Held (Julius S.) Papers, ca. 1918-1999

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Summary

Title:

Julius S. Held papers

Dates:

ca. 1918-1999

Creators:

Sterling, Charles, 1901-1991, Stighelen, Katlijne van der, Stewart, J. Douglas (John Douglas), 1934-, Strauss, Walter L., Styhr, Jørgen, Sutton, Peter C., Tennenbaum, Silvia, Serkin, Rudolf, 1903-1991, Skutsch, Otto, Slive, Seymour, 1920-2014, Sloane, Joseph C., Sluijter, Eric Jan, 1946-, Smith, David R. (David Ross), 1946-, Spear, Richard E., 1940-, Stechow, Wolfgang, 1896-1974, Steinberg, Leo, 1920-2011, Vergara, Lisa, 1948-, Vey, Horst, Vertikoff, Alexander, Veronee-Verhaegen, Nicole, Volk, Mary Crawford, Voet, Léon, 1919-, Vlieghe, Hans, Tharp, Twyla, Thaw, Eugene Victor, Tietze-Conrat, E. (Erika), 1883-1958, Tietze, Andreas, Tietze, Hans, 1880-1954, Varshavskai︠a︡, M. I︠A︡., Wolf, Emile E., Wohl, Alice, Wolf, Robert Erich, Winner, Matthias, 1931-, Winkler, Friedrich, 1888-, Wittkower, Rudolf, Wulc, Stanley S., Zimmer, Jürgen, 1937-, Wuttke, Dieter, Wood, Jeremy, 1950-, Wright, Virginia, Warnke, Martin, Weber, Gregor J. M., Weinberg, H. Barbara (Helene Barbara), 1942-, Welu, James A., Voss, Hermann, 1884-1969, Walsh, John, 1937-, Wilkin, Karen, 1940-, White, Christopher, 1930-, Brown, Christopher, 1948-, Burchard, Ludwig, 1886-1960, Béguin, Sylvie, Burchard, Otto, Chaīkin, Nathan, Cattaneo Adorno, Carlotta, Colie, Rosalie Littell, Ciechanowiecki, Andrzej S., 1924-, Constable, W. G. (William George), 1887-1976, Coolidge, John, 1913-1995, Comini, Alessandra, Cunningham, Charles Crehore, 1910-1979, Arbitman, Kahren Jones, 1948-, Barron, Stephanie, 1950-, Barnouw, Adriaan Jacob, 1877-1968, Baudouin, Frans, Bauch, Kurt, 1897-1975, Bautier, Pierre, Baumstark, Reinhold, 1944-, Belkin, Kristin Lohse, Behrman, Cynthia Fansler, Benesch, Otto, 1896-1964, Bevers, Holm, Berend-Corinth, Charlotte, 1880-1967, Bevington, David M., Białostocki, Jan, Block, Herbert, 1909-2001, Bober, Phyllis Pray, Boggs, Jean Sutherland, Bolten, J., Boon, Karel G., Allentuck, Marcia, 1928-, Andrews, Keith, 1920-1989, Antal, Friedrich, Anderson, Laurie, 1947-, Andersson, Christiane, Ames, Winslow, Alpers, Svetlana, Getty, J. Paul (Jean Paul), 1892-1976, Kauffmann, Hans, Kahr, Madlyn Millner, Kaufmann, Thomas DaCosta, Kaufmann, Emil, 1942-, Keck, Caroline K. (Caroline Kohn), Jaeger, Wolfgang, 1917-1995, Jaffé, Michael, 1923-, Jaffé, David, 1953-, Janson, H. W. (Horst Woldemar), 1913-1982, Jantzen, Hans, 1881-1967, Huemer, Frances, Hugelshofer, Walter, 1899-, Hulst, Roger Adolf d', Hofmann, Werner, 1928-2013, Müller Hofstede, Cornelius, Hollander, Anne, Hibbard, Howard, 