Head of a European or Great White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) Vincenzo Leonardi (1589/90-1646) Rome, 1635. Watercolour and bodycolour, heightened with gum, over black chalk. Royal Collection Trust © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2019

During the 17th century the antiquarian Cassiano dal Pozzo embarked upon an epic attempt to document and record the major fields of knowledge of his day.

Together with his younger brother Carlo Antonio he assembled what became known as the Museo Cartaceo or Paper Museum consisting of over 10,000 watercolours, drawings and prints illustrating subjects as diverse as antiquities, architecture, zoology, botany and geology, social customs and ceremonies, costumes, portraits, topography and military maps.

Creating a visual record of the material world around them, their fascinating collection was one of the most significant attempts before the age of photography to embrace human knowledge in visual form.

Lapidary and ‘figured’ Stones, Corals, Fossils, semi-precious Stones and Minerals, Vincenzo Leonardi Rome, about 1630-40. Royal Collection Trust © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2019

Fingered Lemon (Citrus limon) Vincenzo Leonardi Rome, about 1640. Royal Collection Trust © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2019

Most of this remarkable paper assemblage was eventually acquired by George III in 1762, and it is still part of the Royal Collection today and this exhibition – the first in more than 20 years dedicated to Cassiano’s remarkable contribution to art and science – is part of a collaboration between the Barber Institute and Royal Collection Trust and has been curated by University of Birmingham MA Art History and Curating Students.

It includes more than 40 objects, including 17 ‘Paper Museum’ works lent by Her Majesty The Queen, some of which have never been publicly displayed before.[…]

Source: https://museumcrush.org/the-paper-museum-of-cassiano-dal-pozzo/