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Art and Architecture

Contact | Collection overview | Libraries & reading rooms | Important e-resources
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Contact

Clare Hills-Nova
tel: +44 (0) 1865 278094
email: clare.hills-nova@bodleian.ox.ac.uk

Collection overview

Oxford's research collections in support of the study of art and architecture at Oxford are rich, diverse and in many cases extraordinarily deep. Print and electronic materials are collected as broadly as possible for all geographic areas and periods.

Collection Policy for Art and Architecture

Libraries and reading rooms

Principal collections

Library resources for the study of art and architectural history are primarily located in the Sackler Library. The Bodleian Library and the Balfour Library at the Pitt Rivers Museum also house important art-related research materials. Other, more specialised collections are to be found all over the university.

Sackler Library

The Sackler Library opened in 2001 as a major open-stack research collection for art, architecture and archaeology. It incorporates the collections of a number of formerly separately-housed university/departmental libraries and is consequently divided into various specialist collections: Ancient Egyptian and Near Eastern art and archaeology; Classical art and archaeology, including Classics and Ancient History; Byzantine art; the art and architecture of the Western European tradition; Islamic art and architecture; East and Southeast Asian art and archaeology; Papyrology; Numismatics. Publications are collected in all languages. Most (although not all) of the Sackler’s holdings are on OLIS; Chinese- and Japanese-language titles on East Asian art and archaeology are on allegro. Significant sections of the Sackler are non-circulating.

Sackler Library sub-collections

Auction house and art dealers’ catalogues. While many auction and art dealer catalogues feature in the Sackler’s collections, the Bodleian’s holdings (especially of UK catalogues) are also strong. (Auction catalogues relating to the Eastern Art Collection remain with the Department of Eastern Art at the Ashmolean Museum.) Some of these catalogues (especially more recent titles) are in OLIS, while others feature in Sackler hand-lists only. At the Sackler, auction catalogues are shelved by country, auction house and date. Researchers needing assistance should ask at the Second Floor Help Desk.

The Eastern Art collection is an amalgamation of the former library of the Department of Eastern Art at the Ashmolean Museum and the art-related collections of the Bodleian’s Department of Oriental Collections; as such, it is partly administered by the Oriental Institute Library. It covers all aspects of Eastern art, architecture and archaeology except pre-Islamic Egypt and the Ancient Near East. Chinese- and Japanese-language titles on East Asian art and archaeology are on allegro.

The Haskell Room is a closed-stack collection of French salon criticism and rare auction catalogues. The French salon criticism collection was assembled by Francis Haskell (1928-2000), Oxford’s second Professor of the History of Art. It is a unique and highly important assemblage of original publications (some of which are in the Rare Book Room) and photocopies detailing the opinions of French salon critics 1800-1901. This collection is complemented by the Deloynes collection of 18^th-early 19^th century French art criticism (on microfiche); and also by the Taylor Institution's library holdings of works by French literary figures writing on art (see below). Researchers wishing to consult salon criticism materials in the Haskell Room should ask at the Second Floor Help Desk.

The former History of Art departmental collection was designed to complement the holdings of the Ashmolean Museum’s former Western Art Library (see below). The collection is particularly strong in the historiography and methodology of art history; the history of taste in the 18^th century, including the Grand Tour; and the art market in 19^th century France. As of 2007, new titles acquired in these subject areas are added to the new, “Library of Congress” (LC) classification sequence (see below).

The “Library of Congress” (LC) classification sequence was introduced to the Sackler in 2007 as part of the Bodleian Libraries' rationalisation of library holdings across the university. This classification system is used extensively by major North American research libraries and also, in a modified form, by some UK libraries. It is an alphanumeric system, with most books on art and architecture beginning with the letter “N” (History of Photography begins with “TR”). See an outline of the system.

The library collection of the Oxfordshire Architectural and Historical Society is on deposit with the Sackler Library. Holdings are listed in a separate card catalogue, also on deposit with the Sackler. The collection comprises architectural and topographical publications on Oxfordshire and neighbouring counties.

The Rare Book Room contains most of the Sackler’s pre-1850 materials, as well as some more recent, valuable items. Titles are listed on OLIS and may be requested at the Sackler’s Ground Floor Help Desk.

The Western Art collection was formerly known as the Ashmolean Museum’s Western Art Library. Its holdings comprehensively reflect those of the Ashmolean’s in the fine and decorative arts of the Western tradition, from ca. 1100 CE. Particular strengths include publications on paintings, prints and drawings, sculpture, silver and ceramics from the Renaissance to the present; history of photography is also collected. Geographical areas covered include not only Western Europe and North America, but also Australia, Russia and Eastern Europe, and Latin America of the colonial and post-colonial periods. As of 2007, new titles acquired in these subject areas are added to the “Library of Congress” (LC) classification sequence (see above).

