The subject of this portrait, Nicholas Kratzer, was a German astronomer, mathematician and horologist who became astronomer to King Henry VIII. He is portrayed with a variety of tools and instruments in progress. Note the large compass divider and screw-adjustable trammel points on the wall, and compare them to the tools illustraed below.
The Louvre
via Wikimedia Commons
From the top: straight-edge, scribe, large hand-forged compass dividers.
From the top: machinists rule, automatic punch, hammer, small dividers, magnifier, punch. trammel points on wood bar, felt pen.
© R. Paselk 2013, Last modified 28 December 2020