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This institution also provides a list of works with incomplete provenance during the period 1933-1945.

YORK ART GALLERY

York Museums Trust

Designated collection

Exhibition Square
York
YO1 7EW

Contact

Laura Turner, Curator of Art
Tel: 01904 697972
Fax: 01904 697966
E-mail: laura.turner@ymt.org.uk

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF COLLECTION

Since 1 August 2002 York Art Gallery has been managed by York Museums Trust but its collections are the property of the City of York Council.

The Gallery houses an important collection of paintings covering Italy, France, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands and Britain from the 14th century to the present. The nucleus is provided by the collection of Continental Old Masters presented by F.D. Lycett Green in 1955. Other major components are a collection of Victorian paintings bequeathed by John Burton in 1882 and a collection of late 19th and early 20th century British paintings presented by Eric Milner-White, Dean of York, over the period 1948 to 1962.

There is an extensive collection of British watercolours, drawings and prints, mostly devoted to the topography of York and North Yorkshire. The nucleus of this is a collection of York views purchased from Dr W.A. Evelyn in 1931. A collection of late 19th century and early 20th century British designs for published illustrations was presented by James Tillotson-Hyde in 1962.

There is a very small group of mainly British sculptures.

There is an outstanding collection of 20th century studio ceramics presented by Eric Milner White in 1951, 1958 and 1959.

1. OVERALL PLANS PARTS OF COLLECTION EXCLUDED

British paintings, works on paper and sculpture (mostly continuous British provenance)..

20th century studio ceramics (for which a full provenance is recorded in most cases).

INITIAL FOCUS FOR RESEARCH
The Lycett Green collection of Continental Old Masters, which was assembled through the London art market during the years c.1925 to 1955.

Continental European paintings of the 19th and 20th centuries from various sources.

Continental European works on paper of the 19th and 20th centuries from various sources.

TIMESCALE FOR RESEARCH
Works in the above three categories for which the provenance during the period 1933 to 1945 is incomplete are listed. The details given are accession number, artist, title, medium and size, together with an analysis of the provenance issues.

2. RESEARCH PLANNED IN TARGET AREAS

METHOD OF RESEARCH

The paintings collection at York Art Gallery has been the subject of much research and the greater part of it is covered by a full catalogue published in three volumes plus a supplement (1961 - 1975). Further research will be carried out during 2003 and 2004 in an attempt to answer questions relating to incomplete provenances during the period 1933 to 1945 for all three groups of works mentioned above. It is of course likely that many of these questions will remain unanswered.

RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS
Negligible. The work will be carried out by existing staff members.

3. INFORMATION ON MAKING GENERAL ENQUIRIES ABOUT COLLECTION

General enquiries should be addressed to Caroline Worthinton (contact details as above).

ARCHIVES

The Gallery holds very little in the way of archives and records dating from before the Second World War (when the building was damaged by bombing). From the period since then the Gallery preserves correspondence and other documentation relating to works in the collection, including, for example, correspondence with artists. The Gallery also retains administrative records, including material relating to the organization of exhibitions, from the post-war period. There is a specialist collection of letters from the York-born artist William Etty (1787-1849), which has been assembled since the last war. Requests for access to any of this material should be addressed to the Curator or Curatorial Assistant (contact details as above).

Since 1 August 2002 York Art Gallery has been managed by York Museums Trust, but the building and the collections are the property of the City of York Council. The Council has its own archives department holding records dating back to the 12th century. Enquiries should be addressed to the City Archivist, City of York Archives, Exhibition Square, York YO1 7EW (telephone 01904 551878; e-mail archives@york.gov.uk).

PRESS OFFICER

Charlotte Dootson, Marketing Assistant, York Museums Trust (telephone 01904 687664 ; e-mail charlotte.dootson@ymt.org.uk).

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