Jan Teodor de Bry

Portrait of Nicolaus Copernicus

copperplate engraving

1597

Copperplate engraving by Theodorus de Bry from Liege and published in Jean-Jacques Boissard's Icones virorum illustrium in 1597 in Frankfurt-am-Main. The work was based on Stimmer's wood engraving and is a portrait featuring the bust of Copernicus. Turning to the right, the astronomer is holding a lily-of-the valley in his left hand. The portrait has an oval-shaped border set against a panel with floral decorative motifs. The publisher encircled Copernicus' figure with such personal details as his dates of birth and death as well as place of birth and origin: Tornaus, Borussus.

Regional Museum in Toruń