The Wind Room is a closed-stack collection comprising publications purchased by, or in memory of, Edgar Wind (1900-1971), the university’s first Professor of the History of Art, both for himself and also for the History of Art Department. While there is a strong focus on the art of Italy, and on iconography and iconology (Wind was Erwin Panofsky’s first doctoral student), the collections reflect Professor Wind’s extremely broad research interests. Recent publications as well as rare titles in Wind’s areas of interest continue to be collected. Researchers wishing to consult materials in the Wind Room should ask at the Second Floor Help Desk.

Bodleian Library

The Bodleian Library also houses important art-related research resources. By virtue of its status as a copyright library, UK publications on art and architecture arrive at the Bodleian through the legal deposit agreement. Some of these are transferred to the Sackler but, for reasons of space, many titles remain at the Bodleian.

All Oxford University theses and dissertations are housed at the Bodleian, where they may be consulted. Copies of some History of Art Department theses and dissertations are also housed at the Sackler.

The Douce Book and Print Collection. The bequest of Francis Douce (1757-1834) includes prints, drawings, coins, books and illuminated manuscripts. Materials are divided between the Bodleian Library (Duke Humphrey’s Library and Modern Papers Reading Room) and the Print Room, Department of Western Art, Ashmolean Museum (see below).

Duke Humphrey’s Library holds a superlative collection of illuminated manuscripts, and hence secondary materials in support of their study (including paleography) are housed with them, not at the Sackler. Many of these illuminated manuscript pages can be found on ARTstor. Books on the related field, stained glass, are similarly housed at the Bodleian, not at the Sackler.

The John Johnson Collection of Printed Ephemera comprises printed ephemeral materials (e.g. posters, playbills) dating from the 18^th century to 1939. It is partly accessible online, including through VADS. The collection is immense, however (in excess of one million items), and although additional sections are continually added to the online version, a lot remains paper-based only.

Many other art-related Rare Book, Manuscript and Special Collections are held at the Bodleian's Department of Special Collections.

Balfour Library

The Balfour Library is attached to the Pitt Rivers Museum, and also serves as the teaching and research library of the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography. While there are some overlaps, its holdings on anthropology, ethnography and art history mostly cover cultural groups and geographical areas not addressed by the Sackler’s collections.

Associated library collections

The Continuing Education Library collects in support of the many art and architecture courses taught at the Continuing Education Department.

The English Faculty Library houses a small collection of art-related titles in support of its English Literature and Language programme.

The History Faculty Library has an extensive lending collection of books on art and the history of collections.

Nuneham Courtenay is the Oxford University Libraries’ book depository, to which some lesser-used, art-related books and periodicals have been transferred. Readers may recall items via OLIS. (Recall time : 24 hours max.) The University Libraries have also transferred some volumes to a more distant Offsite repository. Readers may recall items via OLIS. (Recall time : several days.)

The Oxford Brookes University (Headington Campus) Library includes an extensive collection of books in support of its architecture, fine arts and history of art programmes. It includes the former library collection of Modern Art Oxford (Oxford MoMA).

The Ruskin School of Drawing & Fine Art has a small but excellent library of key catalogues, texts and periodicals on the history of art (drawing, colour, perception and perspective) and especially modern and contemporary art. Holdings are on OLIS. Restricted access.

The Taylor Institution libraries include the Strachan Collection of 19^th and 20^th century livres d’artiste. (See Giles Barber and Eunice Martin. French livres d’artiste in Oxford University collections [Oxford, 1996].) The library holds important texts by writers (mostly French) on art and travel. Publications on literary/art movements such as Futurism, Surrealism and Symbolism are extensively collected. The Taylor collects in support of the film studies programme. The Sir Robert Taylor collection, the 18^th century architect with whom the institution originated, comprises a small collection of original drawings and illustrated architecture books. (See David Gilson. Books from the library of Sir Robert Taylor in the library of the Taylor Institution, Oxford [Oxford, 1973).)

