Portrait of Tyko Brahe

What it is

This is a reproduction of a 16th-century painted portrait of Tycho Brahe, held in the Swedish Nationalmuseum. It shows him bald and bearded, wearing a dark robe with a large ruff collar and a gold chain pendant, with one hand resting on a glove.

Why it matters

The portrait preserves the scarred, reconstructed nose Tycho gained after losing part of his own in a duel in 1566 — a detail that became part of his public image as both a nobleman and a scientist. An allegorical scene with a sundial-like emblem in the background ties his image to his astronomical work.

Look closer

• Why might Tycho have allowed such a personal detail as his damaged nose to appear in official portraits?
• What does the sundial emblem in the background suggest about how he wanted to be remembered?
• This image is a black-and-white reproduction of the original painting — what details might be lost compared to seeing the original in colour?