National Library of Australia


University of Melbourne collection assessment

Fine Arts - a subdivision of Art & Architecture

by Pat Knight, Divisional Collection Management Librarian - Arts & Humanities, with the assistance of John Terrell, Information Librarian

December 1998

  1. Aims
  2. Methodologies
  3. Fine Arts: The Nature of the Discipline
  4. The School of Fine Arts, Classical Studies & Archaeology
  5. Fine Arts Research in Other Departments in the University
  6. The Library's Collections
  7. Shelf Scanning
  8. Evaulation by Academic Staff
  9. Assessment of the Fine Arts Collection
  10. Areas of Collection Strength
  11. Areas Needing to be Enriched
  12. Acknowledgements


1. AIMS

1.1 To evaluate the Fine Arts collections throughout the University of Melbourne Library - specifically material classified within Dewey 069s and the ranges 700 to 709 and 729.4 to 779.

1.2 To identify areas of the collections which need improvement in currency and scope.

1.3 To lay the foundation for a collection management policy for Fine Arts.

2. METHODOLOGIES

The collections were assessed using criteria set out in the Australian Conspectus Manual.[1]

Note: Low use materials are housed in the Kidd’s Warehouse. Items held in Kidd’s have not been included in this Conspectus evaluation.

3. FINE ARTS: THE NATURE OF THE DISCIPLINE

The main sources used by the art historian or student of fine arts and art curatorship include monographs and academic journals. Specific ‘tools’ most commonly required include scholarly treatises (in the original language and in translation), textbooks, critical works, journal articles, reviews, exhibition and collection catalogues, conference papers, visual materials (eg artwork, prints and reproductions of artwork in the form of slides, CD ROM and web-based sources, and microforms), as well as reference works, and abstracting and indexing sources. This material is in the major European languages and Asian languages such as Japanese and Chinese.

4. THE SCHOOL OF FINE ARTS, CLASSICAL STUDIES, & ARCHAEOLOGY

The School of Fine Arts, Classical Studies and Archaeology was created in 1998, uniting several diverse disciplines which are all concerned in one way or another with the interpretation of visual cultures and material objects from past and present civilizations. Studies are offered in the following programs: Art History, Art Curatorship, Cinema Studies, and Classical Studies and Archaeology.

Art History studies the interpretation and history of the visual arts: painting, drawing, sculpture, architecture, design, photography, popular culture, and indeed all forms of visual culture. Students of Art History develop a wide range of skills for writing about a work of art:

Cinema Studies deals with the interpretation, history, and theory of cinema, television, and new visual media such as computer games and multimedia. The program aims to provide students with various skills with which to understand one of the major visual and aesthetic forms in twentieth century culture. Because Cinema Studies places particular emphasis on viewing and analysis, film, video and television screenings are an integral part of the program.

Classical Studies and Archaeology examine the three 'classical' cultures, Greek, Roman and Semitic, whose interplay was instrumental in forming Western civilisation. The Classical Studies program approaches this by studying the ancient world through its literature, art and architecture, politics, philosophy and history, mythology, magic and religion, as well as modern representations of the ancient world. Archaeology focuses on the study of past human societies by the interpretation of material remains and is especially concerned with the reconstruction of past life-styles and the examination of ways in which human communities have changed

The School participates in several interdisciplinary programs run by the Faculty of Arts including Cultural Studies, Women’s Studies, Australian Studies and Ancient and Medieval Studies.

4.1 Teaching in the School

Subjects taught in Art History and Art Curatorship courses, the courses most pertinent to the Art & Architecture Conspectus Division, include:

4.2 Research in the School

Research in the School is undertaken across a number of areas relating to art history, art curatorship, cinema studies, and classical studies and archaeology. Areas within the Art & Architecture Conspectus Division include:

5. FINE ARTS RESEARCH IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS IN THE UNIVERSITY

The Department of History offers a number of subjects which require the study of art and culture of particular times and places in order to understand the society and events in their historical context. This is particularly so in relation to Medieval and Renaissance Studies, but is also of relevance to 20th Century history through film and other visual representations, and through popular culture. Historical research often requires a knowledge of visual referents such as those based on mythology and religion.

