Portrait of a Mathematician 1614 - 1741

This "Portrait of a Mathematician" was rendered in oil on canvas by an anonymous artist, although it's likely that this canvas would have been prepared by a workshop assistant, and then primed with layers of gesso. The painting has a somber quality. The dark shades of the subject's clothing are offset by the bright white collar. He is working with a compass, a tool of both artistic and mathematical precision, and an intriguing one in this context. Its metal points are like little needles, piercing the surface of the painting. In the background is what appears to be a wooden wheel. Note that the figure is posed, suggesting the labor and class involved in the production process. Materials, making, and context are all vital to understanding an artwork's meaning. This challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft, as the canvas would have been prepared by someone other than the artist.