Title: Exhibition „Johannes Hevelius and Gdańsk of his times”
Vernissage: 11 May 2011 at 1 p.m.
Exhibition: 11 May 2011 – 29 January 2012
Place: Main Town Hall
Address: Długa street 46/47, Gdańsk
The exhibition "Johannes Hevelius and Gdańsk of his times" can be seen in the Main Town Hall from 11 May 2011 to 29 January 2012.
It presents the life and work of the Gdańsk astronomer in different fields. Shows Hevelius primarily as a scholar of European fame, who contacts with the best minds of his era. Does not ignore the activities of Hevelius as councilors as well as Gdańsk brewer. Figure of the astronomer was shown on the wider background of the history of Gdańsk in the seventeenth century.
Scientific legacy of Johannes Hevelius includes about 20 works, published in Gdańsk from 1647 to 1690, and richly illustrated. In addition to letters and astronomical works, till this day very few souvenirs directly related to the Gdańsk astronomer have survived, so each of these items have great historical value. On the exhibition, it will be possible to watch for example the unique print from the National Museum in Poznań, Pejzaż wiejski z mostem, made personally by Hevelius. Also proportional compass is signed with the name of the researcher Gdańsk. According to current knowledge it is the only surviving astronomical instrument of Hevelius. Both objects will be displayed in Gdańsk for the first time.
Visitors will be interested by the reconstructed drawings and later photographs of amodel of the Hevelius’ observatory, which was located on the roofs of houses at Korzenna street.
Commissioners and the authors of the scenario of the exhibition are: Ewa Bojaruniec, Janusz Dargacz, Piotr Paluchowski (Department of History MHMG) in collaboration with Krystyna Jackowska (PAN BG) and Katarzyna Kubicka (APG).
The honorary patronage over the celebration of the Johannes Hevelius Year: President of Poland Bronisław Komorowski
