Skip to main content

Primary sourcePainting18th century (?)

Oil Portrait of Galileo in His Study

Unknown Italian painter · 18th century (?)

An oil painting showing Galileo seated with a book, dividers, and a celestial globe, possibly painted during his lifetime.

This painting depicts Galileo himself, shown with instruments linked to his scientific work.

Ask Galileo Galilei about this sourceView the original(opens in new tab)
Oil portrait of an elderly bearded man with a white collar, wearing a black robe, seated at a table with books, a pair of dividers in his raised hand, and a celestial globe to the left, in a dark background. A brass plaque on the frame reads Galileo Galilei.
Unknown Italian painter, Oil portrait of Galileo Galilei, possibly 18th century. Wellcome Collection, London.

About this source

What it is

This is an oil painting of Galileo Galilei by an unknown painter, held by the Wellcome Collection. It shows him seated at a table in his study, holding a book, with an open compass in his other hand and a celestial globe behind him.

The cataloguer who studied it believed it might be a genuine portrait made while Galileo was alive, noting its considerable age. It was once kept in the collection of Conte Paolo Galletti at Torre del Gallo near Florence, close to where Galileo lived his final years in Arcetri.

Why it matters

Portraits like this shaped how later generations imagined Galileo: a scholar surrounded by the tools of astronomy and mathematics. The objects around him point to his work studying the stars and planets.

Look closer

  • What do the objects in the painting (the globe, the compass, the book) tell you about how Galileo wanted to be remembered?
  • Why might the painter's identity be unknown even though the portrait looks carefully made?
  • Does this image feel staged or natural? What makes you think so?

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Galileo Galilei on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

More Galileo Galilei sources

Meet the AI Galileo Galilei →
Title page of the 1610 Latin book Sidereus Nuncius by Galileo Galilei, printed in Venice by Thomas Baglionus. Black text in several type styles, with a central woodcut emblem of a seated figure in an oval frame flanked by cherubs. Handwritten shelfmark appears at the bottom.Book

Primary source

Sidereus Nuncius

Galileo Galilei · 1610

Engraved oval portrait print of a bearded older man with receding hair, wearing a white collar and a buttoned dark coat, in an oval frame. Inscribed 'Galileus Galileus Florentinus' at top, 'Eques Octavius Leonus' and 'Romanus pictor fecit' at bottom, and dated '16 24' with 'Superiorum licentia'. Printed on cream paper with a grayscale color scale at right.Painting

Primary source

Portrait of Galileo Galilei (1624 print)

1624

Oval-framed line engraving of an older bearded man in a large white collar and dark doublet, with a Latin inscription above reading Galileus Galileus Florentinus, and an artist credit below. Handwritten Italian caption on mount beneath.Painting

Primary source

Galileo Galilei, line engraving by Ottavio Leoni

Ottavio Leoni · 1624

Title page of the 1632 Florentine edition of Galileo Galilei's Dialogo, printed in large serif capitals with a decorative woodcut emblem, imprint 'In Fiorenza, Per Gio: Batista Landini MDCXXXII', and several library stamps and handwritten shelf marks.Book

Primary source

Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems

Galileo Galilei · 1632

Title page of a printed book reading 'Lettera del Signor Galileo Galilei Accademico Linceo scritta alla Granduchessa di Toscana', with a decorative floral woodcut ornament and the imprint 'In Fiorenza, MDCXX' at the bottom.Letter

Primary source

Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina

Galileo Galilei · 1615

Ready when you are

Start chatting with Galileo Galilei now.

20 messages free · No credit card · Available in 50+ languages.

Trial Humy for freeGet a quote for institutions