Portrait of Tycho Brahe

What it is

This is a pen and brown ink drawing of Tycho Brahe, held today by the National Gallery of Denmark. It shows a bearded man wearing a feathered cap, a stiff ruff collar, and a long coat with a chain and pendant, with a monogram 'L.S.' at the lower left.

Why it matters

Portraits like this helped shape the visual identity of Tycho Brahe for later viewers, long after his own lifetime. The careful costume and pose reflect how Brahe wished to be, or was remembered to be, presented as a learned and noble figure.

Look closer

• What details of clothing suggest the sitter's wealth or status?
• Who might 'L.S.' be, and what might that monogram tell us about the drawing's maker?
• What does the museum label attached to the drawing tell you about how it has been preserved?