Galileo Galilei in zijn cel before 1839

"Galileo Galilei in zijn cel" is a lithograph created before 1839 by Dutch artist Carel Christiaan Antony Last. The image depicts Galileo Galilei, an Italian astronomer and physicist, in his prison cell, referencing his house arrest for his support of heliocentrism. The artwork is housed at the Rijksmuseum and captures the somberness of the scene, highlighting Galileo's isolation and the restrictive nature of his confinement. Last masterfully uses light and shadow to create a sense of depth and drama, evoking a melancholic tone.