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Gallery Talk: Philosophy Chamber Conversations—Scientific Instruments at Harvard

John Bird, Astronomical Quadrant, c. 1764. Brass, glass, mahogany, and steel. Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments, Harvard University, 5004a, TL41679.7.
Courtesy of the Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments.

Gallery Talk

Harvard Art Museums
32 Quincy Street, Cambridge, MA

Jean-François Gauvin, director of administration at the Harvard Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments and lecturer on the history of science, will give today’s gallery talk. The Philosophy Chamber: Art and Science in Harvard’s Teaching Cabinet, 1766–1820 will be on view from May 19 through December 31, 2017.

Free with museums admission. This talk is limited to 15 people and tickets are required. Ten minutes before the talk, tickets will become available at the admissions desk.

Please meet in the Calderwood Courtyard, in front of the digital screens between the shop and the admissions desk. Museums staff will be on hand to collect tickets.

Gallery talks are offered by curators, conservators, fellows, and other museums staff; they focus on aspects of the installation process, exploring both intellectual and more practical considerations. Museums staff will, for example, tease out arguments at play in the galleries, discuss conservation treatments, look closely at specific collections, or draw connections between works of art throughout the museums.