How do printed portraits depict the changing and expanding knowledge about nature in the 16th and 17th centuries? Discover the portraits of early modern astronomers, anatomists and natural historians at this illuminating exhibition. 

The origins of modern science are often traced back to the so-called 'scientific revolution' of the 16th and 17th centuries.

Visit Thin Ice Press to learn about the vital role printmaking had in visualising scientific knowledge and shaping scientific identities. Come face to face with iconic men and women engaged in the study of nature, from the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus to the entomologist Maria Sibylla Merian. 

Join us to discover how printed portraits were made and explore the dynamic relationship between the image and the surrounding or embedded text to communicate the work of the sitter. 

Presented as part of the Festival of Ideas 2026. No booking required. Free to visit during the Thin Ice Press opening hours.