Descriptive Summary
Biographical/Historical Note
Administrative Information
Scope and Content of Collection
Indexing Terms
Descriptive Summary
Title: Letters of British art patrons, collectors, and dealers
Date (inclusive): 1821-1921
Number: 860525D
Creator/Collector:
Getty Research Institute. Research Library
Physical Description:
66.0 items
Repository:
The Getty Research Institute
Special Collections
1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 1100
Los Angeles, California, 90049-1688
(310) 440-7390
Abstract: An assembled collection of 66 letters, written by 47 persons between 1821 and 1921. Most letters date to the 19th century.
The letters present a view of the 19th century world of art patrons, dealers, and collectors.
Request Materials: Request access to the physical materials described in this inventory through the
catalog record for this collection. Click here for the
access policy .
Language: Collection material is in
English
Biographical/Historical Note
Collection assembled by the repository.
Administrative Information
Access
Open for use by qualified researchers.
Publication Rights
Preferred Citation
Letters of British art patrons, collectors, and dealers, Research Library, The Getty Research Institute, Accession no. 860525D.
http://hdl.handle.net/10020/cifa860525d
Acquisition Information
Assembled from several acquisitions, ca. 1983-1990.
Processing History
Processed and cataloged by Onica Busuioceanu. The items in this collection were formerly part of the British artists letters
collection (accession number 860525). They were separated when that collection was cataloged.
Scope and Content of Collection
Letters present a comprehensive view of the 19th century world of art patrons, dealers, and collectors in Great Britain. Well-informed
patrons spread the word about important collections to be sold, and of "private views" before sales. One of the Irish antiquities
dealers sends Lord Londesborough a drawing of a unique bronze plate depicting the Crucifixion, discovered near the ruins of
a monastery. Persons who inherited pictures try to sell or donate them. Collectors and art patrons order reproductive prints
from the well-known dealer Dominic Colnaghi. Some are actively involved with their dealers: the Baron Berwick asks his to
try and sell either "the doubtful Sebastian or Titian," which "should not be in the same room" nor shown together. Booksellers
have their place in the growing art market, offering not only rare books, but also colored sets of John Paine tracts. The
book collector and connoisseur Felix Slade comments on the "fine specimens" in his loan exhibition of rare books and bindings.
Arrangement note
Letters arranged alphabetically.
Indexing Terms
Subjects - Topics
Art dealers--Great Britain--Correspondence
Art patrons--Great Britain--Correspondence
Collectors and collecting--Great Britain