In addition, the Faculty of Education offers a Bachelor of Education in Visual Arts. The course, designed to prepare secondary school teachers of art/craft and graphic communication, has three major components:

6. THE LIBRARY’S COLLECTIONS

The Library’s collections are housed in a total of 25 libraries, some of which are small site libraries and others which are quite sizeable. There is also a Prints Collection housed separately. The collections relating to the subjects covered by the Art & Architecture Conspectus Division (Fine Arts subdivision) are housed in four main collections in the University Library; the main collection of the Baillieu Library, the Research Collections (the B and AB collections) in the Education Resource Centre (the ERC), the Architecture & Planning Library, and the ERC’s main collection.

The Library also has a number of special collections, collectively housed in the Special Collections Section of the Baillieu Library. These collections include an extensive range of material, much of which is rare and/or of historical value.

The Baillieu Library has a separate East Asian Collection of Chinese and Japanese language material which is classified according to the Harvard-Yenching Classification. Separate Conspectus evaluations of the Chinese and Japanese language materials have been completed.

6.1 Microform Collection

The Library has a microform collection of some 1,347,000 items which is housed in the Baillieu Library. The collection covers both serials and monographs, many of which are of importance for scholars doing historical research. Material is arranged in accession number order so cannot be browsed by subject. Material in this collection has not been included in the total volumes recorded in the Conspectus database. There are number of items of value to art historians in microform. Examples include:

6.2 Print Collection

The Baillieu Library houses an extensive collection of original British and European prints from the late 15th to the early 20th Century. These works represent the traditional printmaking techniques of engraving, etching, woodcut, mezzotint and lithography, and complement the collections of modern and Australian art located in the University’s Museum of Art. The Print Collection has continued to grow through acquisitions, donations and loans, and is now one of the largest collections of graphic works in Australia, comparable to those in the National Gallery of Victoria, the National Gallery of Australia and the Art Gallery of South Australia.

6.3 The Witt Library on Microfiche

This collection is one of the most powerful of art history research tools, consisting of almost two million images of European art. The Library was begun by Sir Robert Witt in the 1920s as a photographic archive, and has grown to become one of the world's largest documentary resources of Western painting and drawing, covering the years c.1200 to 1990. It became part of the Courtauld Institute of Art in 1952, and is now housed in Somerset House in London. In 1981 the Baillieu Library acquired one of the original four microfiche copies of this important visual resource. Since receiving this set, the Library has also acquired the ten-year update, containing revised information and new images of additions to the Witt holdings.

6.4 Rare Books Collection

The Library’s Rare Book Room houses a number of separate collections including a collection of fine plate books. This collection includes fine natural history books and editions of the Classics with fine illustrations. The collection is particularly rich in extra-illustrated books, that is books which have had illustrations from other sources (original prints and manuscripts, and even the occasional original artwork).

6.5 Stanislaus Ostoja-Kotkowski Scrapbooks

This collection consists of fifteen volumes of scrapbooks documenting the career of this Polish-born Adelaide artist over the period 1962 to 1992. They contain photographs of his work (stage design, murals, sculpture and holograms) as well as presscuttings.

6.6 Additional Resources

Additional resources available to students and staff of the School are the School’s own Art Library (which includes a slide collection of over 160,000 slides, photographs and microfilms, and a collection of reference books, general texts, and key journals) and a Classics and Archaeology library (which has a collection of 10,000 books). These libraries are independent of the University Library.

7. SHELF SCANNING

Monograph volumes in the four main collections relating to Fine Arts (the Baillieu Library, the ERC, the Architecture and Planning Library, and the AB and B collections) were counted to determine the quantity of material classified at each Conspectus subject line. Date ranges and languages were also noted, as were any titles worth noting. This information is recorded under the heading “assessment comments” on the second part of this report, Collection Assessment.

