‘John Smith, his Catalogue Raisonné of the Works of the Most Eminent Dutch, Flemish, and French Painters (1829–1842) and the “stigma of PICTURE DEALER”’

The monumental nine-volume Catalogue Raisonné by the London art dealer John Smith (1781-1855), covering the works of 41 painters, appeared between 1829 and 1842. In spite of the common recognition of its importance by the specialized secondary literature, this publication has hardly been looked at i...

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Main Author: Antoinette Friedenthal
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Department of Art History, University of Birmingham 2013-12-01
Series:Journal of Art Historiography
Subjects:
Online Access:http://arthistoriography.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/friedenthal.pdf
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author Antoinette Friedenthal
author_facet Antoinette Friedenthal
author_sort Antoinette Friedenthal
collection DOAJ
description The monumental nine-volume Catalogue Raisonné by the London art dealer John Smith (1781-1855), covering the works of 41 painters, appeared between 1829 and 1842. In spite of the common recognition of its importance by the specialized secondary literature, this publication has hardly been looked at in a wider art historical context. Reasons for this may be found in the critical reactions by a few contemporary connoisseurs, as well as in the ambivalent status of the genre of the catalogue raisonné. The issues raised by Smith’s volumes and their reception not only pertain to questions of content, they also relate to such fundamental themes as scientific credibility, professional ethos, and the recognition of authority. As far as can be ascertained, this is the first time that criticism of the market’s involvement in this genre makes itself heard. In the 19th century, art history’s search for a viable position among other fields of study led to considerable tensions. These not only resulted in precise demarcations of the discipline’s scope in relation to other academic fields, they also shaped certain patterns of argument which characterize the reception of catalogues raisonnés even today. In addition to addressing these points, the present study also throws some light on the market’s contribution to the formation of categories and systems of classification in the history of art.
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spelling doaj.art-3d6aeebda76c4f0f85c4c78d7cfb02672022-12-21T20:45:57ZengDepartment of Art History, University of BirminghamJournal of Art Historiography2042-47522013-12-0199AF1‘John Smith, his Catalogue Raisonné of the Works of the Most Eminent Dutch, Flemish, and French Painters (1829–1842) and the “stigma of PICTURE DEALER”’Antoinette FriedenthalThe monumental nine-volume Catalogue Raisonné by the London art dealer John Smith (1781-1855), covering the works of 41 painters, appeared between 1829 and 1842. In spite of the common recognition of its importance by the specialized secondary literature, this publication has hardly been looked at in a wider art historical context. Reasons for this may be found in the critical reactions by a few contemporary connoisseurs, as well as in the ambivalent status of the genre of the catalogue raisonné. The issues raised by Smith’s volumes and their reception not only pertain to questions of content, they also relate to such fundamental themes as scientific credibility, professional ethos, and the recognition of authority. As far as can be ascertained, this is the first time that criticism of the market’s involvement in this genre makes itself heard. In the 19th century, art history’s search for a viable position among other fields of study led to considerable tensions. These not only resulted in precise demarcations of the discipline’s scope in relation to other academic fields, they also shaped certain patterns of argument which characterize the reception of catalogues raisonnés even today. In addition to addressing these points, the present study also throws some light on the market’s contribution to the formation of categories and systems of classification in the history of art.http://arthistoriography.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/friedenthal.pdfcatalogue raisonnéœuvreclassificationconnoisseur(ship)(status of) art dealerJohn Smith (1781-1855)art dealer and connoisseurGustav Friedrich WaagenJohann David PassavantCharles Lock EastlakeAnton Springer
spellingShingle Antoinette Friedenthal
‘John Smith, his Catalogue Raisonné of the Works of the Most Eminent Dutch, Flemish, and French Painters (1829–1842) and the “stigma of PICTURE DEALER”’
Journal of Art Historiography
catalogue raisonné
œuvre
classification
connoisseur(ship)
(status of) art dealer
John Smith (1781-1855)
art dealer and connoisseur
Gustav Friedrich Waagen
Johann David Passavant
Charles Lock Eastlake
Anton Springer
title ‘John Smith, his Catalogue Raisonné of the Works of the Most Eminent Dutch, Flemish, and French Painters (1829–1842) and the “stigma of PICTURE DEALER”’
title_full ‘John Smith, his Catalogue Raisonné of the Works of the Most Eminent Dutch, Flemish, and French Painters (1829–1842) and the “stigma of PICTURE DEALER”’
title_fullStr ‘John Smith, his Catalogue Raisonné of the Works of the Most Eminent Dutch, Flemish, and French Painters (1829–1842) and the “stigma of PICTURE DEALER”’
title_full_unstemmed ‘John Smith, his Catalogue Raisonné of the Works of the Most Eminent Dutch, Flemish, and French Painters (1829–1842) and the “stigma of PICTURE DEALER”’
title_short ‘John Smith, his Catalogue Raisonné of the Works of the Most Eminent Dutch, Flemish, and French Painters (1829–1842) and the “stigma of PICTURE DEALER”’
title_sort john smith his catalogue raisonne of the works of the most eminent dutch flemish and french painters 1829 1842 and the stigma of picture dealer
topic catalogue raisonné
œuvre
classification
connoisseur(ship)
(status of) art dealer
John Smith (1781-1855)
art dealer and connoisseur
Gustav Friedrich Waagen
Johann David Passavant
Charles Lock Eastlake
Anton Springer
url http://arthistoriography.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/friedenthal.pdf
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