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Jules David Prown research material on artists, 1935-2010, bulk 1958-1975

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Contents and Arrangement

The collection is arranged as 4 series. The original order of the donor was maintained.

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Series 1: Research Material on John Singleton Copley , 1935-2010
8.6 Linear feet
Boxes 1-9

Found here are Prown's research files regarding the work of artist John Singleton Copley. Much of this research material was compiled for his 1966 publication, John Singleton Copley. Later documentation primarily concerns attribution. Included are research notes, subject files, correspondence, files regarding portraits and attribution, and photographs and digital photographs of artwork. Researchers should note that lectures regarding Copley are included in Series 3: Lectures, and Prown's published articles on Copley are included in Series 4: Printed Material.
This series is arranged as 6 subseries:
  • 1.1: Notes, 1947-2007
  • 1.2: Subject Files, 1949-2006
  • 1.3: Correspondence, 1953-1999
  • 1.4: Portrait Files, 1951-2010
  • 1.5: Attribution Files, 1935-2008
  • 1.6: Photographs of Artwork, circa 1950s-1990s
1.1: Notes, 1947-2007
Notes primarily consist of notecards which Prown grouped by subject. Notecards often include attached photographs, printed material, correspondence, and artwork information sheets. Prown filed his notes separately from his other research files, but topics such as attribution, portrait sitters, and other subject files often overlap and all sets of material should be consulted. Also of interest is a set of notes regarding the computer analysis of sitters of John Singleton Copley. Included are detailed biographical forms for each sitter and lists of codes and cross references used for Prown's computer analysis.
Description Container
1760-1774, circa 1957-2007
1
1
1775-1810, circa 1957-2007
1
2
American Paintings, circa 1957-2007
1
3-9
"Analysis of Sitters of J. S. Copley, 1753-1774", circa 1960s
1
10-13
Charles I, circa 1957-2007
1
14
Chatham, circa 1957-2007
1
15-16
Destroyed Paintings, circa 1957-2007
1
17
Diaries, circa 1957-2007
1
18
Discard, circa 1957-2007
1
19
Drawings, circa 1957-2007
1
20
Drawings, Attributed, circa 1957-2007
1
21
Drawings, Historical, circa 1957-2007
1
22
Drawings, Multi-Figure Portraits, circa 1957-2007
1
23
Drawings, Portraits, circa 1957-2007
1
24
Drawings, Religious, circa 1957-2007
1
25
Engravings, circa 1957-2007
1
26
Exhibitions, circa 1957-2007
1
27
Falsely Attributed or Unlikely, circa 1957-2007
2
1-8
Family Info, circa 1957-2007
2
9
Gibraltar, circa 1957-2007
2
10-13
Historical Paintings, circa 1957-2007
2
14
Insert Material, 1947-2007
2
15
Landscape, circa 1957-2007
2
16
Lynd Sale and Others, circa 1957-2007
2
17
Miniatures, circa 1957-2007
2
18
Mis-attributed to Copley, circa 1957-2007
2
19
Monmouth, circa 1957-2007
2
20
Multi-figure Portraits, circa 1957-2007
2
21-22
Mythology Paintings, circa 1957-2007
2
23
Nativity, circa 1957-2007
2
24
Oil Sketches, Historical, circa 1957-2007
2
25
Pastels, circa 1957-2007
3
1
Personality, Character, Politics, circa 1957-2007
3
2
Pierson, circa 1957-2007
3
3
Portraits, circa 1957-2007
3
4-9
Portraits of Copley, circa 1957-2007
3
10
Portraits, Unchecked Data, circa 1957-2007
3
11
Prices, circa 1957-2007
3
12
Religious Paintings, circa 1957-2007
3
13
Religious and Historical - Attributed, circa 1957-2007
3
14
Religious and Historical - Unlikely Attribution, circa 1957-2007
3
15
Royal Academy, circa 1957-2007
3
16
Surrender to Duncan, circa 1957-2007
3
17
Technique, circa 1957-2007
3
18
Theory, circa 1957-2007
3
19
Unlocated, circa 1957-2007
3
20
Used Notes, circa 1957-2007
3
21
Used Quotes, circa 1957-2007
3
22
Watson, circa 1957-2007
3
23
West, circa 1957-2007
3
24
1.2: Subject Files, 1949-2006
Subject files include draft writings, correspondence, printed material, photographs, notes, and draft writings. Topics include biographical information on Copley, technique and materials, specific works of art such as Watson and the Shark, and painting themes. Subject files are closely related to the notes found in subseries 1.1.
Description Container
Anatomy, 1949-1972
3
25-28
Charles I, circa 1960-1990
4
1-2
Copley Data/Sales, circa 1960s
4
3-4
Death of Chatham, circa 1958-1996
4
5
Death of Major Pierson, 1959-1972
4
6
Drawings, circa 1958-1991
4
7-8
Exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1991-1994
4
9
Family and Friends, 1959-1992
4
10
Frames, circa 1971-1983
4
11
General Info, 1996, circa 1970s
4
12
Historical Paintings, 1963-1994
4
13
House, 1959-1994
4
14
"John Singleton Copley and Prints", circa 1990s
