Monday 28 September 2015

Best portrait of Tycho Brahe during his lifetime?

Tajan, from Paris, sells on 15 October 2015 a "Flemish School, 1559, circle of Anthonis Mor" portrait on panel, 26 by 19,5 cm, estimated at 8,000 to 12,000 Euro. The panel is dated at the front 1559 and has at the back a label identifying the sitter as Tycho Brahe.

Brahe was one of the most important astronomers ever, and a major teacher of Kepler. He was Danish lived from 1546 to 1601, which would make him about 13 in 1559, which is obviously not possible if it is a 1559 painting.

Apart from an impressive mustache, there is one major element essential in identifying Tycho Brahe: he had an artificial nose, from 1566 on (he lost part of his original nose in a duel!). The painting for sale has a very strange nose, which strongely resembles some other depictions of Brahe (other portraits make his nose more closely resemble a natural nose, perhaps to flatter the sitter more).

Other typical elements are the receding hairline (in later life) and the large series of chains (bearing the Order of the Elephant).

To me, it looks a strong possibility that this is indeed a portrait of Tycho Brahe from late in his life (perhaps the inscription should be 1599 instead of 1559). This would of course rule out any connection to Anthonis Mor, who died in 1577. It is one of the best, if not even the best, painted portrait of him I know of, and should for its historical value probably easily make the estimate. Art historically, it is better than most Danish portraits the time (as anyone who ever has visited Frederiksborg Castle may confirm). It looks Flemish, but it is hard to tell who may have been the actual artist.

UPDATE: not sold, as far as I can tell from this result list.

1 comment:

  1. Not sure I agree. Tycho's hair colour in youth was sandy not dark brown as in this picture. His long dropping moustache, present in every other portrait, including ones commissioned by himself, is absent. Not likely to be from 1599, as Tycho would've been 52 (or 53 if painted after Dec 14th) and this man looks in his 30s. The chains around the sitter are not obviously golden. The nose though is interesting, as you say although duels amongst Danish nobles, and therefore injuries of this kind, quite common. Maybe I'm wrong - it would be very interesting if it were Tycho!

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