Joseph Cornell (1903-1972) was one of the twentieth century's leading exponents of collage and assemblage. A connoisseur of an astonishing array of subjects, Cornell's captivation with bygone imagery encompassed astronomical charts and geographical maps, as well as Italian and Spanish Old Master paintings, historical ballet, early cinema, literature, poetry, ornithology and astronomy. Most iconic among his works are the box constructions filled with once-precious fragments that he collected from the thrift shops of his native New York; the results of his collecting - microcosmic cabinets of curiosity - echo the great projects of amassing and categorising material that accompanied the Enlightenment. This landmark publication brings together some of his most compelling assemblages and box constructions (including Medici slot machines, soap bubble sets and animal habitats). Contributions from unique thinkers raise questions about Cornell's artistic processes, drawing parallels with historical modes of enquiry such as connoisseurship, exploration and classification. AUTHOR: Sarah Lea is curator of Joseph Cornell: Wanderlust at the Royal Academy of Arts. Lynda Roscoe Hartigan is former director Director of the Smithsonian's Joseph Cornell Study Center. Jasper Sharp is Adjunct Curator for Modern and Contemporary Art at the Kunsthistorisches Museum. SELLING POINTS: Maps the incredible range of influences that led to the creation of Cornell's captivating assemblage works Fascinating contributions trace the links between Cornell's oeuvre and its historical precedents 140 colour