page of the open book.

The astronomer is seemingly associated to another picture by Vermeer with a scientific theme: the Geographer as it is now called.



These were Vermeer's only two paintings -at least the only two to survive - with solitary male figures as their protagonists.The model in both pictures appears to be the same man. He has a large, long, straight nose and full lips. Moreover, although there are differences in detail between the rooms the two scientists inhabit -a section of stained-glass window in one and not in the other; the table carpets; a curtain moved from one side of the casement to the other - the actual room seems to be the same, with the same corner cupboard.