Edgar Peters Bowron collection
Contributors: Brogi, Giacomo, 1822-1881, photographer; Anderson, Domenico, 1854-1938, photographer; Giraudon, Adolphe, 1849-1929, photographer; Fratelli Alinari
Published: 1920
Language: eng
Format: [graphic]
Number of pages: 4161
Subjects: Art; Photographs
Description: Art reproductions mostly by commercial fine art photographers serving museums, galleries, auction houses, and other institutions in Europe and the United States. These photographic prints provide a rich visual record of European art from the 13th to 19th centuries, documenting the work of many Italian, French, Dutch, Spanish, and British artists. Images show paintings, primarily from the Renaissance and Baroque periods; murals and triptychs; drawings, engravings, and etchings; decorative arts; and sculpture, with particular emphasis on reliefs and statues in bronze and stone. Of note is a series of publicity photographs for United Artists' 1950 production The Titan: story of Michelangelo, winner of the Academy Award for Best Documentary. The collection was used primarily for teaching.
Notes: Collection title devised.

Photographers Fratelli Alinari, Domenico Anderson, Giacomo Brogi, and Adolphe Giraudon are strongly represented; other notable fine arts photographers include Peter A. Juley & Son, Henry Dixon & Son, and Sydney W. Newbury.

Media include: gelatin silver prints, albumen prints, and carbon prints; also, a few dye coupler prints and photomechanical prints. Some photographs mounted on linen and card stock.

Many of the photographs are copy prints. Many include printed captions, typewritten labels, or handwritten notes on the verso identifying the subject, artist, and repository. Some are accompanied by letters or other textual material providing information about the physical description, provenance, authentication, conservation, exhibition, or history of the pictured item.

Collection unprocessed but available for research.

Edgar Peters Bowron received his masters and doctorate in art history from New York University. He served as professor of fine arts and director of Harvard University Art Museums from 1985-1990. In 1992 he became senior curator of paintings at the National Gallery of Art in Washington.