8. EVALUATION BY ACADEMIC STAFF

Academic staff working in the Fine Arts and Art Curatorship programs in the School of Fine Arts, Classical Studies, and Archaeology were invited to participate in the evaluation of the collections and to comment on how well the collection was meeting their research and teaching needs. Their comments were used to identify strengths of the collection and areas needing to be enriched, as well as to provide an overall assessment of each main type of material ; monographs, serials, reference works, and indexing and abstracting sources.

9. ASSESSMENT OF THE FINE ARTS COLLECTION

9.1 Monographs

The total collection of monographs in Fine Arts amounts to well over 40,000 volumes. The collection represents works published from the 17th Century to the present, with material published in the 20th Century making up the bulk of the collection. All major European languages are covered as well as some Asian languages, particularly Chinese and Japanese. Monographs are acquired through two approval plans (one for Australian material and the other for the major US and British publishers), direct selection, and donation. For the past two decades mainstream English language publications are particularly well represented in the collection. The collection would be greatly enhanced by the systematic acquisition of a wider range of exhibition and collection catalogues, as well as by focusing on specific areas identified in section11 of this report. The collection is currently rated between level 3a (intermediate: introductory) and 3b (intermediate: augmented) and needs to be developed to a level 4 (research).

9.2 Serials

The Library has standing orders for a number of monographs published in series and multi-volume works, as well as current subscriptions to journals. During 1998, in line with many other Australian libraries, the Library carried out a serials review and the number of journal subscriptions relevant to Fine Arts and Museum Studies was reduced from approximately 80 titles to 65. Some standing orders were also cancelled. The serials collection is currently rated between level 3a (intermediate: introductory) and 3b (intermediate: augmented).

9.3 Reference Works

The Library has a wide range of general reference material in fine arts (including dictionaries, handbooks, directories, encyclopaedias, biographical sources and bibliographies) as well as reference works to support research in fine arts. This collection has been built up over a number of years. The collection meets the goal level of 3b (intermediate; augmented), but new material needs to continue to be acquired if the collection is to be retained at this level.

9.4 Indexing & Abstracting Sources

The University Library holds or provides access to a wide range of indexing and abstracting tools of relevance to Fine Arts in both print and electronic form. The collection is judged to be at a level 4 (research). Titles include:

10. AREAS OF COLLECTION STRENGTH

Strong collecting over many years has given the Library’s collection in art history greater depth than any other Australian library. Recent monographs are generally well covered by the approval plans. However exhibition and collection catalogues are less well covered for all areas.

10.1 Italian Renaissance and Baroque Art

This is a major area of interest of the School of Fine Arts, Classical Studies and Archaeology, which is the leading teaching and research centre for this period in Australia. The collection is regarded as the best in Australia and is at a research level (level 4).

10.2 19th Century British and French Art

There is a core of valuable material from earlier collecting. Important periodicals held include Apollo (although there are significant gaps) and Athenaeum. The collection is judged to be approaching research level (level 4).

10.3 Technical Restoration Reports for Japanese Historic Buildings

The Library has a large collection of technical restoration reports for historic Japanese buildings. While not considered to be at a research level this collection is worth noting as it is possibly unique in Australia.

11. AREAS NEEDING TO BE ENRICHED

11.1 Exhibition Catalogues

These are a major resource for the study of all areas of art history, including renaissance and baroque, 19th Century British and French, Australian, East Asian, and contemporary art , and museum management. Although many major catalogues are now published by the main publishers represented in the approval plans, catalogues of smaller exhibitions tend to be published by non-commercial publishers, often have restricted print runs and may be difficult to identify. Marginal, forgotten, or newly rediscovered artists may be only covered by smaller, regional galleries. Particular attention needs to be paid to acquiring catalogues from Australian national and state galleries, European galleries and alternative galleries, particularly in the USA. The systematic acquisition of catalogues to fill identified gaps would raise the collections in renaissance and baroque, 19th Century British and French, Australian, East Asian, and contemporary art, and museum management from level 3b (intermediate: augmented) to the goal level 4 (research)

11.2 Collection Catalogues

These also tend to be published by non-mainstream publishers, e.g. galleries. Holdings are patchy. Many were published years ago and may be difficult to identify, particularly if the records do not appear on the Library’s online catalogue. Some work needs to be done in identifying what is available and acquiring those relating to core areas of study.

