For the early history of natural science museums, cabinets of natural
curiosities, and the like, these two are essential:
Paula Findlen, Possessing Nature: Museums, collecting, and scientific
culture in early modern Italy (U California Press, 1994).
Patrick Mauries, Cabinets of Curiosities (Thames and Hudson, 2002)--a
spectacularly illustrated and designed book
Less directly focused on museums, but lots of wonderful relevant material:
Brian Ogilvie, The Science of Describing: Natural History in
Renaissance Europe (U Chicago Press, 2006)
In teaching a seminar last spring on "Public History and
Enlightenment Science" at the University of Pennsylvania (mostly
field trips to Franklin Tercentenary exhibitions), I found this
celebration of the British Museum's 250th birthday invaluable:
Kim Sloan, ed., Enlightenment: Discovering the World in the
Eighteenth Century (British Museum/Smithsonian Books, 2003).
Thanks, John Simmons, for mentioning Wilfrid Blunt's classic
biography of Linnaeus in your great list of references. Linnaeus
helped the King and Queen of Sweden assemble natural history
collections. I just discovered an 18th C English translation of
Linnaeus's introduction to his catalogue of the museum of King Adolph
Fredrik and can't resist sharing this passage comparing natural
history museums to the Garden of Eden:
"...the chief enjoyment of the first man, in this garden or museum of
delights, was to examine the admirable works of his Creator.
Among the luxuries therefore of the present age, the most pure and
unmixed is that afforded by collections of natural productions. In
them we behold offerings as it were from all the inhabitants of the
earth; and the productions of the most distant shores of the world
are presented to our sight and consideration....can any thing afford
us a more innocent pleasure, a more noble or refined luxury, or one
that charms us with greater variety?"
Carolus Linnaeus, Reflections on the study of nature [English
translation by Sir James Edward Smith of the preface Musaeum Regis
Adolphi Friderici], Dublin, 1786
Karen Reeds
Guest Curator, Linnaeus and America (Feb. 15-June 30, 2007)
American Swedish Historical Museum, Philadelphia
http://www.americanswedish.org/linnaeus.html
==============
[log in to unmask]
=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:
The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).
If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).
|