Julius von Schlosser's 'Cabinets of Art and Wonders' Reissued by Macula

In 1908, while serving as the director of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, Julius von Schlosser released 'Die Kunst- und Wunderkammern der Spätrenaissance.' This work, now reissued by éditions Macula with a preface and postface by Patricia Falguières, advocates for the diverse characteristics of Wunderkammern in contrast to contemporary museum practices. Schlosser draws parallels between collectors and children, equating collectionism with tattooing, and provides insights into the Ambras collection of Archduke Ferdinand of Tyrol, detailing twenty vitrines filled with assorted artifacts. Falguières highlights how Schlosser's insights foreshadow anthropological perspectives in art history. The postface reviews revival exhibitions since the 1980s, critiquing their superficiality. This book continues to be essential for comprehending cabinets of curiosities and their impact on 20th-century art.