A Cabinet of Wonders: A Celebration of Art in Nature
The George Loudon collection at palazzo Grimani
Auteur(s) : Thierry Morel, George Loudon
Exhibition at the Museo di Palazzo Grimani, Venice, 15 December 2024 - 11 May 2025
The ever-expanding collection of late 19th- and early 20th-century scientific artefacts belonging to George Loudon, a discreet Dutch octogenarian living in London, comprises more than 200 items, including educational models, anatomical specimens, stuffed animals, books, engravings and drawings. These objects, primarily scientific but exquisitely crafted, are made of glass, wax, minerals, papier-mâché, fabric, ivory and other materials.
This exhibition catalogue is the most comprehensive presentation of the George Loudon collection to date. Alongside the exhibits, the objects are presented in the style of a 16th- or 17th-century Venetian cabinet. These are not just “curiosities”, but also Venetian enamels and majolica, paintings by Tintoretto, Titian and Veronese, as well as works on loan from international institutions such as the MAK. The book also draws parallels between Loudon's sensibility and that of the humanist Giovanni Grimani (1506-1593), who was also driven by a deep love of nature.
