His theories changed scientific theory forever but it wasn't just science which inspired Charles Darwin's revolutionary thoughts. Art also played a major part and the ground-breaking Endless Forms Darwin exhibition Cambridge sets out to explore this overlooked aspect.

Meeting of Minds
The curators of the Endless Forms: Charles Darwin, Natural Science and the Visual Arts exhibition set out to demonstrate that Darwin's idea didn't just spring from scientific theory. Combining a fascinating collection of paintings, drawings, watercolours, prints, photographs and sculptures with the scientific theory of Darwin, the Darwin exhibition Cambridge demonstrates the interaction between the two disciplines in this revolutionary time of human discovery.

The Origins of Origins
The exhibition is split into several sections to reveal how art influenced every part of Darwin's formulation of The Origins of Species and to demonstrate what impact he had on nineteenth century artists. Themes explored include natural selection, beauty and sexual selection, the history of the world, the descent of humankind, Impressionism and the relationship between humans and animals.

Impressionists
Some of the exhibits include the meticulous botanical drawings which Darwin studied as well as the abstract visions of the world as imagined by the Impressionists. There's work by famous artists such as Turner, Frederick Church and the Impressionists as well as lesser-known artists. By combining these works with scientific material such as fossils, and geological maps, the Darwin exhibition Cambridge shows how science and art enjoyed a creative dialogue in the late nineteenth century.

Unseen Specimens
There are some 200 exhibits on show at the Endless Forms Darwin exhibition Cambridge. Some have never been exhibited in public before. There's books owned by Darwin and specimens he collected, including those relating to his voyage on the HMS Beagle. There's also loans from galleries such as Tate Britain, the British Museum, the Natural History Museum, the National Gallery, and the V&A, as well as private collections.

Debates and Workshops
As well as the Darwin exhibition, Cambridge will be hosting a series of events to mark the bicentenary of Darwin's birth. At the Fitzwilliam Museum there'll be talks, debates and workshops for young and old. A series of free lunchtime talks run on Thursdays throughout September and October at the Fitzwilliam Museum. Topics up for discussion include Monet and the Monkeys: Darwin and the Impressionists and Parables from Nature: Victorian Experiment in Art and Science.

Special Event
There's also a special event on the Sunday before the exhibition closes. Sunday Lunch with Mrs Darwin is a talk by Weslie Janeway and Dusha Bateson, authors of Mrs Charles Darwin's Recipe Book. It will be followed by the chance to try some of the recipes.

Endless Forms: Charles Darwin, Natural Science and the Visual Arts is open from 10am - 5pm, Tuesday - Saturday and 12pm - 5pm on Sundays from 16th June - 4th October 2009. Admission is free.

There's a special late opening from 6pm - 9pm, Wednesday 16th September 2009. For more information click on the link below.

Endless Forms Exhibition Official Site