But which ones? As he guides readers through an intellectual hall of mirrors, Lawrence Weschler revisits the 16th-century "wonder cabinets" that were the first museums and compels readers to examine the imaginative origins of both art and science. Illustrations.

    It also offers a narrative history, combining art historical, social and historical analysis, with stories about how the collection was acquired.

    Its treasures include paintings, sculpture, photographs, and crafts by renowned women artists from the Renaissance through this century and from four continents. Full-color illustrations.

    The spirit of discovery continues today, in the laboratories, where ancient DNA is studied, and in expeditions.

    Illustrated with over fifty photos, Civilizing Rituals merges contemporary debates with lively discussion and explores central issues involved in the making and displaying of art as industry and how it is presented to the community.Carol Duncan looks at how nations, institutions and private individuals present art, and how art museums are shaped by cultural, social and political determinants.Civilizing Rituals is ideal reading for students of art history and museum studies, and professionals in the field will also find much of interest here.

    Based in research and theory, this book defines, affirms, and unifies this diverse field for both professionals and students by presenting the challenges and possibilities of the field including the presentation of interpretation to diverse audiences; effective programming strategies; state-of-the-art management and marketing techniques; training and using volunteers; and the trends facing interpretation today and in the future.

    This book reproduces all 33 Monet paintings in the Art Institute in full color, along with a number of beautiful and instructive details. Andrew Forge's discussion of Monet's achievements - from the Arrival of the Normandy Train, Saint-Lazare Station to the six extraordinary paintings from his well-known Wheatstack series, from his years in Argenteuil to the creation of his garden of water lilies in Giverny - will engage and inform all who are interested in this remarkable artist.