4
15
Microfilm, Copley-Pelham Letters, 1959
4
16
Mythological Paintings, 1959-1976
4
17
New Info - American, 1973-1989
4
18
New Info - English, 1974-2001
4
19
Offer of the Crown to Lady Jane Gray, 1959-1982
4
20
Other Artists, 1964-2001
4
21
Poetry, 1960
4
22
Religious Paintings, circa 1960-1980
4
23
Siege of Gibraltar, 1958-2001
4
24-25
Technique and Conservation, 1969-1992
4
26
Victory of Duncan, 1959-1972
4
27
Watson and the Shark, 1958-2006
4
28-29
1.3: Correspondence, 1953-1999
Found here is correspondence primarily documenting the period during the 1960s that Prown was researching his dissertation and subsequent book on John Singleton Copley. Correspondence is with art collectors, universities, museums, and libraries regarding Copley's works, fact checking, and requests for photographs and permission to publish. Letters are arranged alphabetically by name or location.
Description Container
Correspondence, A-B, 1958-1966
4
30-31
Correspondence, C-Z, 1953-1999
5
1-17
1.4: Portrait Files, 1951-2010
Portrait files contain correspondence regarding specific portraits by Copley and often include attached photographs and printed material. Letters discuss provenance, date of the works, biographical information on sitters, and requests to look at the works in person. Documents are arranged alphabetically by name of sitter. Related notes on sitters, including Prown's computer analysis of sitters, can be found in Subseries 1.1 and correspondence regarding portraits with questionable attribution can be found in Subseries 1.5.
Description Container
A, 1958-1987
5
18
B, circa 1959-2001
5
19-22
C, circa 1959-1994
5
23-24
D, 1952-2010
5
25-26
E, 1959-2003
5
27
F, 1959-2010
5
28
G, circa 1958-1989
5
29-30
H, circa 1959-2008
6
1-3
J, circa 1964-1984
6
4
K, circa 1959-2004
6
5
L, circa 1959-1995
6
6-9
M, circa 1959-2008
6
10-12
N-O, 1958-1999
6
13
P-Q, 1960-1990
6
14
R, 1961-1998
6
15
S, circa 1959-2000
6
16-18
T, circa 1958-1990
6
19-20
U (Unidentified), 1960-1994
6
21
V, 1958-1998
6
22
W, 1951-2010
6
23-24
1.5: Attribution Files, 1935-2008
Attribution files primarily consist of correspondence asking for Prown's expertise on attributing works to John Singleton Copley. Letters often include provenance details and attached photographs and related printed material. Documents were grouped by Prown according to attribution status and within those groupings are arranged alphabetically by sitter. Additional notes on attribution can be found in Subseries 1.1.
Description Container
Attribution of Paintings and Drawings Unknown, circa 1958-2005
6
25-28
Attribution Possible, 1958-2001
7
1-2
Attribution Probably Okay, 2003-2008
Includes born-digital records, see ER01.
7
3-4
Research Material on Copley Attribution, Digital Photographs, 2008
0.004 Gigabytes
Six computer files
ER01
"A Checklist of English Paintings Attributed Erroneously to John Singleton Copley", 1966
7
5
Copley Attribution Pending, 1987-1992
7
6
History, Religion, Myth, 1952-1990
7
7
Not Copley - Drawings, 1966-2007
7
8
Not Copley - English , 1954-1970s
7
9-10
Portraits, A-N, circa 1950-2008
7
11-24
Portraits, O-Z, circa 1950-2008
8
1-9
Preliminary Inquiries, circa 1993-2000
8
10
Still Life, circa 1984-1996
8
11
Unidentified Men, 1935, circa 1966-2006
8
12-14
Unidentified Women, circa 1964-2007
8
15-17
Unnamed Children, Couples, Groups, circa 1972-2004
8
18-19
1.6: Photographs of Artwork, circa 1950s-circa 1990s
Photographs of artwork include copyprints of works by Copley from various museums and art collections. Some photographs include detailed annotations on the verso. Most photographs are arranged alphabetically by sitter or grouped by theme. Miscellaneous photographs found here are unsorted copyprints of works by Copley. Researchers should note that many additional photographs can be found attached to correspondence and notes within the other series in this collection.
Description Container
American Historical Pictures, 1950s-1990s
8
20
American Portraits, Miniatures, 1950s-1990s
8
21
American Portraits, A-Q, circa 1950s-1990s
8
22-31
American Portraits, R-W, circa 1950s-1990s
9
1-4
Charles I and Monmouth, circa 1950s-1990s
9
5
Computer Photos, 1960s
9
6
Death of Chatham, circa 1950s-1990s
9
7
Death of Major Pierson, circa 1950s-1990s
9
8
English Historical Pictures, circa 1950s-1990s
9
9
English Portraits, circa 1950s-1990s
9
10-19
Miscellaneous, circa 1950s-1970s
9
20-22
Miscellaneous Negatives, circa 1950s-1970s
9
23
Religious Pictures, circa 1950s-1990s
9
24
Siege of Gibraltar, circa 1950s-1990s
9
25-26
Watson and the Shark, circa 1950s-1990s
9
27
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Series 2: Research Material on Benjamin West , 1965-1990s
1.4 Linear feet
Boxes 9-10, 12-14

