Dear Louise,

In case this information is not too late to be helpful, you probably will
find VERY interesting the interpretive possibilities, methodologies and
strategies offered by the vast gamma of authenticity vs. reconstructed
narrative possibile in historic house museums. For getting a start on this
topic, I highly recommend reading the three Acts of conferences published by
DEMHIST, ICOM's International Committee for Historic House Museums. See the
DEMHIST page on the ICOM web site: http://icom.museum. When constructing the 
identity (thus, interpretation) of a historic house museum, it is important 
to remember that focusing on the identity of the erstwhile inhabitants is 
not a "natural," nor, indeed, "necessary" choice. As is the case with the 
Bagatti Valsecchi Museum, where I collaborate, the best way to 
explain/interpret the identity of the 16th-19th century palazzo and its 
(principally) Italian Renaissance art and decorative arts contents was as an 
expression of late 19th century traditional taste and socio-political 
identification.

As for the "authentic" vs. "reconstructed" issue, both approaches (and the 
gamma of possibilities, including levels of restoration, between them) are 
valid, depending on the goals/mission and audience of the house and its 
collection. What does need to be clear/transparent to the viewer, not 
necessarily a savvy museum fan, is the nature of what is being presented.

DEMHIST was born in 1998 from which time, til the end of its Board's first
triennial in 2002, it had its secretarial seat at the Bagatti Valsecchi
Museum. Some information also is available in the
historic house museum pages (button on the right hand side of our home page)
on our web site (including the table of contents of the Acts).

Hope this has been helpful, best regards,

Star Meyer, Ph.D.
home: [log in to unmask]
work: [log in to unmask] (office closed til after Epiphany)
http://www.museobagattivalsecchi.org -
http://www.bagattivalsecchi.house.museum
Bagatti Valsecchi Museum - Milan, Italy

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