The Hunterian

The Hunterian at the University of Glasgow has launched a first general guide to its world famous collection. The Hunterian, University of Glasgow is the latest title in Scala's acclaimed Director's Choice series.

Adopting an innovate angle to the ‘masterpieces’ book, this series asks the Directors of some of the finest and most renowned museums, galleries and heritage sites worldwide to select from their collections the pieces that speak to them personally and explain the reasons for their choices. 

In this new 80 page publication, Professor David Gaimster, Director of The Hunterian, has selected 37 objects from this extraordinary collection, each of which tells a compelling narrative in respect of its origin and of  the changing intellectual climate of collecting and research over 200 years.

With over 1.3 million objects, The Hunterian at the University of Glasgow is one of the leading university museums and galleries in the UK, if not the world. The Hunterian belongs to an elite group of University museums that have collected across multiple disciples in human natural history for research and teaching.

Today, amongst The Hunterian’s treasures are the scientific apparatus used by James Watt and Lord Kelvin; monumental sculpture and antiquities from the Antonine Wall; major earth sciences holdings; Scotland’s most important print and numismatic collections; rare 'first contact’ artefacts from the Pacific Ocean; and extensive collections of European and Scottish art.

The Hunterian, University of Glasgow gives a Director's personal insight into the scope and strengths of this encyclopaedic collection. It is available now from the University of Glasgow Visitor Centre* priced £9.95 and online at www.universityofglasgowshops.com

*10% discount available for University of Glasgow staff and students.

Other collections in the Director’s Choice series include The National Gallery, London, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Dulwich Picture Gallery.

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First published: 1 August 2012