Customer Reviews

The father of museum studies lays down the fundamentals - By: k8gray@hotmail.com, 01 Oct 2000
As a third-year student of "Museologia" (museum science)in Italy, i have found finding research material very difficult. As a very "young" fieldin itself (only being recognisedin 1955) Museum Science has few textbooks as such. So, after hearing about "The Museum Environment" i managed to obtain a very beaten copy of it, (having left my promise to the owner to not lose it on pain of death!). It soon became clear why he was so anxious about the copy going missing, this book is a fountain of wisdom for thosein the Museum, Conservation or restoration fields. It is divided into two sections, the first more technical & the second more concerned with the practicalities involvedin the exposition of a work of art. There are several aspects to this process, from the physics involvedin finding & maintaining the exact light & humidity levels relevent for an object on display, to the psycology behind displaying an object to appeal to the maximum range of human perception. There are also interesting passages on the practical organisation of space, & the movement & flow of people "en masse" through an exhibition. If you are involved directlyin Museum work or related areas, this book will be most interesting to you, & may even surprise you. However, if you are not directly interestedin these fields, the book is too specific to be generally read. I have ordered my own copy & am sure it will very well thumbed through!