Anton van Leeuwenhoek

Anton{{ref|name}} van Leeuwenhoek (October 24, 1632 - August 30, 1723, full name Thonius Philips van Leeuwenhoek) was a tradesman and scientist from Delft, in the Netherlands. He was known as "the Father of Microbiology". Born the son of a basket weaver, he is best known for his contribution to improvement of the microscope and his contributions towards the establishment of cell biology. Using his handcrafted microscope he was the first to observe and describe muscle fibers, bacteria, spermatozoa and blood flow in capillaries (small blood vessels).

Possible Vermeer connection

Van Leeuwenhoek was a contemporary of that other famous Delft citizen, painter Johannes Vermeer, who was baptized just four days earlier. It has been suggested that he is the man portrayed in two of Vermeer's paintings of the late 1660s, The astronomer and The geographer. Because they were both relatively important men in a city with only 24,000 inhabitants, it is possible that they were at least acquaintances. Also, it is known that Van Leeuwenhoek acted as the executor when the painter died in 1675. However, others argue that there appears to be little physical similarity{{ref|VanBerkel1996}}.

Related Topics:
Johannes Vermeer - Executor

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