11.3 Catalogues Raisonnes for Late 20th Century Artists

These are starting to appear, but collecting is rather ad hoc. So far Jackson Pollock is held and some print makers but few others. These are usually published over a period of time, often by institutions, estates or dealers and are expensive purchases often requiring special funding. Again, additional work needs to be done in identifying what is available and planning for the acquisition of those of the key artists of relevance to studies.

11.4 Australian Art Catalogues

Although there is a good basic coverage of textual and critical works especially material published in the last 20 years, catalogues for many Australian collections are not held. Currently the collection is at a level 3b (intermediate: augmented), with the goal of 4 (research)

11.5 Aboriginal Art

This is an area of study which is receiving increasing emphasis within the School of Fine Arts, Classical Studies, and Archaeology. The current collection level is 2b (basic information: augmented) and it needs to be developed to at least a level 3b (intermediate: augmented).

11.6 Japanese Art and Architecture

Japanese art is a major growth area for the School of Fine Arts, Classics and Archaeology. Considerable effort has gone into building up the collection over the last 10 years with many books both in Japanese and western languages (predominantly English). Western language material is currently at level 3b (intermediate : augmented) with a goal level of 4 (research). This should be achieved providing the current acquisition rate is maintained. The Japanese language collection in Japanese art and architectural history more investment to bring it up to level 4 (research). It is currently rated as level 2 (basic information), with architecture at 2a (basic information: introductory). There are significant gaps in the collection. Particular attention needs to be paid to acquiring exhibition catalogues and specialist monographs on Japanese decorative arts (e.g. ceramics, lacquer, woodblock prints), Japanese photography and photography of Japan, and Japanese cinema and animation. For Japanese architecture specific areas identified as needing to be developed include contemporary practicing Japanese architects, Buddhist and Shinto architecture of the early periods (Asuka-Heian -7th-12th Centuries), palaces, residences and castles of the Momoyama-Edo periods (16th-19th centuries), Meiji Western style buildings (later 19th Century) and Modernism in the 20th Century. Also Japanese works on traditional building technologies and hereditary building tradition. More limited purchasing in Japanese of materials on urban history is also desirable but not as important.

[See also the separate Conspectus Report for Japanese language material]

11.7 Chinese Art and Architecture

These areas have also been built up over recent years although to a lesser extent than Japanese. The western language material is rated at level 3a (intermediate: introductory) and the Chinese language material level 2a (basic information: introductory). These need to be developed to level 4 (research) and level 3b (intermediate: augmented) respectively.

11.8 Art Curatorship and Museum Management

This is an important and growing area for the School of Fine Arts, Classics and Archaeology with studies at undergraduate and postgraduate level, including Australia’s only Postgraduate Diploma and Master of Art Curatorship. Collecting over the last 6 years has been strong, both via approval plan and systematic ordering, but there are gaps in earlier material. The collection is generally at level 3 (intermediate) but needs to be developed to a research level (level 4).

11.9 Contemporary Art and the Social History of Art in the 20th Century

Monographs in this area well covered by approval plans as are exhibition catalogues of major museums. However more attention needs to be paid to marginal, forgotten and newly rediscovered artists and to catalogues from the smaller galleries which attempt to redress the traditional bias toward Europe and North America. Also emerging areas of multimedia arts, video art and performance art need attention. The collection is generally at level 3 (intermediate) but needs to be developed to level 4 (research).

12. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank academic staff from the School of Fine Arts, Classical Studies, and Archaeology who generously gave their time in assisting with this assessment.

REFERENCES

1 Henty, Margaret. Australian Conspectus Manual: A Collection Assessment Guide. Rev. ed. Canberra: Australian Council of Libraries and Information Services, 1992.

Last modified: August 18 2004.