Getty Research Institute Study Photographs of Ancient Architectural Sculpture, 1900s

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Summary

Title:
Study photographs of ancient architectural sculpture
Dates:
1900s
Creators:
Gordon, Eugene, Koch, Guntram, Goldscheider, Ludwig, 1896-1973, Serafis, Emile, Getty Research Institute, Bini, Barbara, Frantz, Alison, and Becatti, Giovanni, 1912-1973
Abstract:
A collection of modern photographs assembled by the Getty Research Institute of architectural sculpture, mostly detached from the original location, concentrating on works of the Greek and Roman periods, from the Greek Archaic through the late Roman Empire (6 century BC-6th century AD). Coverage is most complete for works from sites in Greece and Italy, but the collection includes images of architectural sculpture from monuments in other countries, including Albania, Algeria, Egypt, England, France, Germany, Lebanon, Libya, Romania, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, and Yugoslavia.
Extent:
33.2 Linear Feet (159 boxes)
Language:
English .

Background

Scope and content:

An assembled collection of modern photographs of architectural sculpture, mostly detached from the original location, concentrating on works of the Greek and Roman periods, from the Greek Archaic through the late Roman Empire (6 century BC-6th century AD). Coverage is most complete for works from sites in Greece and Italy, but the collection includes images of architectural sculpture from monuments in other countries, including Albania, Algeria, Egypt, England, France, Germany, Lebanon, Libya, Romania, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, and Yugoslavia. The cities for which major documentation of monuments exists are Athens and Olympia in Greece; Rome (particularly the Ara Pacis Augustae, Arch of Constantine, and Column of Trajan) and Selinus in Italy; Aphrodisias and Ephesus in Turkey.

The collection includes photographs from numerous sources, including commercial vendors and photographers; research institutions' archives; excavation campaigns; scholars' archives and collections; and photographic campaigns sponsored by the Getty Research Institute. Among the commercial vendors and photographers, the most important are: Alinari (including the Anderson and Brogi archives), Bildarchiv Foto Marburg, Bulloz, Photographie Giraudon, Gabinetto fotografico nazionale (GFN) Rome, Hirmer Verlag, Barbara Bini, Alison Frantz, Guntram Koch, and Emile Serafis.

Research institutions' archives from which new prints were made include: Fototeca unione at the American Academy in Rome; Deutsches Archäologisches Institut (DAI), Athens and Rome; and the American School of Classical Studies, Athens.

Excavation campaigns from which the collection holds selected photographs include those of Princeton University at Morgantina (Sicily); Bryn Mawr College at Murlo (Italy); the American Academy in Rome at Cosa (Italy); and the photographic record made by Eugene Gordon of excavations at Heracleia Lyncestra (Yugoslavia) and Aquincum (Hungary) as well as his photos of archaeological remains at Agrigento and Taormina (Sicily) and Aphrodisias, Aspendos, Ephesus, Perge, and Side (Turkey).

Photographic campaigns sponsored by the repository have contributed extensive coverage of three monuments in Rome. The Column of Trajan is documented in 1,169 photographs, 977 of which show every 30 cm. of the friezes after cleaning and restoration carried out in the 1980s. The Arch of Constantine is represented in circa 315 photos and the Ara Pacis Augustae in circa 300 photos. The collection also includes photographs from the repository's Giovanni Becatti and Ludwig Goldscheider archives.

Biographical / historical:

In 1974, the J. Paul Getty Museum began assembling a "photo library" by consolidating the visual resources of each existing curatorial department. By the early 1980s, the Photo Archive was actively acquiring large collections of photographs from commercial and private sources and scholars' archives that contained a photographic component. In 1983, the nearly one million photographs of the Photo Archive were incorporated into the Research Institute's Special Collections.

Processing information:

Finding aid created in 2009.

Arrangement:

Arrangement is geographical, filed alphabetically by name of modern country, then name of ancient city or site, and monument.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Ann Harrison
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2024-05-14 13:51:06 -0700 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for use by qualified researchers. For further information, consult the Guide to the Photo Archive and Database.

Terms of access:

Photographs and permission to publish must be obtained from copyright holder(s). For further information, contact Library Reproductions and Permissions.

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