1928-1984, Herklotz, Ingo, Herbst, Hans, Dr., Stoner, Joyce Hill, Held, Jutta, Held, Julius S. (Julius Samuel), 1905-2002, Hammer, Armand, 1898-1990, Harris, Ann Sutherland, Haverkamp Begemann, Egbert, Heckscher, William S. (William Sebastian), 1904-1999, Hartford, Huntington, 1911-2008, Hartt, Frederick, Gudlaugsson, S. J. (Sturla J.), 1913-, Grund, Norbert Joseph Carl, 1717-1767, Haeger, Barbara, Greindl, Edith, Gregori, Mina, Grigaut, Paul L., Grafe, I., Golffing, Francis, Goris, Jan Albert, 1899-1984, Gombrich, E. H. (Ernst Hans), 1909-2001, Glück, Gustav, 1871-1952, Golahny, Amy, Geuer, Gisela, Gibson, Walter S., Gilbert, Creighton, Gelder, Jan de, Gerold, Susanne, Gerson, H. (Horst), Gay, Peter, 1923-2015, Geissler, Heinrich, Panofsky, Erwin, 1892-1968, Garlick, Kenneth, 1916-2009, Friedländer, Max J., 1867-1958, Friedenberg, Daniel M., Freedberg, David, Frankl, Paul, 1878-1962, Fenyő, Iván, Fenwick, Kathleen M., 1901-1973, Elsen, Albert E., 1927-1995, Einem, Herbert von, 1905-1983, Eisler, Colin T., Egorova, K. S. (Ksenii︠a︡ Sergeevna), Dulière, Gaston, Downes, Kerry, Carroll, Margaret D. (Margaret Deutsch), Delen, A. J. J. (Adrien Jean Joseph), 1883-1960, Demus, Klaus, 1927-, Sandy, Stephen, Sauerländer, Willibald, Schade, Werner, Schama, Simon, Schapiro, Meyer, 1904-1996, Scheyer, Evelyn, Schilling, Edmund, 1888-1974, Schulz, Juergen, 1927-2014, Schwartz, Gary, 1940-, Schöne, Wolfgang, 1910-1989, Scribner, Charles, 1951-, Renger, Konrad, Roethlisberger, Marcel, 1929-, Ring, Grete, Rosand, David, Rosenberg, Jakob, 1893-1980, Rose, Patricia, 1929-, Rosenberg, Pierre, Panofsky-Soergel, Gerda, 1929-, Pariset, François-Georges, Parkhurst, Charles, Porter, Katherine Anne, 1890-1980, Posner, Donald, Puyvelde, Leo van, 1882-1965, Nash, Ray, 1905-1982, Müller Hofstede, Justus, Nordenfalk, Carl Adam Johan, 1907-1992, Oberhuber, Konrad, Novak, Barbara, Noske, Frits, 1920-1993, Osten, Gert von der, Millar, Oliver, 1923-2007, Millen, Ronald, Meulen, Marjon van der, Mielke, Hans, Moser, Liselotte, Muller, Jeffrey M., 1948-, Lipchitz, Jacques, 1891-1973, Mongan, Agnes, Mont, Frederick, McGrath, Elizabeth, McCurry, H. O., McIntosh, Millicent C., Mayer, Annelise, Mellinkoff, Ruth, Meiss, Millard, Lugt, Frits, 1884-1970, Lowenthal, Anne W., Logan, Anne-Marie S., Mathey, Jacques, Martin, Gregory, Martin, John Rupert, Marsh, Reginald, 1898-1954, Kuznet︠s︡ov, I︠U︡. (I︠U︡riĭ), Kurz, Otto, 1908-1975, Kultermann, Udo, Kristeller, Paul Oskar, 1905-1999, Klemm, Christian, Kelch, Jan, Liedtke, Walter A., Liebermann, Max, 1847-1935, Lieberman, Ralph, Levine, David, Lehrs, Max, 1855-1938, and Lavin, Irving, 1927-2019

