Aries (Mangala), from a series of Astrological Paintings, Indian, c. 1810, opaque watercolor and gold on paper, 7 3/4 × 6 in. (19.69 × 15.24 cm); Gift of Wayne and Nancy Hunnicutt, 2019.63.1

Mapping the Heavens: Art, Astronomy, and Exchange between the Islamic Lands and Europe
December 14, 2024 – January 11, 2026
Gallery 203

Where are we? When are we?

These fundamental questions drove the development of astronomical sciences and religious practices across different times, regions, and faiths, to map and understand our place in the world and its relationship with the heavens.

The story of Mapping the Heavens at Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art opening on December 14 begins in the Islamic World during the Early Middle Ages (c. 500s – 1200s CE), where Muslim scientists preserved and advanced the study of astronomy. Access to these scientific texts– many collected and translated in Spain in the 1200s and widely disseminated in books after the invention of the printing press in the 1400s–fueled a revolution of new discoveries and created a shared astronomical knowledge across Europe.

The works presented in this exhibition introduce the advancement of astronomy as a multi-cultural and multi-faith dialogue between scholars and scientists, showcasing the beauty and importance of the books, instruments, and images that communicated these discoveries.

To learn more, click here.