1830 Old British Museum Montagu House
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1830 Old British Museum Montagu House
The British Museum in Montagu House, Great Russel (sic) Street. Engraved by William Henshall from a study by T.H. Shepherd. From Shepherds series " London and its Environs in the Nineteenth Century" published London 1829-1832. Note the armed guard outside. The Museum, founded from Sir Hans Sloanes collection, first opened in 1759 in the mansion pictured here. The new (current) British Museum was built on this site with work already begun in 1823. Until 1881 the Natural History collections were held in this building, but their curation was generally deemed so poor that few left collections here. After his Beagle voyage Darwin wrote to Henslow in 1836 " I cannot feel, from all I hear, any great respect even for the present state of that establishment". His fossil mammals went to Richard Owen in the Hunterian Museum, Birds went to Gould of the Royal Zoological Society etc
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Media ID 6346587
© PAUL D STEWART/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Beagle British Museum Charles Darwin Collectors Georgian Natural History Museum Specimens Victorian Collections Montagu House
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print takes us back to the year 1830, showcasing the iconic Montagu House, which housed the British Museum at that time. Engraved by William Henshall from a study by T. H. Shepherd, this image is part of Shepherd's renowned series "London and its Environs in the Nineteenth Century" published between 1829 and 1832. The photograph highlights an interesting detail - an armed guard stationed outside Montagu House. This security measure speaks to the significance and value of the museum's collection even during those times. Founded from Sir Hans Sloane's remarkable collection, the British Museum first opened its doors in 1759 within this very mansion depicted here. However, as we now know, a new British Museum was constructed on this site with construction already underway since 1823. Interestingly enough, until 1881, this building also housed the Natural History collections. Regrettably though, their curation was widely criticized for being subpar; hence few collectors chose to leave their specimens here. Even Charles Darwin himself expressed his dissatisfaction with the establishment after his Beagle voyage in a letter to Henslow in 1836. This evocative artwork transports us back into history and sheds light on both architectural marvels like Montagu House and significant figures such as Charles Darwin who interacted with these institutions during their prime years.
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