Abstract:

Research papers of Julius Samuel Held, American art historian renowned for his scholarship in 16th- and 17th-century Dutch and Flemish art, expert on Peter Paul Rubens, Anthony van Dyck, and Rembrandt. The ca. 70 linear feet of material, dating from the mid-1920s to 1999, includes correspondence, research material for Held's writings and his teaching and lecturing activities, with extensive travel notes. Well documented is Held's advisory role in building the collection of the Museo de Arte de Ponce in Puerto Rico. A significant portion of the ca. 29 linear feet of study photographs documents Flemish and Dutch artists from the 15th to the 17th century.

Extent:

circa 70 Linear Feet (160 boxes)

Language:

English .

Preferred citation:

Julius S. Held papers, ca. 1918-1999, Getty Research Institute, Research Library, Accession number 990056.

http://hdl.handle.net/10020/cifa990056

Background

Scope and content:

The Julius S. Held papers constitute a comprehensive archive of a preeminent American art historian renowned for his scholarship in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Dutch and Flemish art.

More then 70 linear feet of material, dating from the mid 1920s to 1999, provides access to a broad and detailed study of Held's professional life, his scholarly development, and his working methods.

Ca. 27 linear feet comprises correspondence, of which the predominant portion constitutes correspondence with distinguished art historians and other scholars. Also included is Held's professional correspondence with art dealers, auction houses, museums, publishing firms, and numerous private collectors.

Substantial material documents Held's research for his publications, his teaching and lecturing activities, extensive travel notes, and material related to his capacity as an art expert in various legal cases.

A separate group of files concern Held's long association as an art consultant with the Museo de Arte de Ponce in Puerto Rico. The material details Held's advisory role building the collection. It also provides insight into the museum's collection development process.

A major portion of the archive, ca. 29 linear feet, comprises study photographs and other visual documentation of artwork by Peter Paul Rubens, Anthony van Dyck, Jacob Jordaens, Rembrandt, and a vast number of other artists, predominantly Flemish and Dutch from the 15th to 17th centuries.

The original arrangement of material is preserved as it was organized by Held, especially the frequent inclusion of correspondence, printed matter and handwritten notes with study photographs and other visual material. Oversize items, items shelved in cold storage, and publications transferred to other sections of the Getty Research Library were pulled and are described separately at the end of the container list.

Biographical / historical:

The art historian Julius Samuel Held is considered one of the foremost authorities on the works of Peter Paul Rubens, Anthony van Dyck, and Rembrandt. His advice was sought by other art history scholars, private collectors, dealers, museums, and auction houses in the United States and abroad. For many years his opinion was the final word in matters of attribution of artworks in his field of expertise.

Held was born in 1905 in Mosbach in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. He died in 2002 in Bennington, Vermont. He was married to Ingrid-Märta Pettersson (1905-1986), an art conservator, with whom he had a son and a daughter. Held studied art history at the universities of Heidelberg, Berlin, Vienna, and Freiburg. In 1930 he obtained his Ph.D. from the university of Freiburg under Hans Jantzen, writing on Dürer. In 1931 he became assistant to Max Friedländer at the Kaiser Friedrich Museum in Berlin. In 1934 Held fled Nazi Germany to the United States and became a U.S. citizen in 1940.

Held began his academic career in 1935 as a lecturer in art history at the New York University. In 1937 he was hired as a lecturer at Barnard College, Columbia University, where he was appointed assistant professor in 1944, advanced to associate professor in 1950, full professor in 1954, and served as chairman of the Art History Department from 1967 to 1970. In 1971 Held retired from Barnard College and moved from New York to Bennington,Vermont, where he continued to teach for ten years as Clark Professor of Art in the graduate program for art history at Williams College, and at the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute.

Held also lectured at other institutions: as Carnegie Lecturer from 1936 to 1937 at the National Gallery in Ottawa, visiting lecturer from 1943 to 1944 at Bryn Mawr College, visiting professor from 1946 to 1947 at the New School for Social Research, visiting professor in 1954 and 1958 at Yale University, lecturer with the American College Council for Summer Study Abroad in 1957, and Andrew W. Mellon visiting professor at University of Pittsburgh from 1972 to 1973. He also served as academic advisor at Marlboro College from 1965 to 1980, and as a member of the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton in 1967. During the 1950s Held was asked by Luis Ferré, the Governor of Puerto Rico, to advise the new art museum in Ponce. His participation in the selection and acquisition of important European works of art elevated the museum to world recognition.

