An Alchemical Affair: A 'Fire and Gold' Opening Celebration

Before there was chemistry, there was chymistry, and before there was chymistry, there was alchemy! Join us as we unveil our newest permanent exhibition, Fire and Gold: The Art of Alchemy (1450–1850). You’ll be transported back in time through one of the largest collections of alchemical art in the world. Get a glimpse into the past, when alchemists sought to uncover nature’s “secrets” by exploring the transformation of matter through experimentation, secrecy, and coded language. Fire and Gold takes visitors on a journey from underground mines into cluttered workshops and fiery laboratories through remarkable paintings and rare books from the 15th through the 19th centuries. On display in our newly reopened Fisher Gallery, an intimate space overlooking the Institute’s Othmer Library of Chemical History, Fire and Gold is best viewed in groups of no larger than 12. Attendees will be assigned 15-minute viewing time slots upon arrival on a first-come, first-served basis. You can learn more about alchemy by visiting our Alchemists & Early Scientists page, where you’ll find articles, podcasts, collections, and other content illustrating the long human history of curiosity, experimentation, and discovery about the natural and material world. Fire and Gold: The Art of Alchemy (1450–1850) has been made possible by the generous support of Barry Arkles and Janine Black.