From Classification to Recreated 'Reality': William Bullock's Exhibitions of Human and Natural History. (20th November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pearce, Susan
• Other Names: Mattana Alessio guestEditor.; Savani Giacomo guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Journal for eighteenth-century studies. Volume 43:Number 4(2020)
• Page Start: 507
• Page End: 524
• Publication Date: 2020-11-20
• Subjects: William Bullock -- London Museum -- museum studies -- object classification; Eighteenth century -- Periodicals; Europe -- Civilization -- 18th century -- Periodicals; Dix-huitième siècle -- Périodiques; Civilisation -- 18e siècle -- Périodiques; 940.25305
• DOI: 10.1111/1754-0208.12730
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1754-0194

Abstract

Abstract: In his London Museum (1809), William Bullock organised displays of his animal collections into family and contextual groups within re‐creations of their natural surroundings. Subsequently his displays of Saami material re‐created its social environment. Bullock's exhibitions signal a significant moment in the movement from the Linnaean‐style classification of natural material by appearance to explanation of it through contextual and inherent qualities. A new kind of meaning was generated, bringing together the natural and the antiquarian in showing that the same approach transformed understanding of both. It shifted emphasis from eighteenth‐century natural philosophy towards nineteenth‐century science, both natural and human.