Drawings by the Old Masters in the Library of Christ Church - An alphabetical list of the artists represented in the collection (mounted series)

Oct 29, 2026

Upload by （）

Index and introduction to the drawings by Old Masters held in the Library of Christ Church, Oxford, prepared from the Library’s detailed manuscript catalogue. The work addresses widespread misconceptions about what the collection contains and clarifies its scope. It explains how many drawings remained nearly unknown despite the paintings’ long-standing fame, due to restrictions on access to the portfolios. It also describes early efforts by visitors and scholars to examine and catalogue notable specimens for study.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages358

Reading Time9 h 11 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Catalogue

# THE LIBRARYOF THE UNIVERSITYOF CALIFORNIALOS ANGELES EX LIBRISGUSTAV GLÜCK # DRAWINGS BY THE OLDMASTERS IN THE LIBRARYOF CHRIST CHURCHOXFORD AN ALPHABETICAL LIST OF THE ARTISTSREPRESENTED IN THE COLLECTION(MOUNTED SERIES) BY C.F.BELL WITH 125 ILLUSTRATIONS OXFORDAT THE CLARENDON PRESS I9T4 OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESSLONDON EDINBURGH GLASGOW NEW YORKTORONTO MELBOURNE BOMBAYHUMPHREY MILFORD,M.A.PUBLISHER TO THE UNIVERSITY ArtLibraryNC33O₇C41914 CONTENTS PAGEINTRODUCTION5CATALOGUE·25 Digitized by the Internet Archivein 2007 with funding fromMicrosoft Corporation # INTRODUCTION THE collection of drawings by Old Masters in theLibrary of Christ Church,Oxford,has,mainly in con-sequence of the publication in facsimile of some of itsmost striking contents,acquired a considerable if some-what indefinite reputation.It would appear that someprinted account of the collection is desired by studentsof drawings,whose visits and inquiries,often in search ofthe work of artists not represented in it,show thatmistaken ideas of what it does and does not contain arewidely prevalent.The following index,abstracted fromthe detailed manuscript catalogue in the Library,is anattempt to supply the necessary information;and thevolume,with its reproductions of one hundred and twenty-five of the most interesting works,has been designed asa companion to the useful manuals on the drawings in theGalleries ofthe Brera,Genoa,and Pavia,recently publishedby Alfieri and Lacroix of Milan. Although the paintings in the Library have been,for more than a hundred and fifty years,amongst theprincipal sights of Oxford,and are noticed in all the oldguide-books,the drawings,mostly bequeathed at thesame time(I765)as the pictures and by the sameBenefactor,General John Guise,remained almostunknown for nearly a century.Formidable restrictions (5) barred access to the twenty portfolios containing the I,734drawings.The first cognoscente to secure,in spite ofthese restrictions,an opportunity of examining the draw-ings at his leisure and making notes of the most importantspecimens,was Johann David Passavant(I787-1861),Inspector of the Staedel Institute at Frankfurt.Passavant,in the course of collecting materials for his well-knownLife of Raphael,made a journey through England in183I,and afterwards published an account of the picture-galleries and museums which he visited.The book wastranslated into English under the title,Tour of a GermanArtist in England,2 volumes,I836.Of the presentcollection the author observes,(vol.i,p.230):‘Througha special introduction to Messrs.Pusey and Buckland,we obtained the rare favour of examining these draw-ings,and were further permitted to make a catalogueof them.What renders the inspection of this collectionso difficult of attainment,is the indispensable necessity ofall visitors being attended by a master of arts—a conditionlaid down by the testator,and which,considering that theexamination of these drawings cannot occupy less thanfrom two to three days,is an obligation which a memberof the University has seldom time or inclination to fulfil.I am,therefore,the more indebted for the extraordinarykindness shown me in this respect by Professor Buck-land.In compliance with his wish,I made a particularcatalogue of those drawings which are most deserving ofnotice,so that by arranging them accordingly,they maybe rendered more immediately accessible.The cataloguehere mentioned can only be that,specifying less thanfifty drawings,printed in the second volume of the Tour,pp.I3I-40.In spite of its scanty proportion and some (6)

FAQs

Why was an index for the Old Masters drawings needed?

Student visits and inquiries showed that many people held mistaken ideas about what the collection did and did not contain. The index was designed to supply necessary information.

What restrictions limited access to the drawings?

Access was barred to the twenty portfolios containing 1,734 drawings, which kept the drawings largely unknown for nearly a century.

Who was among the first notable visitors to examine the drawings?

Johann David Passavant obtained an opportunity to examine the drawings at his leisure and made notes on the most important specimens.

Oct 29, 2026

Upload by （）