Percival Lowell (1855-1916) 1969

Editor: This is a portrait of Percival Lowell, a painting by Pietro Pezzati. It feels very formal and a bit serious. There's an old telescope subtly placed in the lower left. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It’s funny you say "serious," because I find a quiet confidence in his gaze, almost like he knows something we don't. That telescope whispers of grand ambitions, of charting the unknown. Did you notice the chain? Editor: Yes! It looks gold. Curator: Exactly. It's a symbol of status, sure, but it also hints at the intricate clockwork of the cosmos that Lowell dedicated his life to understanding. I suppose it's not so serious after all! Editor: I see what you mean. The telescope and chain hint at a whole other world!