Found here are Prown's research files regarding the work of artist Benjamin West. Included are research notes, subject files, correspondence, and photographs of artwork.
Description Container Select
Notes on America, circa 1970-1990s
12
1
Notes on Italy, circa 1970-1990s
12
2
Notes on People, circa 1970-1990s
12
3
Notes on People West Knew, circa 1970-1990s
12
4
Notes on Historical Painting, Background, Other Artists, circa 1970-1990s
12
5
Notes on 1763-1769, circa 1970-1990s
12
6
Notes on Benjamin West Sculpture, circa 1970-1990s
12
7
Notes on Buckingham House, circa 1970-1990s
12
8
Notes on West and Leo III, circa 1970-1990s
12
9
Notes on St. George's Chapel Windsor, circa 1970-1990s
12
10
Notes on Family, circa 1970-1990s
12
11
Notes on House, etc., circa 1970-1990s
12
12
Notes on Personality, circa 1970-1990s
12
13
Notes on Royal Academy, circa 1970-1990s
12
14
Notes on Studio, circa 1970-1990s
12
15
Notes on 1770-1779, circa 1970-1990s
12
16
Notes on 1780-1789, circa 1970-1990s
12
17
Notes on 1790-1799, circa 1970-1990s
12
18
Notes on 1800-1820, circa 1970-1990s
12
19
Notes on Other Artists, circa 1970-1990s
12
20
Notes on Indians, circa 1970-1990s
12
21
Notes on Attitudes Toward and Evaluation of Benjamin West, circa 1970-1990s
12
22
Notes on Portraits of West, circa 1970-1990s
12
23
Notes on English Art, circa 1970-1990s
12
24
Notes on Addresses, circa 1970-1990s
12
25
Notes on Ideas, circa 1970-1990s
12
26
Notes on Bibliography Used, circa 1970-1990s
12
27-28
Notes on Permissions, circa 1970-1990s
13
1
Notes on Drawings, circa 1970-1990s
13
2-3
Notes on Drawings After 1772, circa 1970-1990s
13
4
Allard Article, 1981
9
41
Antiquities of Rome, 1990s
10
1-2
Attribution, 1977-1982
10
3
Correspondence by Name or Place, 1967-1985
10
4
Correspondence by Title, circa 1969-1985
10
5-6
Exhibition, 1978-1983
10
7
Expertise, 1974-1976
10
8
Family, circa 1975-1984
10
9
Historical Pictures, 1973
10
10
Indians, circa 1971-1990
10
11
Miscellaneous, circa 1972-1984
10
12
Photographs of Artwork, circa 1970s-1980s
10
13-18
Research, circa 1972-1981
10
19-21
Von Erffa (Helmut), 1965-1979
10
22
Correspondence, 1992, 1965
14
1
Research, Articles and Book Excerpts, circa 1970s-1990s
14
2-3
Unsorted Notes, circa 1970-1990s
14
4-6
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Series 3: Research Material on Other Artists , 1950s-2008
0.4 Linear feet
Box 9

