Mapping the Heavens: Art, Astronomy, and Exchange between the Islamic Lands and Europe

The art and science of astronomy as it evolved in the Islamic lands and Europe. This free exhibition presents the advancement of astronomy as a multi-cultural, multi-faith dialogue between scholars and scientists, and displays the beauty and importance of the artifacts that communicated these advancements.

The exhibition begins in the 1200s, when books, instruments, and images made by scholars and artists of Islamic, Jewish, and Christian faiths contributed to the global exchange of astronomical knowledge. These artifacts and technologies, including printing, played a pivotal role in developing, preserving and sharing scientific knowledge throughout the Middle East, Europe and around the globe.

Originally conceived by Mellon Undergraduate Curatorial Fellow Husnain Noorbhai (2019-2021), the exhibition is co-organized by the Linda Hall Library and The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and supported by the Lilly Endowment grant as part of the museum’s World Religions Initiative. “Mapping the Heavens” features historic books from the Linda Hall Library’s collections and co-created book labels in collaboration with The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. These rare books join paintings from the Nelson-Atkins collection and scientific instruments from the Adler Planetarium in Chicago and the Klein Collection from Congregation B’nai Jehudah in Overland Park, Kansas.

"Science, Art and History are intricately connected, and this exhibition is the perfect example of that intersection,” said Eric Dorfman, President of the Linda Hall Library. “Collaborating with the Nelson-Atkins team on this exhibition and more has allowed us to explore those connections on a deeper level to enhance our understanding of the world’s history and answer some of the most challenging questions from the past and present."

This upcoming exhibition marks yet another collaboration between the two Kansas City cultural organizations. Earlier this year, the two were awarded one of just five national grants from The National Endowment for the Humanities to study climate impact and resiliency options.

“Our understanding of the universe and our place in it today is based upon the careful observations and amazing discoveries of astronomers of the past,” said Julián Zugazagoitia, Director & CEO of the Nelson-Atkins. “’Mapping the Heavens’ traces their work across centuries, as scholars from different faiths and cultures built upon each other's works, which is shared in beautifully written, printed and illustrated books.”

By the 1400s, the acceleration of printed media in different languages was a catalyst for sharing information and advancing science. On display in the exhibition is a first edition printing of Copernicus’s “De Revolutionibus,” in which the famous European astronomer uses Islamic science to present his heliocentric theory of the universe.

"This exhibition is a wonderful reminder that books are not just ways to convey information, but physical artifacts and works of art in their own right,” said Jason W. Dean, Vice President for Collections and Public Services at the Linda Hall Library. “Working alongside our friends at the Nelson-Atkins, we’ve been able to explore these remarkable artifacts and their connections with additional pieces from both of our collections.”

The exhibition also features beautifully illustrated early modern books, demonstrating the transmission of knowledge among European, Muslim and Jewish scientists. Many of these books were created to sell to foreign audiences, telling the story of the economics of bookmaking.

“One of the most interesting discoveries during our research for ‘Mapping the Heavens’ is that the flow of knowledge in the Islamic lands and into Europe is not just a one-way street,” said Kimberly Masteller, South & Southeastern Art Curator. “The books, paintings and scientific instruments in the exhibition reveal a web of connections, as scientists cite each other and build upon each other's works, creating a kind of imagined community of scientists across time, place, and religion. It has been a joy to collaborate with our co-curators, Jason Dean and Finch Collins, at the Linda Hall Library. Working together, we present the advancement of astronomy in the pre-modern world through the study of art, books and the history of science.”