The Witt and Conway Libraries
Courtauld Institute of Art
Somerset House, Strand
London
WC2R ORN
T: 020 7848 2743
Visitor Information
Open
10am-6pm Mon-Fri
Conway Library
Since 1932 the library has been developed continuously as a teaching and research collection. It now contains over one million images: photographs and cuttings of architecture, architectural drawings and publications, sculpture (approximately 10,000 sculptors are represented), ivories, seals, metalwork, manuscript illumination, stained glass, wall paintings, panel paintings and textiles. Images are mounted on card and housed in boxes on open shelves.
Separate from the main library sequence and accessible by arrangement are the Conway’s holdings of historic photographs (mostly of architecture) and the late Edward B. Garrison’s collection of photographs of pre-1300 Italian painting.
During the seventy-five years of its existence at the Courtauld the library has been built up by various means. Its stock of original photographs has been increased by donation and purchase of negatives, and the library has initiated much photography in Britain and abroad with the involvement of staff photographers. A large number of the photographs are the work of graduate students whose informed insights make the library an especially valuable instrument of research.
Witt Library
Original photographs and cuttings from published material are filed on open access shelves, organised alphabetically by artist within ‘national schools’. All major artists are represented in depth and one of the strengths of the library is its coverage of lesser-known artists, unparalleled elsewhere.
The collection contains approximately 2 million reproductions after works by 70,000 artists.
The photographic libraries house a rich and unique negative archive, including the De Laszlo Collection of Paul Laib negatives, documenting paintings and sculpture of artists working in London between 1900 and 1960. The Witt Library also holds a rare copy of the Duveen Brothers Records on microfilm and Agnew’s dealer records on microfiche. These items and further material from our special collections, such as the Fine Art Society photographs and the Alex Wengraf Gallery archive are available for consultation by appointment with the Librarian.
The Witt Library is an essential resource for the serious study of art history and an invaluable source for anyone seeking illustrative material for the study of a whole range of subjects.