Wednesday, May 7, 2025

718. Charles Ricketts and The Vasari Society (2)

From the moment the Vasari Society for the Reproduction of Drawings by Old Masters presented its first portfolio in 1905 until the publication of Part VIII of the Second Series in 1926, Ricketts wrote commentaries on several reproductions. His notes did not concern works from his joint collection with Shannon, but rather works from other collections. 

Antoine Watteau, 'Three Studies of a Black Man's Head'
[auction catalogue of the collection of Max J. Bonn, 1922]

Out of 27 notes, sixteen are about drawings form various institutions:
  • Ashmolean Museum (4 notes);
  • British Museum (10 notes);
  • Collection Royal Library, Windsor Castle (1 note); 
  • National Gallery of Scotland (1 note).

Eleven other notes describe works from private collections:
  • Max J. Bonn (1877-1943), economist, collector of old master drawings (collection sold at Sotheby's, 14 February 1922) (1);
  • Duke of Devonshire  (Victor Cavendish, 1868-1938), collection of Chatsworth House (1);
  • Alfred Drury (1856-1944), sculptor (1);
  • Alfred E. Gathorne-Hardy (1845-1918), politician, a catalogue of his collection of drawings was published in 1902 (1);
  • John P. Heseltine (1843-1929), stockbroker, artist and art collector, sold his collection to Colnaghi & Obach, 1912 (auctions followed in Amsterdam and London, 1913-1920) (1);
  • Arthur Hungerford Pollen (1866-1937), journalist, businessman, inventor (1);
  • Henry Oppenheimer (1859-1932), collector of prints, drawings, medals and antiquities (3);
  • Edward G. Spencer Churchill (1876-1964), army officer, art collector, Trustee of The National Gallery (1).

In his twenty-seven notes, Ricketts discussed works by fifteen artists.
 

  • Goya Sec.Ser.II-19
  • Gravelot, Hubert François VIII-33
  • Leonardo da Vinci Sec.Ser.III-3/4; Sec.Ser.III-5
  • Leonardo da Vinci (Manner of) II-3
  • Mantegna, Andrea III-6
  • Michelangelo Sec Ser.II-6
  • Pisanello I-10
  • Pisanello (School of) I-11
  • Raphael Sec.Ser.I-3; Sec.Ser.III-6; Sec.Ser.IV-6; Sec.Ser.IV-8; Sec.Ser.IV-9; Sec.Ser.V-7; Sec.Ser.VII-6
  • Rossetti, Dante Gabriel Sec.Ser.V-20
  • Rubens, Peter Paul I-20; II-22; II-23
  • Stevens, Alfred Sec.Ser.I-19
  • Van Dyck, Antony II-27
  • Venetian School V-11
  • Watteau, Antoine VIII-32; IX-27; Sec.Ser.IV-17; Sec.Ser.V-16