The Art of Science

When the keen observation and curiosity of a scientist meet the imagination and visual flair of a scientist, science comes within reach of us all.

Making images by hand has always been part of science. Throughout the long history of science, people have used illustrations to capture what they see and to communicate their ideas. That tradition is alive and well today.

The Art of Science draws on a wealth of beautiful science and natural history images from every major culture; from plants to the human body, and Earth science to astronomy and physics. They include drawings, prints, and engravings from landmark books such as Alexander von Humboldt’s Kosmos and John James Audubon’s Birds of America.

Incredible images record historic leaps forward in understanding – such as the first time cells and their nuclei were seen through a microscope or the Moon’s craters were seen through a telescope. Modern artworks and photographs explain our current understanding of the ideas encapsulated in the artworks, showcasing where scientific understanding has moved on but also, incredibly, where it was exactly right.

The Art of Science is a visual history of scientific thought, showing that works of science can also be works of beauty.