Mariette Album 1400 - 1927

This compilation of etchings and drawings, now bound as the Mariette Album, was assembled by Pierre Jean Mariette in 18th-century France. It is an encyclopedic collection of Italian art from about 1450 to 1600. Mariette was an important figure in the history of art institutions, because he was the first to seriously collect drawings and prints. He was part of a movement in the 17th and 18th centuries, which saw scholars begin to study the development of individual artistic styles. This approach to art created a new set of values within artistic circles and also influenced the art market. Art became a tool of social distinction as well as a commodity to be bought and sold. To understand this album better, one might want to look at the history of art collecting in France, particularly focusing on the lives and tastes of collectors like Mariette. It’s a reminder that art history itself is contingent on the historical context in which it is practiced.