Letters of British art patrons, collectors, and dealers, 1821-1921

Printable guide [HTML]

Summary

Title:

Letters of British art patrons, collectors, and dealers

Dates:

1821-1921

Creators:

Getty Research Institute. Research Library

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.

Extent:

66.0 items

Language:

Collection material is in English

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

Background

Scope and content:

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.

Biographical / historical:

Collection assembled by the repository.

Acquisition information:

Assembled from several acquisitions, ca. 1983-1990.

Processing information:

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.

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

Indexed terms

Subjects:: Art dealers--Great Britain--Correspondence
Art patrons--Great Britain--Correspondence
Collectors and collecting--Great Britain

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:: Finding aid prepared by Onica Busuioceanu.
Date Encoded:: This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2016-02-02T17:27-0800

Access and use

Restrictions:: Open for use by qualified researchers.
Terms of access:: Contact Library Rights and Reproductions.