scholarly journals Riflessioni storiografiche italiane sulle civiltà del Sudest asiatico

2021 ◽  
pp. 75-86
Author(s):  
Alessandro Di Meo
Keyword(s):  
Nineteenth Century ◽  
Natural History ◽  
Southeast Asia ◽  
Natural History Museum ◽  
Political Information ◽  
Diplomatic Relations ◽  
History Museum ◽  
Ethnographic Studies ◽  
Scientific Institutions

This paper deals with the historiographic reflections on the civilizations of Southeast Asia, written by some Italian scholars who explored this area in the second half of the Nineteenth century. These texts were translations of summaries, unpublished notes intended for reworking, introduction to ethnographic studies. Their publication testifies to the trans-cultural circulation of historical and political information between Indochina and Italy, caused by political initiatives (the opening of diplomatic relations with Siam and Burma) and by expeditions financed by some scientific institutions, such as the Genoa Natural History Museum.

Cuban Corals in East Berlin’s Natural History Museum, 1967–74

2018 ◽  
Vol 141 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-19
Author(s):  
Manuela Bauche
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Natural History ◽  
German Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Natural History Museum ◽  
Diplomatic Relations ◽  
History Museum ◽  
History Of

This essay reconstructs the history of a coral-reef diorama, the outcome of a German Democratic Republic expedition to Cuba, that was displayed in East Berlin’s Natural History Museum in 1967 on the occasion of the GDR’s twenty-fifth anniversary. The paper investigates how the practice of socialist internationalism influenced the diorama’s coming into being, arguing that while official diplomatic relations between Cuba and the GDR were a prerequisite for the expedition, nongovernmental contacts were central to both the initiation and execution of the project. It also demonstrates how the diorama’s display was informed more by national and institutional concerns than by the rhetoric and policies of internationalism.

Nineteenth-century paleontological art in the Natural History Museum Vienna, Austria: Between demystification and mythologization

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefanie Jovanovic-Kruspel ◽  
Mathias Harzhauser
Keyword(s):  
Nineteenth Century ◽  
Natural History ◽  
Natural Theology ◽  
Hard Core ◽  
Natural History Museum ◽  
Natural History Museums ◽  
Science Museums ◽  
Cultural Traditions ◽  
History Museum ◽  
Systematic Paleontology

ABSTRACT The nineteenth century was the dawn of scientific and systematic paleontology. The foundation of Natural History Museums—built as microcosmic “Books of Nature”—not only contributed to the establishment of this new discipline but also to its visual dissemination. This paper will take the metaphor of the “book” as a starting point for an examination of the paleontological exhibition at the Natural History Museum in Vienna. In keeping with “Natural Theology,” the earliest natural science museums in Britain were designed as expressions of the medieval idea of the “Holy Book of Nature.” Contrary to this, the Natural History Museum Vienna, opened in 1889, wanted to be a nonreligious museum of evolution. Nevertheless, the idea of the “book” was also influential for its design. According to the architects and the first director, it should be a modern “walk-in textbook” instructive for everyone. The most prominent exhibition hall in the museum is dedicated to paleontology. The hall’s decorative scheme forms a unique “Paleo-Gesamtkunstwerk” (Gesamtkunstwerk: total piece of art). The use of grotesque and mythological elements is a particularly striking feature of the hall’s decoration and raises the question of how this relates to the museum’s claim to be a hard-core science institution. As it was paleontology’s task to demystify the monsters and riddles of Earth history systematically, it seems odd that the decorative program connected explicitly to this world. This chapter sheds light on the cultural traditions that led to the creation of this ambiguous program that oscillates between science and imagination.

Two new spider species of the genus Conculus (Araneae, Anapidae) from Southeast Asia

Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4612 (3) ◽  
pp. 423
Author(s):  
QIQI ZHANG ◽  
YUCHENG LIN
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Natural History ◽  
Southeast Asia ◽  
Natural History Museum ◽  
History Museum ◽  
Spider Species ◽  
Two New Species ◽  
First Time

Two new species the spider family Anapidae are described from Southeast Asia: Conculus sagadaensis n. sp. from Philippines and Conculus yaoi n. sp. from Indonesia, both described after male specimens. Conculus is reported from Southeast Asia for the first time. Diagnoses and illustrations are provided for two new species. The types are deposited in the Natural History Museum of Sichuan University (NHMSU) in Chengdu, China. 

The collaboration of the French naturalist Charles De Gerville with the Sowerby family and its contribution to early nineteenth-century geology

2012 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. Cleevely
Keyword(s):  
Nineteenth Century ◽  
Natural History ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Natural History Museum ◽  
Early Nineteenth Century ◽  
History Museum ◽  
Exchange Of Information ◽  
University Of Bristol ◽  
The University

Letters discovered in Normandy between Charles De Gerville (1769–1853), the French archaeologist and naturalist, and members of the Sowerby family concern his investigation of the strata, their fossils and the exchange of information, specimens and publications. Together with other archives at the Natural History Museum, London, the University of Bristol and the Bibliotheque Municipale de Cherbourg, they deal with his research during the early nineteenth century on the geology of the Cotentin (Cherbourg Peninsula). A brief resumé of James Sowerby's early botanical interests is mentioned as the likely link for this relationship. Sowerby's Mineral conchology is believed to have had a major role in influencing De Gerville's research, particularly through its support of John Farey's advocacy of William Smith's methods. These letters, together with references to published accounts about geology at that time, reveal the difficulties under which this research was conducted. An account of De Gerville's early life is given to explain his links with English contemporaries, mention his characteristic qualities, or foibles, and assess the value of his contribution to geology.

Edward Heron-Allen FRS (1861–1943): a review of his scientific career, with an annotated bibliography of his foraminiferal publications

2004 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard L. Hodgkinson ◽  
John E. Whittaker
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Royal Society ◽  
Annotated Bibliography ◽  
Natural History Museum ◽  
Scientific Career ◽  
History Museum ◽  
First Time

ABSTRACT: In spite of his many other interests, Edward Heron-Allen also worked for nearly 50 years as a scientist on minute shelled protists, called foraminifera, much of it in an unpaid, unofficial capacity at The Natural History Museum, London, and notably in collaboration with Arthur Earland. During this career he published more than 70 papers and obtained several fellowships, culminating in 1919 in his election to the Royal Society. Subsequently, he bequeathed his foraminiferal collections and fine library to the Museum, and both are housed today in a room named in his honour. In this paper, for the first time, an assessment of his scientific accomplishments is given, together with a full annotated bibliography of his publications held in the Heron-Allen Library. This is part of a project to produce a bibliography of his complete publications, recently initiated by the Heron-Allen Society.

Some aspects of the work of Robert Brown and the Investigatornaturalists in Madeira during August 1801

2001 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 383-394
Author(s):  
D. T. MOORE
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Natural History Museum ◽  
History Museum ◽  
Atlantic Island

Robert Brown is best known for his Australian botanical work of 1801-1805 and for his activity as an early taxonomist and microscopist. However, he made botanical collections and observations on the Atlantic island of Madeira in August 1801 while on his way to Australia on Investigator. As the bicentenary of the voyage is now being celebrated this aspect of Brown's botanical career, and its aftermath, is examined. Some of his Madeiran collection –rass specimens – survive today in the Herbarium of the Natural History Museum, London (BM).

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document