Held published extensively. Among his most significant and influential works are Rubens in America (with Jan-Albert Goris, 1947), Rubens, selected drawings (1959), Rembrandt's Aristotle and other Rembrandt studies (1969), 17th and 18th century art (with Donald Posner, 1971), and Rembrandt studies (1991). At the age of 75 Held issued his landmark study, the two-volume critical catalog Oil sketches of Peter Paul Rubens (1980).

Held's classical education influenced his approach to art history. At the time when the discipline was favoring iconography and other more "empirical" methods of study, Held maintained the primacy of connoisseurship as one of the tools of the art historian.

Held was also actively engaged in matters related to the memory of the Jewish Holocaust. In 1988 he was instrumental in creating a memorial to his boyhood synagogue in Mosbach, destroyed during Kristallnacht.

Acquisition information:

Acquired by the repository in 1999 from Julius Held. Some letters and Held's library list were received in 2003 from Held's family. Seven boxes of Held material were received from the National Gallery in late 2004.

Processing information:

The collection was rehoused in 1999. An index to the collection was made available in the Getty Research Institute's research files. Between 2001-2004, Isabella Zuralski processed the collection and wrote this finding aid. A few items (letters, a copy of Held's library catalog) were received in 2003 from the Held estate; these were integrated into the archive. Seven boxes of papers received in 2004 have not yet been processed.

Arrangement:

The papers are arranged in 9 series:

Series I. Correspondence, 1925-1999;

Series II. Publication research, 1931-1999;

Series III. Occasional papers, 1918-1998;

Series IV. Legal cases and Art expertising (Fake experts), 1927-1998;

Series V. Teaching and lectures, 1935-1991;

Series VI. Travel notes, sketches, and letters, 1925-1983;

Series VII. Ponce Art Museum, 1954-1999;

Series VIII. Photographs (Artists' files), ca. 1921-1999;

Series IX. Oversize material, color photography and negatives, 1937-1999.

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:

