Science History Institute to Debut New Exhibition Showcasing Paintings and Rare Books on Alchemy
Science History Institute to Debut New Exhibition Showcasing Paintings and Rare Books on Alchemy
The Science History Institute (315 Chestnut St.) will open “Fire and Gold: The Art of Alchemy (1450–1850)” on October 7, a new permanent exhibition exploring the art, science and history of alchemy. Drawing on the Institute’s museum and library collections, the exhibition features European paintings and rare books that examine early experimentation with matter, medicine and the pursuit of transforming lead into gold.
According to the Institute, alchemists historically sought healing elixirs, pursued the legendary philosophers’ stone, and tested whether one substance could be transformed into another, work often referred to as “The Great Work.” The exhibition traces this history through scenes of mines, workshops and laboratories, where alchemists experimented with metals and minerals, controlled heat, and developed processes such as distillation. This period of experimentation eventually gave rise to modern chemistry.
Jesse Smith, vice president of interpretation and education and director of the Institute’s museum, said alchemy and chemistry are closely connected stories. He said the questions alchemists asked about matter and transformation helped shape the experimental practices that became modern chemistry, and that “Fire and Gold” allows the Institute to illustrate that evolution through its collections.
The public is invited to “An Alchemical Affair: A ‘Fire and Gold’ Opening Celebration” on Wednesday, October 7, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Science History Institute, located at 315 Chestnut Street in Old City Philadelphia. The event, which includes a curator’s talk, exhibition tours, alchemy-themed activities and light refreshments, is sold out; a waitlist is available.
Alchemy on Canvas
The exhibition draws on a lesser-known strength of the Institute’s collection: approximately 90 paintings, primarily European works dating from 1450 to 1850, that depict scenes from the world of alchemy. About 16 paintings will be on display at a time, with the collection rotating every six months.
Many of the paintings portray the alchemical laboratory as a scene of everyday life, with Dutch, German, French, English and Italian artists depicting alchemists in varying ways, from disheveled or misguided figures to respected scholars and healers at work.
The exhibition includes works from both the Fisher Collection, gifted by the estate of Fisher Scientific International founder Chester G. Fisher, and the Eddleman Collection, gifted by Spectrum Laboratories founder and philanthropist Roy Eddleman. Together, these collections make the Institute home to one of the largest collections of alchemical art in the world.
“Fire and Gold” was curated by Elisabeth Berry Drago, an art historian who spent a decade at the Science History Institute researching, interpreting and exhibiting its collections and now lectures in art history at the University of Hong Kong. Berry Drago said alchemy represents a fascinating intersection of art and science, noting that the paintings depict alchemists as scholars, healers and experimenters, while also reflecting how artists and the public understood their pursuits. She said the paintings, paired with rare books from the Othmer Library, help bring that world to life for visitors.
Alchemy in Rare Books
Rare books from the Institute’s Othmer Library add another layer to the exhibition, illustrating how alchemists and early experimenters documented and shared their understanding of the natural world. Featured works include Georg Agricola’s “De re metallica” (1556), Athanasius Kircher’s “Mundus subterraneus” (1665), and John French’s “The Art of Distillation” (1651). These texts span the study of alchemy from mining and minerals to laboratory processes such as heat application and distillation.
A New Space to Explore
“Fire and Gold” marks the first permanent exhibition to be housed in the newly reopened Fisher Gallery, an intimate space overlooking the Institute’s by-appointment-only Othmer Library of Chemical History. The library holds nearly six miles of shelving containing rare books, manuscripts, archives and other materials documenting the history of the chemical and life sciences. The exhibition brings the Institute’s art and rare book collections together within that space for the first time.
Visitor Information
“Fire and Gold: The Art of Alchemy (1450–1850)” opens Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at the Science History Institute, located at 315 Chestnut Street in Old City Philadelphia. A press preview will be held at 9:30 a.m., with a free public opening at 5 p.m.
Beginning Saturday, October 10, visitors can join a free, self-guided tour of the exhibition every other Saturday from 2 to 3 p.m., and every other Thursday from 1 to 2 p.m. Due to space limitations, the exhibition is best experienced in small groups, and registration is strongly recommended to guarantee a spot.
