Kopelman (Gabrielle) Papers, 1950-2010, bulk 1970-1989, bulk 1970-1989

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Summary

Title:
Gabrielle Kopelman papers
Dates:
1950-2010, bulk 1970-1989, bulk 1970-1989
Creators:
Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, N.Y.), Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Richard L. Feigen & Company, P. & D. Colnaghi & Co, Toledo Museum of Art, Thomas Agnew & Sons, and Kopelman, Gabrielle
Abstract:
The papers of Gabrielle Kopelman document her numerous projects as a New York-based independent conservator for various institutions such as The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and The Toledo Museum of Art, as well as art dealers including P. & D. Colnaghi & Company and Wildenstein & Company. The archive includes restoration projects of paintings by major artists such as Rembrandt, Peter Paul Rubens and Hendrik Terbrugghen. The bulk of the collection contains photographic documentation of paintings in the form of black-and-white prints, negatives, radiographs and color transparencies. Also included are related papers including correspondence, invoices, notes and clippings.
Extent:
10.8 Linear Feet (21 boxes)
Language:
Collection material is in English.
Preferred citation:

Gabrielle Kopelman papers, 1950-2010 (bulk 1970-1989), The Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles, Accession no. 2010.M.78

http://hdl.handle.net/10020/cifa2010m78

Background

Scope and content:

The collection documents Kopelman's numerous projects as an independent conservator commissioned by various institutions such as The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and The Toledo Museum of Art, as well as art dealers including P. & D. Colnaghi & Company and Wildenstein & Company. Highlights of the archive include restoration projects of paintings by major artists such as Rembrandt, Peter Paul Rubens and Hendrik Terbrugghen.

The client files in Series I form the bulk of the archive and document Kopelman's conservation projects for museums, galleries and art dealers. The majority of the files contain black-and-white photographs and color transparencies of the paintings that Kopelman restored, as well as related papers including correspondence, invoices and clippings. Some files also include color slides and prints, as well as x-rays of artworks such as Rembrandt'sObelisk, Rubens'sRubens, His Wife Helena Fourment, and One of Their Children and Antoine Watteau'sThe Island of Cythera.

Series II provides a glimpse into Kopelman's research work and conservation process. A small number of research papers and condition notes on numerous paintings comprise this series. The archive also contains a collection of black-and-white photographs of frames which can be found in Series III. These photographs were organized by Kopelman according to school.

Additional black-and-white negatives of paintings restored by Kopelman comprise Series IV. Hundreds of these negatives have been assigned numbers but the names of the works were not identified by Kopelman.

Biographical / historical:

Gabrielle Kopelman, an independent conservator of Old Master paintings based in New York, has restored numerous paintings for various institutions including The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, The Toledo Museum of Art and The Frick Collection, as well as art dealers such as P. & D. Colnaghi & Company, Limited, Thomas Agnew & Sons Limited, and Wildenstein & Company. Some of her more notable conservation projects include paintings by Rembrandt, Peter Paul Rubens and Hendrik Terbrugghen.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Mr. Victor Rodwin in 2010.
Processing information:

Processed by Sheila Prospero under the supervision of Andra Darlington from January 2012 to March 2013.

Arrangement:

Arranged in four series: Series I. Client files, 1950-2010, bulk 1970-1989; Series II. Notes and research papers, undated; Series III. Photographs of frames, undated; Series IV. Negatives of paintings, undated.

Physical location:
Request access to the physical materials described in this inventory through the catalog record for this collection. Click here for the access policy.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Sheila Prospero
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-02-05 08:12:00 -0800 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for use by qualified researchers.

Terms of access:

Contact Library Reproductions and Permissions.

Preferred citation:

Gabrielle Kopelman papers, 1950-2010 (bulk 1970-1989), The Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles, Accession no. 2010.M.78

http://hdl.handle.net/10020/cifa2010m78

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