Found here are Prown's research files on other artists. Files on individual artists typically contain correspondence, photographs of artwork, and notes. Additionally there is correspondence regarding attribution of artwork by various artists, which also include related notes and photographs. Also found here is one file of research essays written by students.
Description Container Select
Correspondence Regarding Attribution, 1975-1998
9
28-33
Photographs of Portraits by Various Artists, circa 1950s-1990s
9
34
Research by Students, 1986-2001
9
35
Joseph Blackburn, 1981, 1978
9
36
Mather Brown, 1964-1988
9
37
Thomas Eakins, circa 1970s-1980s
9
38
John Smibert, 1980-1981
9
39
John Trumbull, undated, 2008
9
40
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Series 4: Lectures , 1960s-2010
1.1 Linear feet
Boxes 10-11

Found here are draft lectures with handwritten edits, slide lists, notes, and other related documents. Lectures were written for college courses, conferences, and award ceremonies. Prown arranged most of his lectures by subject, but most drafts are annotated with the name of the specific event, location, and date. Many of the lectures are on the subjects of John Singleton Copley and material culture.
Description Container Select
Associates Lecture, 1966
10
23
Bingham Lecture, 1981-1990s
10
24
Chandler, circa 1980s
10
25
College Art Association, undated, 2010
10
26
Colonial Painting, 1967-1996
10
27-28
Connoisseurship, Iris Award Talk, 2001
10
29
Copley, 1965-2005
10
30-33
Copley, 1965-2005
11
1-2
Copley and Trumbull, circa 1960s-2001
11
3
Copley Computer Analysis, 1970
11
4
Eakins, 1982-2003
11
5
Ethics, 1990
11
6
Family Portraits, circa 1990
11
7
Folk Art, circa 1980-1983
11
8
Formalism, 1994
11
9
Furniture, circa 2000
11
10
Heade, undated
11
11
Homer, circa 1983-2006
11
12-13
Material Culture, circa 1979-2003
11
14-17
C. W. Peale, 1982
11
18
Psychology and Art, circa 1981
11
19
Realism, 1968
11
20
Stuart's The Skater, 2001
11
21
Style, 1973-2000
11
22
Benjamin West, 1973-1996
11
23-24
Whitney Lecture: Whister, Homer, and Eakins, 1988
11
25
Other Lectures, 1966-1996
11
26
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Series 5: Printed Material , 1960-2000
0.3 Linear feet
Box 11

Printed material includes copies of published journal and magazine articles, book chapters, and essays by Jules David Prown. Also found are a few articles on art history written by others.
Description Container Select
Published Writings by Jules David Prown, 1960-2000
11
27-31
Other Publications, 1968, 1979
11
32

Make a Request

  • To request an appointment to view materials, make your selections using the checkboxes and click the "Reading Room" button. Please note, you will receive the full box.
  • To request reproductions, make your selections using the checkboxes and click the "Reproduction" button.