archives, personal papers, and manuscripts

Indexed terms

Subjects:: Art, German -- 17th century -- Expertising
Art, Dutch -- 16th century -- Expertising
Art, Flemish -- Belgium -- Ghent -- Expertising
Art, German -- 16th century -- Expertising
Art, Dutch -- 17th century -- Expertising
Museum directors -- Correspondence
Museum curators -- Correspondence
Authors and publishers -- United States
Art -- Private collections -- United States
Painting, Modern -- Expertising -- 17th century
Painting, Flemish -- Expertising
Painting, Dutch -- Expertising
Painting -- Conservation and restoration
Art, Netherlandish -- Expertising
Art, Flemish -- 16th century -- Expertising
Art, Flemish -- 17th century -- Expertising
Art, Flemish -- Belgium -- Bruges -- Expertising
Art -- Private collections -- Europe
Art dealers -- Correspondence
Art -- Collectors and collecting -- Correspondence
Art historians -- Correspondence
Art -- Expertising
Art historians -- Archives
Color transparencies
Color photographs
Color slides
Diffusion transfer prints
Notebooks
Photographic postcards
Picture postcards
Radiographs
Black-and-white prints (photographs)
Names:: Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute
Sotheby Parke Bernet & Co
Sotheby's (Firm)
Williams College
Carnegie Museum of Art
Christie, Manson & Woods International Inc
Columbia College (New York, N.Y.)
Christie, Manson & Woods
Barnard College
J. Paul Getty Museum
Historians of Netherlandish Art
Heim Gallery
Gruner + Jahr AG
Galerie Meissner (Zurich, Switzerland)
Dorotheum (Firm)
Richard L. Feigen & Company
Ponce Art Museum
Pierpont Morgan Library
Princeton University Press
National Gallery of Art (U.S.)
Norton Simon, Inc. Foundation
Newhouse Galleries
Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, N.Y.)
Stimmer, Tobias, 1539-1584
Suttermans, Justus, 1597-1681
Swart, Jan
Teniers, David, 1582-1649
Sweerts, Michiel, 1618-1664
Teniers, David, 1638-1685
Teniers, David, 1610-1690
Terbrugghen, Hendrik, 1588?-1629
Seghers, Hercules, active 17th century
Sellaer, Vincent
Sittow, Michel, 1469?-1525
Snyders, Frans, 1579-1657
Steen, Jan, 1626-1679
Vermeyen, Jan Cornelisz, 1500-1559
Vermeulen, Jan
Vermeer, Johannes, 1632-1675
Victors, Jan, 1619-1676
Vinckeboons, David, 1576-1629
Vos, Paul de, approximately 1596-1678
Vos, Maarten de, 1532-1603
Vos, Cornelis de, 1584 or 1585-1651
Volmaryn, Pieter Crynse
Thomas van Ypern, Johannes
Thulden, Theodoor van, 1606-1669
Titian, approximately 1488-1576
Velde, Esaias van den, 1587-1630
Velde, Jan van de, 1568-1623
Van Dyck, Anthony, 1599-1641
Vellert, Dirck Jacobsz.
Venne, Adriaen Pietersz. van de, 1589-1662
Velde, Willem van de, 1610 or 1611-1693
Velde, Willem van de, 1633-1707
Wolfert, Artus
Witz, Konrad, approximately 1400-approximately 1445
Wtewael, Joachim, 1566-1638
Wouters, Frans, 1612-1659
Wouwerman, Philips, 1619?-1668
Vos, Simon de
Vrancx, Sebastiaen, 1573-1647
Wildens, Jan, 1585-1653
Willeboirts Bosschaert, Thomas, 1613 or 1614-1654
Weyden, Rogier van der, 1399 or 1400-1464
Wierix, Jan, 1549-approximately 1620
Wierix, Jeronimus, 1553-1619
Zurbarán, Francisco de, 1598-1664
Master of the Legend of St. Ursula, active approximately 1470-1500
Bruegel, Jan, 1568-1625
Brouwer, Adriaen, 1605 or 1606-1638
Broeck, Crispin van den, 1524-approximately 1591
Bruegel, Pieter, approximately 1525-1569
Bruegel, Pieter, approximately 1525-1569
Bruegel, Jan, 1568-1625
Campen, Jacob van, 1595-1657
Cats, Jacob, 1577-1660
Coninxloo, Gillis van, 1544-1606
Cranach, Lucas, 1472-1553
Crayer, Gaspar de, 1584-1669
Cornelisz van Oostsanen, Jacob, 1472?-1533
Coxcie, Michel, 1499-1592
Dalem, Cornelis van
David, Gérard, approximately 1460-1523
Cuyp, Aelbert, 1620-1691
Baldung, Hans, -1545
Balen, Hendrick van, 1575-1632
Benson, Ambrosius, 1495-1550
Rubens, Pierre Paul, 1577-1640
Bles, Henri, active 16th century
Bloemaert, Abraham, 1564-1651
Boekhorst, Johannes, 1605-1668
Bol, Ferdinand, 1616-1680
