“I have recently learned about an exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum entitled “Making Marvels: Science and Splendor at the Courts of Europe.”
An excellent and enthusiastic review of the exhibit by Andrew Katzenstein in the February 27, 2020, issue of The New York Review of Books points out how valued science was to the hereditary, political, and religious leaders of Europe, and notes the extensive effort devoted to making better (and more beautiful) clocks.  This is a theme connected to our next session together (#4) and especially to the short book, Longitude,  that you will all read.   I don’t have time to visit the exhibit before leaving for Europe, but I will try to see it before (or shortly after) the class on February 26th.   If anyone has a chance to see this show, I would encourage you to post your comments as a blog on our web site.   Thanks.”