An exhibition of manuscripts and rare printed books, related to mathematics pursued in the Clementinum´s Jesuit college, is held in the Mirror Chapel of the Clementinum from 2nd November to 1st December 2002. Exhibits come from the collections of the National Library of the Czech Republic, some of them were kindly lent by other institutions – by the National Technical Library, the National Technical Museum, the Library of the Royal Canony of Premonstratensians at Strahov, and the Library of the Monastery of Premonstratensians in Teplá.

The exhibition is dedicated to the works of Jesuits, who had worked as professors of mathematics in the Clementinum, regardless when and where the particular work was published. There are also students´ records of lectures as well as dissertations completed under the leadership of the Jesuit professors, and also some writings by out-of-Prague Jesuits, who influenced teaching mathematics in the Clementinum.

The Jesuit college in the Clementinum (later incorporated into Charles-Ferdinand University) was a part of an extensive Jesuit system of schools, which formed an inseparable part of European culture and education in the 17th and 18th centuries. In accordance with general orientation of the Jesuit Order, this system of education was concentrated on philosophy and theology, however it was grounded on thorough general education, in which mathematics had its firm place, too. According to the study rules ”Ratio atque institutio studiorum S.J.”, mathematics was an obligatory part of teaching in the second year of the Faculty of Arts; if some student showed abilities of studying mathematics and took interest in it, the provincial could allow him to continue his mathematical studies ”privatis”. Such connection of basic mathematical education, obligatory for all students, with possible further continuation in mathematical studies, available for the talented ones, proved to be a very effective solution.

However, the Jesuits understood mathematics far wider than we do today. Their conception continued a tradition of the medieval quadrivium, consisting of arithmetics, geometry, astronomy, and ”musica”, and it also comprised rudiments of many other disciplines, e.g. geometrical optics, hydraulics, gnomonics (i.e. construction of sundials), building of fortifications etc. In comparison with the present interpretation of mathematics, the Jesuits´ conception was far wider.

The oldest Jesuit mathematical manuscript preserved in the Clementinum is dated of 1602 (it originated in Graz). It is a record of lectures of Joannes Baptista l´Abbe, Austrian professor of mathematics, who worked in the Clementinum in 1604. With him, the manuscript came in Prague, where it has remained.

The oldest preserved mathematical manuscript that had originated right in Prague, is that called Methodus Mathematicae Disciplinae (nowadays kept in the Archives of the Prague Castle). It was written by Joannes Naritius, a professor of mathematics at the Clementinum college between 1611 and 1615.

In the 16th century, Christopher Clavius participated in creating the conception of teaching mathematics at the Jesuit colleges. His publication of the Euclid´s ”Principles” together with other Clavius´ works represented a basic source for teaching mathematics in the Clementinum. Precious copies of his works are exhibited in the Mirror Chapel, some of them were donated to the Clementinum college by Clavius himself, some came from the legacy of Pavel Pistorius z Lucka, a Clavius´ disciple and bibliophile, who also had been a professor of mathematics in the Clementinum, before he devoted oneself entirely to theological career.

Between 1628 and 1631, Gregorius a Sancto Vincetio (1584 – 1667) worked at the Clementinum college. He was an outstanding Jesuit mathematician of the 1st half of the 17th century and came to Prague on request of the Emperor Ferdinand II (a portrait of Gregorius is to be found in the Clementinum´s historical Baroque Library Hall); and from 1630 to 1667, it was Theodore Moretus (1602 – 1667), an importatnt mathematician from Belgium. The latter is the author of the first mathematical dissertationes defended in Prague. His arrival in Prague meant a radical increase of the level of mathematical studies in the Clementinum. Moretus´scientific diaries containing technical notes and drafts as well as his correspondence with pre-eminent European scholars of that time (e.g. Kircher, Conrad, Riccioli etc.) are reckoned among the rare documents preserved in the National Library of the Czech Republic.

Among other astronomers and mathematicians distinguished all over Europe, who worked in the Clementinum, in Europe and out of it as well, it is worthy to mention Valentin Stansel (1621 – 1705). He had spent almost fifty years as a missionary in Brasil, but he continued his contacts with the college in Prague where he had worked before his departure overseas. Worth mentioning is also François Noël (1651 – 1729), a missionary in China, who published in Prague the results of his scientific observations, as well as Jakub Kresa (1648 – 1715), a professor of mathematics in Prague, Madrid, and Cádiz.

The last part of the exhibitionis dedicated to the mathematician and physicist Joseph Stepling (1716 – 1778), prefect of the Mathematical Museum, administrator of the Clementinum´s observatory, the greatest representative of natural sciences in the Clementinum in the period of Theresian reforms, and to his disciples, active partly after the dissolution of the Jesuit Order (in 1773) – to Jan Tesánek, (1728 – 1788), Antonín Strnad (1746 – 1799), and Stanislav Vydra (1741 – 1804).

Also the works of Jesuits connected with the so-called Mathematical Museum are exhibited. Later, the Museum was rather taken as a cabinet of curiosities. Officially, it was established in 1722, but actually, it originated much earlier, maybe even when Moretus and Kresa worked in Prague; the Museum enjoyed great popularity with guests and visitors of the Clementinum and some of its remarkable exhibits have been preserved even after the dissolution of the Jesuit Order though they are scattered various Prague institutions.

A detailed catalogue in the Czech and English version was published on the occasion of the exhibition and it is possible to buy it at the exhibition, at the Sale of Publication Desk in the main building of the National Library or it may be ordered in the Department of Sale and Expedition of Publication of the National Library: http://www.nkp.cz/publikace/kontakt.htm

Visitors of the exhibition can also look around other historical sights of the Clementinum

Related to the topic of the exhibition (e.g. sundials in the Clementinum area, a small memorial dedicated to Joseph Stepling in the yard opposite the entrance to the Astronomical Tower). On weekends, it is possible to visit the Baroque Library Hall and the Astronomical Tower (guided tours begin each full hour, 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.).