Despite William Hunter's stature as one of the most important collectors and men of science of the eighteenth century, and the fact that his collection is the foundation of Scotland's oldest public museum, The Hunterian, until now there has been no comprehensive examination in a single volume of all his collections in their diversity. This volume restores Hunter to a rightful position of prominence among the medical men whose research and amassing of specimens transformed our understanding of the natural world and man's position within it. This volume comprises essays by international specialists and are as diverse as Hunter's collections themselves, dealing as they do with material that ranges from medical and scientific specimens, to painting, prints, books and manuscripts. The first sections focus upon Hunter's own collection and his response to it, while the final section contextualises Hunter within the wider sphere. A special feature of the volume is the inclusion of references to the Hunterian's web pages and on-line databases. These enable searches for items from Hunter's collections, both from his museum and library. Locating Hunter's collecting within the broader context of his age and environment, this book provides an original approach to a man and collection whose importance has yet to be comprehensively assessed.

About the Author

E. Geoffrey Hancock, an entomologist with a career in various British museums, is currently Honorary Curator of Entomology and a Research Fellow in The Hunterian Museum. His interests include the history of museums and their collections. Professor Nick Pearce holds the Sir John Richmond Chair of Fine Art at the University of Glasgow, where he specialises in the arts of China. His career has spanned both museums and universities, including the Victoria & Albert Museum, The Burrell Collection in Glasgow and the universities of Durham and Edinburgh. Mungo Campbell worked at the National Galleries of Scotland until 1997 and is now Deputy Director of The Hunterian. Curating several major loan exhibitions culminated recently in Allan Ramsay; Portraits of the Enlightenment (2013) and he edited the accompanying publication.

Reviews

'The essays in William Hunter's World firmly establish their subject in the circle of outstanding figures of late Enlightenment society. In this volume, for the first time, physical evidence for the wide range of Hunter's scholarship is examined in depth through the holdings of his museum and library, to provide a remarkable compendium of his achievements and to signpost potential lines of research that will continue to consolidate the reputation of this major figure of the later eighteenth century.' Arthur Macgregor, Editor, Journal of the History of Collections

'The essays that comprise William Hunter's World: The Art and Science of Eighteenth-Century Collecting do justice to the remarkable subject of this important publication, both in their wide intellectual compass, and in their international scope. As the first in-depth examination of the massive collections amassed by Hunter as an Enlightenment physician and experimental naturalist whose curiosity coursed the whole of the natural world, as well as the global sweep of human culture, this volume leaves no doubt that he was one of the great modern thinkers of his age. The essayists demonstrate Hunter's signal contributions to the transformation of a broad spectrum of fields, from obstetrics and human anatomy, to ethnography and zoology, while promoting the professional practice of the visual arts, both as a collector and patron, and as the first professor of anatomy at the Royal Academy. Most importantly, the authors point to the value of Hunter's magnificent collections as an essential means by which to gain an understanding of his drive and accomplishments, opening new lines of investigation to be pursued in the holdings of the University of Glasgow, which constitute Hunter's great legacy.' Amy Meyers, Director, Yale Center for British Art, USA

"William Hunter's world is an excellent demonstration of how the histories of art and science can be enriched through attention to their intertwined material cultures. Interesting themes to emerge include the idea of encounters and exchanges within the collection; Hunter's use of objects for teaching and research; museum documentation and what it can tell us about the emergence, transformation or dying away of disciplines; and questions of privacy in an era when dissection was conducted in private but its products were placed on display. The title provides a solid foundation for future William Hunter studies."

- Felicity Roberts, in Archives of Natural History, 2017

Book Information
ISBN 9781138548343
Author E. Geoffrey Hancock
Format Paperback
Page Count 424
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 453g