The museum of Ferrante Imperato, 1599

The Wunderkammer of Ferrante Imperato

1599

This print showing the museum of Ferrante Imperato is one of the oldest preserved illustrations of an early modern collection. It shows the various ingredients of a chamber of art and curiosities: books, stuffed specimens, including malformations, stored on shelves and in cupboards and even hung from the ceiling. The image probably depicts the owner himself showing off his collection, which was one of the most renowned in Europe and was visited by many scholars.

The museum of Ferrante Imperato, 1599