Thomas Harriot at the National Gallery?

The English astronomer Thomas Harriot is a shadowy figure. Although an eclectic and brilliant scientist, he seldom published his work. The only picture of him, hanging in the President's room of Trinity College, Oxford, is unconfirmed to this day. In this article, we note a close resemblance be...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Astronomische Nachrichten 2018-01, Vol.339 (1), p.103-108
Main Author: Molaro, P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Astronomers
Cartography
Harriot, Thomas (1560-1621)
Mathematicians
Scientists
Thomas Harriot – History of Astronomy – National Gallery
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Summary:The English astronomer Thomas Harriot is a shadowy figure. Although an eclectic and brilliant scientist, he seldom published his work. The only picture of him, hanging in the President's room of Trinity College, Oxford, is unconfirmed to this day. In this article, we note a close resemblance between the Trinity College portrait and that of the mathematician in a painting on display at the National Gallery. The sitter is not only a mathematician but also characterized as a cartographer and astronomer as Harriot was. Moreover, the sitter shows certain psychological traits that match Harriot's personality. This association may offer new clues to confirming whether the Trinity College portrait is really of Harriot, and may help lift the veil of mystery from the figure of the first modern British scientist.
ISSN:0004-6337
1521-3994
DOI:10.1002/asna.201713374