This course looks at the history of collecting, particularly the collecting of art and design objects. Who collected? What did they collect? Why did they collect? How were collections displayed? From distinctive, private collections in 15th- and 16th-century Europe to the establishment in the 18th- and 19th-centuries of major public institutions, such as the British Museum, the Louvre, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, this course will investigate how collections took shape, functioned as markers of prestige, and opened windows to studying an increasingly global world and diverse cultures. The processes of collecting – how works were acquired and the ownership history of those objects -- have gained attention in recent years and this course will consider current questions of provenance research and issues of ethical ownership. The class focuses on readings and discussion; students will also engage in short presentations and assignments on aspects of the history of museums and collecting. Special emphasis will be placed on New York museums and collections with class visits and guest lectures.