Last week, The Phoebus Foundation signed an agreement for the organisation of the exhibition Wonders of the World – From Maps to Masterpieces, in partnership with The National Museum of Oman.

The initiative seeks to strengthen cultural and artistic collaboration between the two institutions, with a shared focus on art, culture, and common heritage. The agreement was signed on behalf of The National Museum His Excellency Jamal bin Hassan al-Moosawi, Secretary-General of the National Museum of Oman, and on behalf of The Phoebus Foundation by Dr Katharina Van Cauteren, Executive Director of The Phoebus Foundation SON, in the presence of Fernand Huts, Chairman of the Board of The Phoebus Foundation.

The exhibition will run from 2 December 2026 to 2 March 2027. It highlights the contributions of Flemish artists and scholars from the early modern period, spanning the 16th to the 18th centuries, and shows how they sought to understand the world around them with precision and passion. They did so through cartography, the study of nature, and finely detailed visual representations, where scientific inquiry meets aesthetic refinement.

These works emerged from a culture shaped by thriving trade, a spirit of discovery, and exceptional craftsmanship, one that regarded the world as vast, intricate, and worthy of close observation. The exhibition places this Flemish perspective in balanced dialogue with the Sultanate of Oman, building on shared elements such as maritime horizons, navigational routes, and a mutual interest in materials and visual culture.

Wonders of the World – From Maps to Masterpieces forms part of the joint efforts of The National Museum and The Phoebus Foundation to foster cultural dialogue and to highlight points of connection between civilisations through art and culture.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Wonders of the World – From Maps to Masterpieces

The National Museum of Oman 

2 December 2026 – 2 March 2027

ABOUT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF OMAN