Astronomer

This subject was introduced to the repertoire of Dutch painting by Gerrit Dou. He executed at least three versions of the subject before Johannes Vermeer’s famous Astronomer, completed in 1668. The theme had developed out of Dou’s earlier representations of scholars in their studies. The depiction of the scholar at work, an age-old subject, was given increased attention in Leiden painting due to the foundation of the city’s new university.