For sixteenth and seventeenth-century princes and scholars, a favorite pastime was assembling a cabinet of curiosities. These cabinets, filled with exotic specimens of naturalia and thought-provoking artistic and scientific creations from bygone eras, were private testaments to the collector’s intellect, to be shared only with select guests.

Dr. Inge Reist’s presentation will highlight exceptional examples of the exotica – crocodiles, shells and amber – and spectacular scientific instruments, alchemical paraphernalia, and works of art that so captivated the princes of Europe over more than two centuries.

Dr. Reist is the Director Emerita of the Center for the History of Collecting, which she established at The Frick Collection and Frick Art Reference Library in 2007. Prior to that, she was the Chief of Research Collections and Programs and Head of the Photo Archive at the Frick. In 2013, she was the founding president of PHAROS – An International Consortium of Photo Archives.

The March 26 presentation is free for Museum members and students (with valid ID); $15 for non-members. Reception at 6:30 pm; the presentation begins at 7:00 pm, and will be followed by a question-and-answer session. Advance registration required; visit brucemuseum.org or call 203-869-0376.