Secondary sourcePainting
Tycho Brahe, line engraving by Philipp Kilian
Philipp Kilian
A later line engraving portrait of Tycho Brahe standing beside a large astronomical instrument.
A later engraved portrait of Brahe shown with an astronomical instrument, reflecting his legacy as a stargazer.
About this source
What it is
This line engraving portrait of Tycho Brahe was made by the engraver Philipp Kilian. It shows Brahe standing on a stone pedestal, dressed in a plumed hat, ruff collar and fur-trimmed cloak, with his hand resting on a tall wooden instrument. A Latin inscription appears on the pedestal. It is held by the Wellcome Collection in London.
Why it matters
Like many portraits of famous scholars, this image was created after Brahe's lifetime to honour his reputation as an astronomer. The instrument beside him points to his work observing the stars and planets, while the formal pose and Latin text reflect how learned men were traditionally portrayed in print.
Look closer
- What does the choice of instrument tell you about what Brahe was remembered for?
- Why might the engraver have added a Latin inscription to the image?
- How does this portrait compare with other later images of Brahe you may have seen?
This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Tycho Brahe on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
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