The Ephemeral Museum: Old Master Paintings and the Rise of the Art Exhibition

Haskell, Francis

ISBN 10: 0300085346 / ISBN 13: 9780300085341

Published by Yale University Press, 2000

About this Item

In Very Good Used Condition. With Fading To The Spine Of Dust Jacket. May Have Minor Shelf Wear To Dust Jacket. - For More Information On Condition. Please See All Photos. When And Why Did Large-Scale Exhibitions Of Old Master Paintings Begin, And How Have They Evolved Through The Centuries? In This Book An Eminent Art Historian Examines The Intriguing History And Significance Of These International Art Exhibitions. Francis Haskell Begins By Discussing The First ?Old Master? Exhibitions In Rome And Florence In The Seventeenth Century And Then Moves To Eighteenth-Century France And The Efforts To Organize Exhibitions Of Contemporary Art That Would Be An Alternative To The Official Ones Held By The Salon. He Next Describes The Role Of The British Institution In London And The Series Of Remarkable Loan Exhibitions Of Old Master Paintings There. He Traces The Emergence Of Such Nationalist Exhibitions As The Rembrandt Exhibition Held In Amsterdam In 1898, The First Modern ?Blockbuster? Exhibit. Demonstrating How The International Loan Exhibition Was A Vehicle Of Foreign And Cultural Policy After The First World War, He Gives A Fascinating Account Of Several Of These, For Example The Italian Art Exhibition Held At Burlington House In 1930 (Botticelli In The Service Of Fascism). He Describes The Initial Reluctance Of Major Museums To Send Pictures On Potentially Damaging Journeys And Explains How This Feeling Gave Way To Cautious Enthusiasm. Finally, In A Polemical Chapter, He Explores The Type Of Publications Associated With Exhibitions And With The Criticism And Scholarship That Have Centered Upon Them.

Seller Inventory # 005285

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Ephemeral Museum: Old Master Paintings and the Rise of the Art Exhibition
• Publisher: Yale University Press
• Publication Date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0300085346
• ISBN 13: 9780300085341
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Very Good
• Dust Jacket Condition: Good
• Weight: 850 grams
• Seller catalogs:
  • Art Books, Graphic Design & Prints

About this title

Synopsis

When and why did large-scale exhibitions of Old Master paintings begin, and how have they evolved through the centuries? In this book an eminent art historian examines the intriguing history and significance of these international art exhibitions. Francis Haskell begins by discussing the first 'Old Master' exhibitions in Rome and Florence in the seventeenth century and then moves to eighteenth-century France and the efforts to organize exhibitions of contemporary art that would be an alternative to the official ones held by the Salon. He next describes the role of the British Institution in London and the series of remarkable loan exhibitions of Old Master paintings there. He traces the emergence of such nationalist exhibitions as the Rembrandt exhibition held in Amsterdam in 1898 - the first modern 'blockbuster' show. Demonstrating how the international loan exhibition was a vehicle of foreign and cultural policy after the First World War, he gives a fascinating account of several of these, notably the Italian art exhibition held at Burlington House in London in 1930. He describes the initial reluctance of major museums to send pictures on potentially damaging journeys and explains how this feeling gave way to cautious enthusiasm. Finally, in a polemical chapter, he explores the types of publication associated with exhibitions and the criticism and scholarship that have centred upon them. Francis Haskell, who died in January 2000, was one of the most original and influential art historians of the twentieth century. His books included 'Patrons and Painters: A Study in the Relations between Italian Art and Society in the Age of the Baroque' (revised edition, 1980), 'Past and Present in Art and Taste' (1987), 'History and Its Images: Art and the Interpretation of the Past' (1993) and, with Nicholas Penny, 'Taste and the Antique' (1982), all published by Yale University Press. He retired as Professor of the History of Art at Oxford University in 1995.

From the Publisher

Review
'Francis Haskell died in January after delivering the lectures on which this book is based. The theme of temporary exhibitions had never been properly addressed before Haskell turned his constantly enquiring mind to it...Haskell's final chapter is a vigorous polemic...This chapter, particularly personal and vigorous, recalls the trenchancy and passion of its writer...Haskell's book opens a whole range of ideas.' - Giles Waterfield - Art Quarterly