Leroy Ireland research material on George Inness, 1916-2007, bulk 1960-1971

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A Finding Aid to the Leroy Ireland research material on George Inness, 1916-2007, bulk 1960-1971, in the Archives of American Art, by Erin Kinhart

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Table of Contents:

• Biographical Information
• Overview of the Collection
• How to Use the Collection
• Detailed Description and Container Inventory

Biographical Information

Leroy Ireland (1889-1970) was an art dealer and painter in New York and Philadelphia. Ireland is best know for his research on the works of landscape painter George Inness (1825-1894), culminating in a catalogue raisonne of his work.

Ireland began his career as a painter, studying with Thomas Eakins at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and exhibiting in many shows during the 1920s. He moved to New York and became an art dealer and appraiser. During that time he also studied and became an expert in the work of George Inness, specializing in the authentication of works held by galleries, museums, and private collectors. After nearly 30 years of research, his book The Works of George Inness: An Illustrated Catalogue Raisonne was published by the University of Texas Press in 1965.

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Overview of the Collection

Scope and Contents

Art dealer Leroy Ireland's research material on George Inness measures 2.0 linear feet and dates from 1916 to 2007, with the bulk of the material dating from 1960 to 1971. The collection documents Ireland's research for his book The Works of George Inness: An Illustrated Catalogue Raisonne through correspondence, research files, and photographs of artwork.

Leroy Ireland's correspondence is with museums, galleries, private collectors, universities, and others regarding paintings by George Inness and works attributed to him. The bulk of the correspondence dates from 1960 to 1969 during the period that Ireland was working on the catalogue raisonne. Scattered research files include a notebook, notes, and lists of works; photographs, letters, and documents regarding Inness which were received by Mrs. Ireland after Leroy Ireland's death; exhibition catalogs and other printed material. Also found are two copies of letters written by Inness. Photographs depict paintings by George Inness, paintings attributed to Inness but determined to be fakes, and paintings by other artists.

Arrangement and Series Description

The collection is arranged as 3 series:

• Series 1: Correspondence, 1916-2007 (Box 1-2; 1.5 linear feet)
• Series 2: Research Files Regarding George Inness, 1925-1973 (Box 2; 7 folders)
• Series 3: Photographs, circa 1919-1972 (Box 2; 0.3 linear feet)

Subjects and Names

Provenance

Two letters and photographs of artwork were donated in 1963-1964 by Ireland; the remainder of the papers were donated in 1993 by Mrs. Leory Ireland via executor Irene Chapellier Little, and in 2010 by the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, Penn. who received the collection from John Frisk, a friend of Ireland.

Separated and Related Materials

In 1975, additional Leroy Ireland research material regarding George Inness was lent by Chapellier Galleries in New York City who had acquired the material from Ireland's estate; this material is available on microfilm reels 992-996 and include an extensive photograph file of Inness paintings; correspondence; notes on and descriptions of paintings; sales records of Inness's works; ownership records of Inness paintings; information about questionable attributions; exhibition catalogs and miscellany.

Twelve scrapbooks compiled by Ireland were lent by Archer Huntington Art Gallery of the University of Texas at Austin in 1983 and are currently located at the Fine Arts Library, University of Texas at Austin. These scrapbook contain circa 3,000 photographs of Inness paintings and are available on reels 2824-2825. Materials loaned for microfilming are not described in the container listing of this finding aid.

How the Collection was Processed

The collection was processed and a finding aid prepared by Erin Kinhart in 2011.

How to Use the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Use of original papers requires an appointment.

Ownership & Literary Rights

The Leroy Ireland research material on George Inness is owned by the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. Literary rights as possessed by the donor have been dedicated to public use for research, study, and scholarship. The collection is subject to all copyright laws.

How to Cite this Collection

Leroy Ireland research material on George Inness, 1916-2007, bulk 1960-1971. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

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Detailed Description and Container Inventory

Series 1: Correspondence, 1916-2007 (Box 1-2; 1.5 linear feet)

Found here is Leroy Ireland's correspondence with museums, galleries, private collectors, universities, and others regarding paintings by George Inness and works attributed to him. The bulk of the correspondence dates from 1960 to 1969 during the period that Ireland was working on the Inness catalogue raisonne, but earlier related correspondence is included. Also included is correspondence addressed to Mrs. Leroy Ireland on the same subject and letters from art historian Michael Quick to John Frisk regarding Ireland's research files.

Correspondence is arranged alphabetically by name.

Series 2: Research Files Regarding George Inness, 1925-1973 (Box 2; 7 folders)

This series contains scattered research files regarding George Inness. Included are a notebook containing Ireland's original listing of works by Inness; additional notes and lists of works; and photographs, letters, and documents regarding Inness which were received by Mrs. Ireland after Leroy Ireland's death. Also found are two copies of letters from Inness, one to a Mr. Berch ?, Sept. 1879, and one to Edward D. Adams, Jan. 11, 1888, thanking him for payment for his painting "Sunset," purchased for Adams by Thomas Clarke (a photograph of the painting is included). Additional material includes Inness exhibition catalogs, a published biographical summary, and an printed advertisement for Ireland's catalogue raisonne.

Series 3: Photographs, circa 1919-1972 (Box 2; 0.3 linear feet)

Photographs are of paintings by George Inness, paintings attributed to Inness but determined to be fakes, and paintings by other artists. All photographs are annotated.