A captivating exploration of the evolution of art collecting spanning ancient civilizations to the era of Napoleon Bonaparte. This insightful book delves into the motivations, trends, and cultural significance of art collecting throughout history, shedding light on the power dynamics, societal values, and personal desires that shaped the world of art. From pharaohs to conquerors, this narrative unravels the captivating stories behind the creation and acquisition of masterpieces.


This book starts with a note to the reader and then divides itsef into ten books:
Book 1: Origins of the Classical Tradition
Book 2: Italy and the rise of Capitalism
Book 3: The long arm of Hapsburgs
Book 4: The spread of Italian culture and finance in France, England and the Netherlands
Book 5: Collecting in Spain and the Low Countries in the seventeenth Century
Book 6: Rome in the Augustan Afterglow
Book 7: Art and Absolutism in France
Book 8: English collectors in the age of reason
Book 9: German Absolutism and the Ersatz Versailles
Book 10: Collecting in the Napoleonic Age