Pierre Courthion papers, 1901-1987

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Summary

Creators:
Courthion, Pierre
Abstract:
The collection documents the scholarly, personal and professional pursuits and activities of noted art critic and art historian Pierre Courthion. The bulk of the material relates directly to Courthion's research and writing projects, consisting primarily of unpublished notes and edited typescript drafts of essays, articles and monographs, as well as related visual materials and correspondence.
Extent:
18.0 linear feet (40 boxes)
Language:
Collection material is in French with some German, Italian, and English.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection documents the scholarly, personal and professional pursuits and activities of noted art critic and art historian Pierre Courthion. The bulk of the material relates directly to Courthion's research and writing projects, consisting primarily of unpublished notes and edited typescript drafts of essays, articles and monographs, as well as related visual material and correspondence. Most of the manuscripts are undated. Numerous black-and-white photographs of artists' works, as well as some negatives, slides, and transparencies are found throughout the collection. Printed materials and clippings include press reviews, published articles by Courthion and other art critics and scholars, and other printed ephemera collected by Courthion. Other materials relating to Courthion's professional activities include additional with publishers, artists and their families, business and travel documents, and professional and teaching files.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in five series: Series I. Artist files, 1912-1985, undated; Series II. National and regional art and history, 1901-1987, undated; Series III. Topical research and writing, 1921-1972, undated; Series IV. Printed materials, 1921-1985, undated; Series V. Professional, teaching and personal files, 1906-1980, undated.

Biographical / historical:

Pierre Courthion (1902-1988) was a prominent Swiss-born art critic and historian. Courthion's major projects focused on the history of American, French and European art including the art of Paris and Montmartre, Romanticism and Realism, the Impressionist movement, Swiss art, and the contemporary art of his time. Courthion attended the Université de Géneve and received a scholarship to study painting at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. While in Paris, Courthion spent time in Montmartre where he became acquainted with and developed friendships with artists such as Alberto Giacometti and Kurt Seligmann and encountered many of the artists living and working there, many of whom would be the focus of his later publications. Courthion was a student at the Louvre and did his doctoral work on the painter, Jean-Étienne Liotard. Over the course of his career, Courthion traveled widely for his research, lecture tours, and conferences. He lived and worked in France for most of his life.

For a complete bibliography of Pierre Courthion's works, consult his autobiography, D'une palette à l'autre: mémoires d'un critique d'art, which was published after his death in 2004.

Fuller biography of Pierre Courthion.

Acquisition information:
Acquired in 1989.
Physical location:
To access physical materials on site, go to the library catalog record for this collection and click "Request an Item." Click here for access policy.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Location of this collection:
1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 1100
Los Angeles, CA 90049-1688, US
Contact:
(310) 440-7390
Website