Borch, Gerard ter, 1617-1681
Bosch, Hieronymus, -1516
Bouts, Dieric, 1415-1475
Boyermans, Théodore
Bril, Paul, 1554-1626
Aertsen, Pieter, 1508-1575
Altdorfer, Albrecht, approximately 1480-1538
Allori, Alessandro, 1535-1607
Juan, de Flandes, approximately 1465-1519
Jordaens, Jacob, 1593-1678
Keil, Bernhard
Janssens, Abraham, 1576?-1632
Jegher, Christoffel, approximately 1596-1652 or 1653
Honthorst, Gerrit van, 1590-1656
Hooch, Pieter de
Huber, Wolf, approximately 1485-1553
Huygens, Constantijn, 1596-1687
Isenbrant, Adriaen, approximately 1490-1551
Holbein, Hans, 1460-1524
Holbein, Hans, 1497-1543
Hollar, Wenceslaus, 1607-1677
Hondecoeter, Gillis Claesz.
Hondecoeter, Melchior de, 1636-1695
Hemessen, Jan Sanders van, approximately 1500-approximately 1563
Hoecke, Jan van den, active 1653
Hicks, Edward, 1780-1849
Heemskerk, Martin van, 1498-1574
Heemskerck, Egbert van, 1634 or 1635-1704
Heem, Jan Davidsz. de, 1606-1683 or 1684
Heem, Cornelis de
Heimbach, Wolfgang, approximately 1615-1678
Hals, Dirck, 1591-1656
Hals, Frans, 1584-1666
Grünewald, Matthias, active 16th century
Haensbergen, Johan van
Haarlem, Cornelis Corneliszoon van, 1562-1638
Haecht, Willem van, 1593-1637
Grimmer, Abel, approximately 1575-1619
Goudt, Hendrik, 1583-1648
Gossaert, Jan, approximately 1478-approximately 1532
Goyen, Jan van, 1596-1656
Goltzius, Hendrik, 1558-1617
Goeree, Jan, 1670-1731
Goes, Hugo van der, 1435?-1482
Gelder, Aert de, 1645-1727
Geertgen, tot Sint Jans, approximately 1460-1495
Geest, Cornelis van der
Fruytiers, Philip, 1610-1666
Fyt, Jan
Francken, Jan
Francken, Frans, 1581-1642
Franchoys, Lucas, 1616-1681
Floris, Frans, 1519 or 1520-1570
Fabritius, Carel, 1622-1654
Fabritius, Barent, 1624-1673
Eyck, Jan van, 1390-1440
Elsheimer, Adam, 1578-1610
Elliger, Ottmar
Egmont, Justus van
Dürer, Albrecht, 1471-1528
Duck, Jakob, approximately 1600-approximately 1660
Dujardin, Karel, 1622-1678
Drost, Willem, 1633-1659
Dou, Gerard, 1613-1675
Diepenbeeck, Abraham van, 1596-1675
Savery, Roelant, 1576-1639
Schongauer, Martin, active 15th century
Schut, Cornelis, 1597-1655
Scorel, Jan van, 1495-1562
Seghers, Gerard, 1591-1651
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, 1606-1669
Reymerswaele, Marinus van
Rombouts, Theodor
Rottenhammer, Hans, 1564-1625
Ruisdael, Jacob van, 1628 or 1629-1682
Sallaert, Anthonis, approximately 1580-1650
Ruysdael, Salomon van, -1670
Panneels, Willem, 1600?-
Ponder, Jacob de
Pourbus, Frans, 1545 or 1546-1581
Porter, Eliot, 1901-1990
Quellinus, Erasmus, II, 1607-1678
Provost, Jan, 1465-1529
Mijtens, Jan, 1613 or 1614-1670
Neer, Aert van der, 1603 or 1604-1677
Ochtervelt, Jacob, 1634-1682
Ostade, Isack van, 1621-1649
Ostade, Adriaen van, 1610-1685
Orley, Bernard van, -1542
Miereveld, Michiel van, 1567-1641
Moeyaert, Claes Cornelisz, 1592 or 1593-1655
Metsu, Gabriel, 1629-1667
Metsys, Quentin, 1465 or 1466-1530
Moreelse, Paulus, 1571-1638
Mostaert, Jan
Molenaar, Jan Miense, approximately 1610-1668
Momper, Josse de, 1564-1635
Meckenem, Israhel van, -1503
Maître de Flémalle, active 15th century
Maître du Saint-Sang
Maître de la Légende de Sainte Lucie, active approximately 1475-approximately 1505
Meister von Messkirch, 1488-1565
Memling, Hans, 1430?-1494
Meester van de Virgo inter virgines, active 15th century
Meester van de Magdalena-legende, active approximately 1520
Meister von Frankfurt, 1460-
Maes, Nicolaes, approximately 1634-1693
Lucas, van Leyden, 1494-1533
Lombard, Lambert, 1506-1566
Lint, Pieter van, 1609-1690
Master of the Mansi Magdalene
Master of 1518
Master of the Female Half length figures
Malo, Vincent
Koninck, Philips, 1619-1688
Key, Willem, 1516-1568
Lievens, Jan, 1607-1674
Lastman, Pieter, 1583-1633

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:: Isabella Zuralski.
Date Encoded:: This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-03-12 10:21:42 -0700 .

Access and use

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