The Curator's Egg: The evolution of the museum concept from the French Revolution to the present day

The Curator’s Egg traces the development of the museum concept from the opening of the Louvre to the launch of Tate Modern. It looks at shifts in the curatorial, scholarly, political and economic spheres and their impact on specific institutions as the museum’s role in society is discussed. In Part I, Karsten Schubert examines defining moments in the history of the museum in each Berlin, London, Paris and New York. The founding of important institutions such as the British Museum, the Louvre and MoMA are described through significant socio-political events of the times. Part II builds upon this history, highlighting the need for cities and institutions to revise their programs in response to a surge of interest in the arts. It discusses issues within the discourse from the ‘discovery’ of the audience to the desire for unique and cutting edge architecture. A new chapter, ‘Democracy of Spectacle’, looks at the museum’s current predicament ten years after The Curator’s Egg was first written. The perfect book for those interested in the evolution of the museum and the fascinating history surrounding it.