Antiquarianism

The study of emotions and antiquarianism is an exciting and yet underexplored field of research. Recent scholarship has skirted around this important topic, considering various aspects of antiquarian practices, but not asking questions pertaining to the affective nature of these practices. Driven by a deep curiosity and desire to explore, collect, document and display physical remains of the past, the practice of antiquarianism became increasingly popular in early modern Europe. The range of curious sought-after treasures of the past was limitless, and included ruins and ancient monuments, inscriptions, statues, books and manuscripts, and objects of everyday life such as coins and pots. Antiquaries amassed large personal collections, many of which were to form the basis of national institutions; the ancient manuscript collection of Sir Robert Cotton (c. 1570-1631), for instance, formed the core of the British Library's holdings. Others sought to create inventories of artefacts and monuments, producing maps and written accounts, bibliographical catalogues of objects and sketches of ruin-­filled landscapes. There is a great diversity of scholarship that comes under the title of antiquarianism; indeed it is considered a forerunner to the modern academicfields of archaeology, heritage studies, museology (collection, curation and conservation) and topographical studies to name only a few.