1688 Broadside, Kunst-Kammer, Art Museum, Zurich, Switzerland

Johannes Meyer (1655–1712)

Abriss der Kunst-Kammer auf der Wasser Kirchen In Zürich [Neujahrsblatt, hrsg. von der Stadtbibliothek in Zürich]

Broadside issued on New Year’s Days 1688.

29.3 x 31 cm

The Zurich library (Bürger Bibliothek) was first opened to the public on New Year's Day, 1634. The miscellaneous items in the collection had not yet been separated from the books and in 1667 was a given a stand-alone chamber with all types of art, globes and natural specimens set up in the upper story. The latter contained an encyclopaedic collection of artefacts, some of which can still be seen (coins, portraits, zoological, mineral, archaeological specimens, in addition to maps, scientific instruments and even furniture). This new institution was housed in the Wasserkirche, which was deconsecrated after the Reformation. This library/museum increased the renown of Zurich and made knowledge and learning more easily accessible to the (wealthier) citizens. Thanks to donations, the collections grew rapidly but as a result of increasing specialization, at the end of the 18th century the Kunstkammer was divided up between various learned societies and ultimately strengthened Zurich’s successful bid to host the ‘Landesmuseum’.

Extremely rare. Minor age spotting to margins.

Kunstkammer, wunderkammer, curiositätenkabinette, raritätensammlungen