From Fascination to Folly: A Troubled History of Collecting s... - 9789819790791

From Fascination to Folly: A Troubled History of Collecting since the 1600sAuthor(s): Charles Merewether\nFormat: Hardback\nPublisher: Springer Verlag, Singapore, Singapore\nImprint: Palgrave Macmillan\nISBN-13: 9789819790791, 978-9819790791\nSynopsis\nThis book explores the interplay of Western European exploration and trade, with collecting, cabinets of curiosities and museums, and with the role of booty and plunder in the building of empires from [url] until the end of the 19th century. The book focuses principally on the Dutch, English, Spanish, French and Italian at different times of their colonial power over the course of these 300 years. The achievements of exploration and trade provide the basis for these countries and both the state and individuals to build collections and museums. This involved governments to legitimize the pursuit of booty and subsequently looting whether by themselves, members of the ruling class or privateers. Throughout much of this period, there those.