Metropolitan Gallery of Fine Art Lithograph Buy

The Metropolitan Gallery of Fine Art's Department of Drawings and Prints has a rich history of collecting works on paper that rivals those of other curatorial departments. Founded in 1916, the department was established to build a comprehensive collection of prints, drawings, and illustrated books from Europe and the Americas.

During the tenure of Ivins (1916-1946) and his successor A., the department acquired significant collections, including over 3,500 mostly 19th-century etchings from Harris Brisbane Dick. This acquisition marked a turning point in the department's collecting efforts, leading to the establishment of a separate print department.

In the years that followed, the Department of Paintings began acquiring drawings by renowned artists such as Michelangelo and Leonardo, while prints were acquired by the library. The department also received significant donations, including 670 drawings by or attributed to European artists active before 1900 from Cornelius Vanderbilt in 1880.

Today, the Department of Drawings and Prints boasts an impressive collection of over 177,000 works on paper, which can be explored online through The Met's database. In order to make this vast collection accessible to the public, works not installed in the galleries may be viewed by appointment in the Study Room for Drawings and Prints.

The department's collecting efforts are guided by a broad scope that encourages questions of connoisseurship as well as those related to function and context. This approach highlights the vital role that prints, drawings, and illustrated books have played throughout history.

However, due to their fragile nature and susceptibility to fading and discoloration, works on paper can only be exhibited for short periods at a time (approximately three months) under carefully controlled lighting conditions.

The Metropolitan Gallery of Fine Art's Department of Drawings and Prints is committed to collecting a wide range of works on paper, including rare and lauded pieces as well as more popular, functional, and ephemeral materials. The department's vast collection comprises approximately 21,000 drawings, 1.2 million prints, and 12,000 illustrated books created in Europe and the Americas from about 1400 to the present day.

Whether you're an art enthusiast or simply looking for a unique addition to your collection, the Metropolitan Gallery of Fine Art Lithograph Buy is definitely worth exploring.

Metropolitan gallery of fine art lithograph buy