Archives & Library

Photo Archive Collections

The Photographic Archive are mounted reference images. There are two collections: The Paul Mellon Centre Photographic Archive and The Tate Photographic Archive. The collections cover British painting and drawing from approximately 1500 to 2000 and are particularly strong on the work of 18th century artists. The PMCPA collection has been digitised in its entirety. The Tate collection is available to consult in our Public Study Room.

Sculpture Collections

Access the Photographic Archive catalogue to browse this collection.

This series comprises images of works by sculptors who were British by birth, foreign sculptors who worked in Britain or on British subjects. The sculptures featured date from c.1600 to c.1900. The images are organised by location or collection (rather than by artist or subject). For the following collections there is an almost complete record of sculpture at the location:

  • Royal Collections
  • Reform Club
  • Soane Museum
  • Southill
  • Woburn Abbey

Coverage of other houses and locations is less comprehensive.

Arrangement

All photographs are dry mounted on card with essential information recorded, sculptor, title, collection and source of photograph. The collection is made up of black and white photographs.

Acquisition

This was a project undertaken by Antonia Yates of the photographic archive. As such many of the photographs were taken by the Paul Mellon Centre’s photographer, Douglas Smith. John Kenworthy-Browne gave advice on the project and supervised photography. Other photographs were acquired from The Courtauld Photographic Survey and the National Monuments Record.