The Geographer

The geographer is a 1668/1669, painted by Jan Vermeer Oil Painting. The 53 cm high and 46.6 cm wide picture shows a geographer in his work and, together with the painting The Astronomer Louvre in Paris an image pair. It belongs to the collection of the Städel and can be seen in the permanent exhibition of the museum.

Image description

The picture shows the geographer the scientist in the image center as the central motif. He wears his long hair behind the ears and is bundled with a long blue robe, red and white under garments clothed. The heavy oriental rug that has covered his desk, he has carelessly pushed aside to make room for the spread map. While he rests his left hand on the table, he lifted his Dividers of the map and is now looking thoughtfully to himself. From the far side of the window light is shining on the face, hands and card, alluding to the enlightenment in his work. On the narrow cabinet in the background a globe stands beside a small stack of books. Are two more cards rolling on the floor.

The back wall of the room where the window light scattered by a curtain and furniture, unfolds a delicate shadow play, is equipped with a baseboard of Delft tiles. Cut off from the right edge of the picture is still a small part of a framed map to see how they are rendered meticulously on other images Vermeer. When the map is a chart of the Dutch cartographer Willem Jansz Europe. Blaeu. Such cards were used in addition to the seamanship practice in framed condition of the representation of wealth, cosmopolitanism and education of its owner.

Below the map is a related with Gobelinstoff chair as it was common in affluent households in the Netherlands of the Golden Age. Furniture, the dearly -glazed windows and the decor of the room indicate, together with the map indicates the special status and reputation, enjoyed the cartographer and the Dutch cartography at this time in the Netherlands and throughout Europe

The signature

The geographer is dated and includes not only the astronomer and the image At the matchmaker to the three images that have been signed by Vermeer. The signature IVer Sea / MXCLXIII is mounted in a prominent position at the top of the screen. In the right corner of the signature will be overlooked by a refined sense of light. On the darkened wall lit by shadow areas a faint light, emphasized by a further parallel-guided strip lights, the signature, on the viewer's gaze is also executed through the black frame of the map.

Contemporary references

With the appearance of a geographer Jan Vermeer respond to a paradigm shift in the society of his time. Until the 17th century it was not customary to deal with the extension, figure and history of the Earth. Church circles saw it as an infringement of the plan of salvation. Nevertheless, these studies received by the discoveries of navigators and by astronomers such as Galileo and Kepler, who used the Dutch invention of the telescope, big boom. Since the discoveries of new coasts and countries in America, Asia and Africa, merchants and sailors needed more and more geographical knowledge, which was collected in books, maps and globes and recycled.

Provenance

Until 1797 formed The Geographer The Astronomer with the image an image pair, first with the auction this year, both images were separated. 1885 acquired the Frankfurter Kunstverein the painting The Geographer for the collection of the Städel. Today it is one of the most important works in this collection and is presented in the permanent exhibition.