Worcester College Architectural Library, Drawings and Print collections. The College has an important collection of architectural drawings by Inigo Jones, Nicholas Hawksmoor and others, which came from the bequest of George Clarke (1660-1736). (See John Harris and A.A. Tait. Catalogue of the drawings by Inigo Jones, John Webb and Isaac de Caus at Worcester College, Oxford [Oxford, 1979].) Some later drawings by William Burges and others also form part of the collection. Researchers should make an appointment with the Librarian, or tel. 01865-278354. The Print Collection, also assembled by George Clarke, may be searched online. If not available at the Bodleian or the Sackler, titles in the Cyril Eland collection of architectural books may be consultated by members of the university; an appointment is necessary: tel. 01865-278370.

Other art-related collections and research resources at Oxford

Ashmolean Museum

The Museum’s Department of Western Art holds a number of individual collections:

The Cook and Wedderburn collection contains books and other materials accumulated by Sir Edward Tyas Cook and Alexander Wedderburn during the preparation of their edition of the Works of John Ruskin (published 1903-1912). It includes early editions of Ruskin’s writings, as well as the publications Cook and Wedderburn consulted during the course of their research. See also Ruskin's Elements of Drawing online.

The Christopher Hewett collection comprises prints, drawings, paintings, sculpture and books, including livres d’artiste mainly by 20^th century French artists. These complement the Strachan Collection at the Taylor Institution (See Giles Barber and Eunice Martin. French livres d’artiste in Oxford University collections [Oxford, 1996]).

The Hope collection was formed by Frederick William Hope (1797-1862). It comprises a large collection of portraits and other items, including books. Hope also assembled a collection of about 160,000 portrait and topographical engravings, as well as other prints, both unbound and in illustrated books, together with a number of drawings and photographs. Most of these items are held by the Ashmolean’s Western Art Department, although some of the books are at the Sackler.

The Pissarro Archive comprises paintings, prints, drawings, books, and letters by Camille, Lucien, Orovida, and other members of the Pissarro family.

The Print Room holds one of the world’s finest and most extensive collections of European prints and drawings.

The Sutherland Collection was presented to the University in 1837 and subsequently transferred to the Ashmolean from the Bodleian. It comprises Clarendon’s History of the Rebellion and Bishop Burnet’s History of His Own Time, both of which have been extensively grangerized (interleaved with ca. 19,000 prints and drawings) and are important illustrative sources for English 16^th-17^th century studies.

The Gywynn Talbot Collection comprises books, prints, maps and drawings relating to Russian topography, particularly that of St. Petersburg.

Western Art Drawings Online

Western Art Paintings Online

Christ Church Picture Gallery and Drawings Collection

Holds a world-class collection of circa 200 paintings and approximately 2000 drawings, originating with John Guise (1682/3-1765) and William Fox-Strangways (1795-1865).

History of Art Department

The department's Visual Resources Centre houses a collection of over 170,000 35mm slides, c.60,000 3¼” plate glass slides and a photographic archiv. Other image collections include the Arras collection of portrait drawings, the Bartsch collection of engravings, the Beal collection of postcards, the Calman Collection and Parker’s historical photographs of Rome & Italy (on loan from the Department of Antiquities at the Ashmolean Museum).

Modern Art Oxford

Founded in 1965 as the Museum of Modern Art, Oxford ("Oxford MoMA"), the gallery specialises in exhibiting the work of contemporary artists.

Important e-resources

Bibliographic databases

These allow you to find library materials that you cannot find on OLIS, e.g. essays, journal articles and book reviews; or more books. There are many databases which support art and architectural research; determining which is most appropriate for your field of study is crucial. Some of the below-listed electronic library resources are available to Oxford University researchers only; access is through OxLIP+.

All fields of study

Art Abstracts

COPAC

Jstor

Oxford-Grove Dictionary of Art (Oxford Art Online)

Oxford-Dictionary of National Biography (DNB)

WorldCat

Architecture

Avery Index

RIBA Library Catalogue (open access)

Asian art

Bibliography of Asian Studies

Francis

Classical art

Beazley Archive (open access)

Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum( open access)

Dyabola (open access)

Islamic art

Francis

Encyclopaedia of Islam

Index Islamicus

International Medieval Bibliography

Medieval art

Bibliography of the History of Art (BHA)

Index of Christian Art

International Medieval Bibliography

Iter Bibliography

Renaissance – early 20^th century art

Art Sales Catalogues, 1600-1900 (Lugt)

Bibliography of the History of Art (BHA)

Census of Antique Works of Art and Architecture Known to the Renaissance(open access)

Getty Provenance Index (open access)

Modern and Contemporary art and architecture

Art Bibliographies Modern

Archives of American Art ((open access)

Design and Applied Arts Index (DAAI)

Index to American Nineteenth-Century Art Periodicals

Websites

SOLO

OxLIP+

e-Journals