[DOC] Brutus by Voltaire in Arts-Photography

Description

Samuel Quicchebergrsquo;s Inscriptiones; first published in Latin in 1565; is an ambitious effort to demonstrate the pragmatic value of curiosity cabinets; or Wunderkammern; to princely collectors in sixteenth-century Europe and; by so doing; inspire them to develop their own such collections. Quiccheberg shows how the assembly and display of physical objects offered nobles a powerful means to expand visual knowledge; allowing them to incorporate empirical and artisanal expertise into the realm of the written word. But in mapping out the collectability of the material world; Quiccheberg did far more than create a taxonomy. Rather; he demonstrated how organizing objects made their knowledge more accessible; how objects; when juxtaposed or grouped; could tell a story; and how such strategies could enhance the value of any single object.Quicchebergrsquo;s descriptions of early modern collections provide both a point of origin for todayrsquo;s museums and an implicit critique of their aims; asserting the fundamental research and scholarly value of collections: collections are to be used; not merely viewed. The First Treatise on Museums makes Quicchebergrsquo;s now rare publication available in an English translation. Complementing the translation are a critical introduction by Mark A. Meadow and a preface by Bruce Robertson.