The Notion of „Museum” in the 18th Century

On the History of Semantics of the Concept

Abstract

This essay discusses the meanings of the term “museum” in the 18^th century. An analysis is offered of the definitions of this term given in treatises on collecting and, above all, in dictionaries, lexicons, and encyclopedias. Source texts are primarily in German and French. In these two languages, the semantic shift of the term “museum” became especially evident.

Emphasis is placed on three significant changes in the meaning of the word “museum” in the 18^th century. Firstly, it started to designate a real space instead of a virtual (discursive) one. Secondly, it began to define a public space rather than a private one. Thirdly, it started to designate a space where the sensual experience of exhibited items took place rather than one where collective or individual intellectual studies were carried out. Hence, due to complex cultural processes, the understanding of the term “museum” appeared as a real public exhibition space.