Aaron Rathborne

Simon de Passe

National Gallery of Art

The image depicts an engraved portrait of a man seated from the waist up. His body is slightly turned to the right as he looks directly at the viewer. The man has distinct facial features, including a trimmed beard and mustache, with short, slicked-back hair. He wears a high-collared lace neck ruffle and a textured cloak over an embroidered garment. In his left hand, he holds a pair of compasses above an open book. The background shows an ornate oval frame with Latin inscriptions and scrollwork. To the left, there are shelves with books, and various scientific instruments like globes and measuring devices are visible in the foreground.