Rudolf Wittkower papers, 1923-1978

Summary Information

At a Glance

Arrangement

Arrangement

Arranged by topic Boxes 1-32: Series I; Boxes 33-38: Series II; Boxes 39-41: Series III; Boxes 42-44: Series IV.

• Series I
• Subseries I.1: Artists
• Subseries I.2: Subjects
• Subseries I.3: Book Manuscripts
• Subseries I.4: Proofs
• Subseries I.5: Notes
• Subseries I.6: Printed Material
• Series II
• Series III: 1992 Addition
• Series IV: 1992 Addition: Palladian Architecture and Related Trends

Description

Summary

Working files of Wittkower, dealing with Baroque and Renaissance painting, sculpture, and architecture. Included are manuscripts, notes, drawings, annotated proofs of articles and books, and some correspondence related to his writings and lectures. The majority of the files document his teaching, research, and writing at the University of London, 1934-1955, and at Columbia University. There are also some manuscript notes from his early years in Italy and Germany. Series I has been divided into six parts: Artists, Subjects, Book Manuscripts, Proofs, Notes, and Printed Materials. Some of the major files are Bernini, Bramante, Carracci, Michelangelo, and Raphael (Artists); Baroque Painting, Patronage, Rome, St. Peter's, Slade Lectures on the history of art (Subjects); ART AND ARCHITECTURE IN ITALY, BORN UNDER SATURN, and MATTHEWS LECTURES: GOTHIC VS. CLASSIC (Book Manuscripts). In addition there are proofs of essays and reviews with manuscript corrections and emmendations, copies of several of his own published works with his manuscript corrections, and typescript insertions for new editions. The Notes consist of eight card file boxes with notes chiefly relating to the Baroque period and Bernini.

Series II consists of manuscripts, typescripts, notes, galleys, and corrected page proofs of Wittkower's lectures and articles on Renaissance and Baroque sculpture and architecture, which were edited posthumously by Margot Wittkower for inclusion in SCULPTURE: PROCESS AND PRINCIPLE (1977) and THE COLLECTED ESSAYS OF RUDOLF WITTKOWER (1978).

Series III (1992 addition): The correspondence consists of invitations to give lectures, 1955-1971, including the Slade Lectures, 1970-1971; and correspondence and lectures for the "Congress on Proportion" Milan, 1951. There is the typescript for Wittkower's bibliography, LITERATURE ON GEORGIAN ARCHITECTURE (1946); a photocopy of page proofs for the German editions of his ALLEGORY AND THE MIGRATION OF SYMBOLS (1976); and entries and notes for an unpublished annotated bibliography of works on English architecture from the 16th through the 18th centuries.

Series IV (1992 addition): Lectures, notes, architectural sketches, and clippings mostly relating to Palladian architecture are in these files documenting Wittkower's research from 1950 to 1970 in various cities of North America and Europe, and his teaching in the U.S. and in Italy.

• Series I

  (Series I has been divided into six parts: Artists, Subjects, Book Manuscripts, Proofs, Notes, and Printed Materials. Some of the major files are Bernini, Bramante, Carracci, Michelangelo, and Raphael (Artists); Baroque Painting, Patronage, Rome, St. Peter's, Slade Lectures on the history of art (Subjects); Art and Architecture in Italy, Born under Saturn, and Matthews Lectures: Gothic vs. Classic (Book Manuscripts). In addition there are proofs of essays and reviews with manuscript corrections and emendations, copies of several of his own published works with his manuscript corrections, and typescript insertions for new editions. The Notes consist of eight card file boxes with notes chiefly relating to the Baroque period and Bernini. In Series I the contents of the parts overlap. For example, material relating to Bernini can be found in Artists, in Subjects under Rome and St. Peter's, and in Notes.)

  In Series I the contents of the parts overlap. For example, material relating to Bernini can be found in Artists, in Subjects under Rome and St. Peter's, and in Notes.

• Series II

  (Series II consists of manuscripts, typescripts, notes, galleys, and corrected page proofs of Wittkower's lectures and articles on Renaissance and Baroque sculpture and architecture, which were edited posthumously by Margot Wittkower for inclusion in Sculpture: Process and Principle (1977) and The Collected Essays of Rudolf Wittkower (1978).)

• Series III: 1992 Addition

  (The correspondence consists of invitations to give lectures, 1955-1971 including the Slade Lectures, 1970-1971 and correspondence and lectures for the "Congress on Proportion," Milan, 1951. There is the typescript for Wittkower's bibliography, Literature on Georgian Architecture (1946); a photocopy of page proofs for the German editions of his Allegory and the Migration of Symbols (1976); and entries and notes for an unpublished annotated bibliography of works on English architecture from the 16th through the 18th centuries.)

• Series IV: 1992 Addition: Palladian Architecture and Related Trends

  (Lectures, notes, architectural sketches, and clippings mostly relating to Palladian architecture are in these files documenting Wittkower's research from 1950 to 1970 in various cities of North America and Europe, and his teaching in the U.S. and in Italy.)

Using the Collection

Rare Book and Manuscript Library

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Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Preferred Citation

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Rudolf Wittkower papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Source of acquisition--Wittkower, Margot. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--1974. Accession number--M-74.

Papers: Source of acquisition--Wittkower, Margot. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--05/27/1992. Accession number--M-92-05-27.

Typescript of Art & Architecture.: Source of acquisition--2293B. Method of acquisition--Purchase; Date of acquisition--03/10/1997. Accession number--M-97-03-10.

Gift of Mrs. Margot Wittkower, 1974; 1977; 1979; 1983; 1992.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Processing Information

Cataloged Christina Hilton Fenn 09/--/1989.

Papers Processed KM 11/25/1992.

Typescript of Art & Architecture. Processed HR 10/13/2000.

Revision Description

2009-06-26 File created.

2014-03-12 XML document instance created by Catherine C. Ricciardi

2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.

Subject Headings

The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches at Columbia University through the Archival Collections Portal and through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, as well as ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.

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Genre/Form

Subject

History / Biographical Note

Biographical / Historical

Rudolf Wittkower (1901-1971) was professor of art history at Columbia University, 1956-1969.