Museography since Antiquity

We must go back to 530 B.C. to discover the first museum in history: the Ennigaldi-Nanna Museum in Iraq. Princess Ennigaldi, daughter of the last king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, decided to collect various objects gathered by her father. The collection, which at that time was not even considered an exhibition, was in a room next to her palace.

It is believed that the purpose of this space was to display historical pieces to teach history to her students. Thus, Ennigaldi became the first person to include explanatory labels for each piece exhibited on clay cylinders, explaining the origin of the object.

Following the example of Princess Ennigaldi, private exhibitions proliferated at the beginning of history. At the end of the 16th century, Grand Duke Francesco I and Bernardo Buontalenti began the construction and design of the Tribune, located in the Uffizi Palace. This would become the first room of what later became the Uffizi Gallery.

The room displayed the most valuable works of the Medici collection in an octagonal layout, with high walls and natural lighting. Additionally, there were several works displayed in special cabinets. This method of displaying objects is not far from today's showcases. Thus, the aim of the Uffizi Tribune was to consider every detail so that the public could admire all the works.
During the Modern Age, the number of palaces with a room dedicated to the exhibition of works increased.

As seen, it was common to create private rooms in palaces such as those of Ennigaldi or the Uffizi, to which only a few lucky people had access. However, gradually the curiosity of the people demanded the public exhibition of works.

An example of this was the Capitoline Museums in Rome, which originated in 1471. At that time, Pope Sixtus IV donated several bronzes to be displayed in the Palazzo dei Conservatori and the Piazza del Campidoglio. Over the years, the collection was expanded and it was not until 1734 that it was finally opened to the public.

The first public museums in Europe appeared thanks to the Enlightenment. This era was characterized by the defense of equality and freedom of expression, discovering art as a means to transmit these values. In addition, the invention of the printing press fostered the ambition to reach a wider audience.

Thus, the British Museum in London and the Louvre in Paris were created. The first emerged in 1753 from the donation of a private collection by Sir Hans Sloane of more than 80,000 objects. Initially, it was a small house with collections donated by various English figures. However, historians' attraction to the pieces necessitated not only cataloging them but also demolishing the house to build a neoclassical-style building to house more collections.

As for the French museum, after serving as a residence for the members of the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture, its function was changed. From the French Revolution onwards, it would house the nation's works, opening to the public in 1793. Thus, it was created with a dual function: to educate and to preserve.

In the context of the Academy, exhibitions for aesthetic delight and art critics led to the great success of the Salons in the 19th century. At the same time, interest in science increased, and natural history museums emerged, requiring a more sophisticated and organized presentation.
Museums are understood as institutions that foster visitors' learning. However, over time and especially from the 20th century onwards, the way information is conveyed has changed. The end of World War II marked the revaluation of heritage, along with a new educational approach and democratization in the exhibition language.

For this reason, today's public finds it insufficient to visit a museum where they are limited to observing. Visitors seek an experience where they can find a story to immerse themselves in and interact with. Now, the public is an active actor who tries to fully engage with the exhibitions and somehow dialogue with them.

The human interest in knowing its history has always been present, and that is why museums, in one way or another, have always been essential. However, over time, due to the development of society and the way humans interact, the way visitors want information to be conveyed has changed. Although Ennigaldi's room was crucial for the birth of museums, private rooms where only a few can enjoy art are no longer sought after. Now, visitors look for exhibitions in museums that can create a narrative with which to learn entertainingly.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

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