The Baroque Era and Scientific knowledge expansion

     The Baroque era was a time of great scientific knowledge expansion with Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek creating the microscope to discover microorganisms, and Galileo confirming Copernicus's Theory. With all of these discoveries, people created art surrounding this topic.


The Astronomer, painted by Johnannes Vermeer (1668)

    The painting done by Johannes Vermeer depicts an astronomer with several objects that were popular in astronomical areas in the Netherlands. There is an astrolabe, which determines the locations of celestial bodies. There is a celestial globe that shows the stars and constellations. There are many aspects of this painting that can show just how much was discovered when it came to astronomy during the Baroque period. There is even a reference to Moses in the picture in the background, who had learned everything that the Egyptians knew about Astronomy.

    This painting does a great job of using contrast to literally shed light on the work that the astronomer is doing on his desk. There is also a great deal of detail when it comes to the objects portrayed on his desk. The first thing that came to my mind when looking at this painting is my curiosity about exactly what he was studying. It had me relating to the painting because I am a Chemistry major and have often spent hours of time at my desk trying to figure something out. I think that I would actually own a copy of this painting. It stimulates curiosity and the value of scientific knowledge. 


“The Astronomer - Johannes Vermeer - Google Arts & Culture.” Google, Google, https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/the-astronomer-johannes-vermeer/bQELiVC_QJaAlQ.

Skulberg, Emilie Gehl. “The Scientific Revolution and the Baroque.” – Niels Bohr Institute - University of Copenhagen, 4 May 2022, https://nbi.ku.dk/english/www/science_in_art/chapters/baroque/.

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