Abstract
BY the kindness of Dr. Crompton, of Manchester, we are able to publish this week a copy from a photograph of what there is every reason to believe is a contemporary portrait of the great Danish astronomer, Tycho Brahé. This picture is on canvas, and is 3 feet 3¾ inches high, and 2 feet 6½ inches wide. It represents a man of ruddy complexion, standing and looking forwards. He is bareheaded, has little hair, and that short, of a yellowish colour verging to red. He has very long moustaches and a short beard. In the right upper corner of the picture (that is, to Brahé's right) there is a curious emblematic design, consisting of a round tapering column springing from a square base, around which at its foot are waves. Over the monument is a canopy suspended by a strong chain, a few links only of which are visible, the top being lost in cloudn, and the chain itself has flames playing round it. Two Æolic heads (one on each side) are represented as blowing towards the canopy and column. Lower down, and to the right and left of the column, are two hands (one on each side) holding each a jug from which water flows. Clouds and lightning surround the background, the wrists of the hands holding the jugs, and also the Æolic heads. Round the monument is a label not entirely decipherable with the words: “Stans (tectus ?) in solido;” then follows an indistinct word and “igne e. tunda” (sic). “Igne et unda” was, no doubt intended. In the left upper corner, in large and distinct letters, is this inscription: “Effigies Tychonis Brahe, Otton. Da. anno 50 complete quo post diutinum in patria exilium libertati desideratae divino pro-visu restitutus est.”
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Tycho Brahé . Nature 15, 405–410 (1877). https://doi.org/10.1038/015405a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/015405a0