Portrait of a Scholar, ca. 1525 – 1530

About the Work

The viewer is instantly present when the scholar looks up spontaneously from his reading. He raises his right hand, thus heightening his surprise at the knowledge he has just gained. The landscape in the background is typical of Antwerp painting during this period and recalls in its diversity the "world landscapes" of the early sixteenth century. Here, various elements such as mountains, seas, rivers and forests were assembled to create an idealised landscape representing the universe.