Des animaux, des hommes et des choses : les expositions au Bas-Canada dans la première moitié du XIXe siècle

Abstract

Exhibitions represent the first manifestation of museology in Lower-Canada during the first half of the 19th century. Essentially "curious" in content as well as in collective perception, they reveal a considerable disparity between the respective tastes of populations in Québec and Montréal that can be best understood when put in a socio-economic context. The study of exhibitions also allows a better understanding of the origin of museums in the province of Québec during the period, insofar as they influenced the latter's contents and inspired museums to encourage public interest in their collections.