Portrait of Tycho Brahe at Age Forty, Without Cap

What it is

This print shows Tycho Brahe at the age of forty, seen from the chest up within an arched niche decorated with family coats of arms. He wears a cloak with a ruffled collar and chains, rests a hand on a ledge, and his cap sits beside him. A Latin inscription and his motto appear below. It is held by the Rijksmuseum.

Why it matters

The coats of arms and Latin motto point to Tycho's noble Danish family background, which gave him the wealth and position to build his famous observatory and pursue astronomy. Such formal portraits helped present scholars as serious, dignified figures of learning.

Look closer

• What does the motto, translated as 'Not to be seen, but to be,' suggest about how Tycho wanted to be remembered?
• Why might the artist include family coats of arms around his portrait?
• What does the detailed clothing and jewelry tell us about his social status?