At the intersection of art, science, and mystery lies the Linder Gallery Interior, a 17th century painting depicting a gallery filled with scientific instruments, mathematical and cosmic diagrams, a variety of Flemish, Dutch, and Italian paintings, and a curious collection of other objects. Apparently, it represents the controversial ideas that came to a head in Galileo’s 1633 Inquisition Trial. Once owned by the Rothschilds and swiped by the Nazis, the painting is now in a private New York City collection. Fortunately for us, Michael John Gorman, curator of the Trinity College Dublin’s Science Gallery, became obsessed with the artwork and created a Web site and book, titled “A Mysterious Masterpiece: The World of the Linder Gallery.” From the site:
Who is the old man? What’s his relationship with the woman, who holds paintbrushes and a palette? What is the significance of the paintings on the walls? Are we looking at a real or imaginary collection of objects? What about the very carefully painted scientific instruments? What is the significance of the books on the green table? Why is there a drawing of the different possible systems of the universe in the centre of the painting with the intriguing Latin phrase “ALY ET ALIA VIDENT” – “Others see it yet otherwise”?
After the jump, a video of Gorman giving a 5 minute Ignite talk about about the Linder Gallery Interior and his quest to understand it.
A Mysterious Masterpiece (Science Gallery)
“A Mysterious Masterpiece: The World of the Linder Gallery” (Amazon)