Collecting the World: Hans Sloane and the Origins of the British Museum. By James Delbourgo.Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2017. Pp. xxxii+504. $35.00.

2019 ◽  
Vol 91 (2) ◽  
pp. 439-441
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Yale
Keyword(s):  
British Museum ◽  
Harvard University ◽  
The World

The fate of the bird specimens from Cook's voyages possessed by Sir Joseph Banks

2009 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
David G. Medway
Keyword(s):  
Royal College ◽  
British Museum ◽  
John Hunter ◽  
The World ◽  
Extensive Collection

Joseph Banks possessed the greater part of the zoological specimens collected on James Cook's three voyages round the world (1768–1780). In early 1792, Banks divided his zoological collection between John Hunter and the British Museum. It is probable that those donations together comprised most of the zoological specimens then in the possession of Banks, including such bird specimens as remained of those that had been collected by himself and Daniel Solander on Cook's first voyage, and those that had been presented to him from Cook's second and third voyages. The bird specimens included in the Banks donations of 1792 became part of a series of transactions during the succeeding 53 years which involved the British Museum, the Royal College of Surgeons of England, and William Bullock. It is a great pity that, of the extensive collection of bird specimens from Cook's voyages once possessed by Banks, only two are known with any certainty to survive.

Vitruvian Character: The Case of the Egyptian Museum

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 105
Author(s):  
Khaled Asfour
Keyword(s):  
Local Community ◽  
British Museum ◽  
Spatial Experience ◽  
The Public ◽  
Cultural Boundaries ◽  
The World

In Vitruvius’ treatise, what makes good architecture is its ability to communicate to the public particular messages that reflects the program of the building with spaces and components arranged in an orderly way. According to Vitruvius these messages when acknowledges by the public the building posses strong character. This research discusses this idea by reflecting on the 1895 competition of the Egyptian Museum project. Marcel Dourgnon, the French architect of the winning scheme, showed profound understanding of character resulting in a building that had positive vibe with the local community.  Today Vitruvius’ idea is still living with us. Norman Foster succeeded in upgrading the British Museum in a way that addressed all cultures of the world through his grand atrium design.  Similarly, Emad Farid and Ramez Azmy revived the presence of the Egyptian Museum in public cognition.  Spatial experience that evokes similar perceptions to all its visitors is a timeless piece that transcends cultural boundaries.

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