Teylers astronomical observatory

Barnaart was an amateur scientist who had a great interest in astronomy and wanted to build a state-of-the-art astronomical observatory on the roof of the Oval Room.

This proved to be a bad idea, because the roof was made of wood, which transfers too many vibrations to make reliable and precise observations.

[2][3] Though they have not survived, the Teylers archives have evidence that Vincent Jansz van der Vinne was paid 86 guilders for painting the "walls and ceilings of the cupula".

The vase was the trademark of Teyler, and is visible on the top of Van Marum's electrostatic generator as well.

For precision measurements, a new observatorium was built in the garden, that was later used as a studio by the later curator Jan van Borssum Buisman.