Stephen A. Schwarzman Building > Exhibitions

The Newtonian Moment: Science and the Making of Modern Culture

From October 8, 2004 through February 6, 2005
D. Samuel and Jeane H. Gottesman Exhibition Hall (First Floor)
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, 5th Avenue and 42nd Street, New York, NY 10018-2788 (directions)

See related Online Exhibition.

Companion Volume

Isaac Newton is a legendary figure whose mythical dimension perpetually threatens to overshadow the actual man. The story of the apple falling from the tree may or may not be true, but his revolutionary discoveries and their importance to the Enlightenment era and beyond are undeniable. The Newtonian Moment: Science and the Making of Modern Culture will explore the many facets of Newton's colossal accomplishments, as well as the debates over the kind of knowledge most worth having that these accomplishments engendered.

On display will be approximately 250 rare items, drawn from the collections of The New York Public Library and supplemented by loans from other institutions, notably Cambridge University Library and The Burndy Library. Special highlights from Cambridge University Library include important Newton manuscripts never before exhibited in the United States, in addition to Newton's own corrected copy of the first edition of his Principia (1687). The exhibition will also include a first edition of Newton's Opticks (1704); numerous works popularizing his theories by Voltaire, Francesco Algarotti, and Mme du Châtelet; illustrations celebrating (or damning) Newton by William Hogarth, William Blake, and Giovanni Battista Pittoni; scientific instruments; and Newton’s death mask, once owned by Thomas Jefferson.

Newton's scientific work at Cambridge University -- first as a student and, later, as Lucasian Professor of Mathematics (the position that Stephen Hawking currently holds) -- was, to say the least, groundbreaking. His ideas and scientific achievements were widely disseminated, inciting tremendous interest and excitement, but also eliciting controversies. The Newtonian Moment will seek to enlighten viewers by offering a guided and in-depth look at Isaac Newton, his world, and his enduring legacy.

A companion volume, written by curator Mordechai Feingold, will expand upon the themes explored in the exhibition. Beautifully illustrated with images from institutions in Europe and the U.S., in addition to many from the Library, it will provide an unusual visual look at Newton's world. It will be published in hard- and softcover by Oxford University Press.

This exhibition has been organized by The New York Public Library in cooperation with Cambridge University Library.

Generous support for this exhibition has been provided by The Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation -- Robert and Joyce Menschel; Robert and Mary Looker; Mr. and Mrs. Ira D. Wallach; and The Dibner Fund.

Press Release