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INVENTORY OF THE DAVID CROAL THOMSON PAPERS, 1879-1931
910126
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Title: David Croal Thomson papers
Dates: 1879-1931
Collection Number: 910126
Creator:
Thomson, David Croal, 1832-1935
Extent:
circa 3100 items
(4.75 lin. ft.)
Repository:
Getty Research Institute
Research Library
Special Collections and Visual Resources
1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 1100
Los Angeles, California 90049-1688
Abstract: English art dealer and writer, Thomson (1855-1930) worked at or managed several major galleries in London and edited the
Art Journal. The papers primarily contain professional and personal correspondence. Letters to and from leading artists and social figures
trace artistic trends and tastes as well as Thomson’s growing stature in London society. Personal correspondence consists
largely of letters between members of Thomson’s family. The collection includes a small number of clippings, itineraries,
and ephemera.
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Language: Collection material in English
Open for use by qualified researchers.
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Library Rights and Reproductions
David Croal Thomson papers, 1832-1935, Research Library, The Getty Research Insititute, Accession no. 910126
The Getty acquired the David Croal Thomson Papers in 1991.
Rose Lachman organized the correspondence, cataloged the collection, and wrote the finding aid in April/May, 1998.
David Croal Thomson was born in Edinburgh on October 24, 1855. He studied drawing and painting in Edinburgh, where he also
apprenticed as a printseller and artist's colourman (1867), and went on to manage Hill's Picture Gallery and its art publications
(1872-1880). He then went to Paris to continue his studies in art.
In London, September 1880, he became the sub-editor of
The Year's Art, assisting M. B. Huish until 1885. He also published a number of papers in the
Scotsman and wrote its annual articles on the Paris Salon. From 1881-1888 he was the sub-editor of the
Art Journal and served as editor from 1892-1902.
During 1885-1897, he served as representative in London to the Paris house of Boussod Valadon & Co. Thomson was the first
director of the Goupil Gallery in London. In this capacity, he arranged important exhibitions of the best works of Corot,
Daubigny, Diaz and Tryon, of the modern Dutch painters, and of James McNeill Whistler, John Lavery, P. Wilson Steer and the
English Impressionists. He also selected and superintended the illustrations to John Skelton's,
Mary Stuart, 1893; the Bishop of London's
Queen Elizabeth, 1896; Mr. R. R. Holmes's,
Queen Victoria, 1897; and John Skelton's,
Charles I, 1898.
From 1898 to 1908 Thomson was connected with the London house of Agnew, and a partner in the firm for six years. From 1909
to 1918 he served as a partner in the French Gallery, which mounted exhibitions of the works of Henry Raeburn, William Maris,
Joseph Israels, Anton Mauve, Fantin-Latour and Lhermitte. He went on to become the sole proprietor of Barbizon House (1918
to 1924), a semi-private residence that showed examples of the Barbizon School of painters. His son Lockett Thomson joined
him as partner in 1924. Thomson examined public and private art collections in Great Britain, France and throughout the continent
and visited Canada and the United States several times.
His publications include,
Life and Work of Thomas Bewick, 1882;
Life and Work of H. K. Browne (“Phiz”), 1884;
Barbizon School of Painters, 1890;
Corot, 1892;
Luke Fildes, R.A., 1895;
Fifty Years of Art, 1899;
Paris Exhibition, 1900;
The Brothers Maris, 1907;
Landscapes of Corot, 1911;
Matthew Maris: a souvenir, 1918; and the
Barbizon House Record (a yearly illustrated publication), from 1919. He also contributed to the
Encyclopedia Britannica and other art periodicals.
Thomson married Alice Mary Halton in 1884 and had four sons, Lockett, Herbert, David, and Walter; and five daughters, Evelyne,
Irene, Millicent, Marian and Elsie. He died in 1930.
Scope and Content of Collection
The David Croal Thomson Papers contain ca. 1,600 letters from artists, friends, relatives, and businesses. The letters reflect
his close contact with leading art dealers and artists in his capacity as critic, gallerist, and editor. Approximately half
of the letters relate to Thomson's positions in the London, Goupil Gallery, the French Gallery and Barbizon House. Many letters
refer to the
Art Journal, the publication Thomson edited between 1892-1902. These letters reflect art trends and tastes, as well as what was being purchased,
and by whom, at the turn of the century. A few letters by Thomson are among the letters from artists and friends. There are
also some letters to Hill's Picture Gallery that predate Thomson's employment there. The second half of the archive contains
correspondence between members of Thomson's family, arranged by correspondent chronologically from 1895-1931. The letters
are primarily to his son, Herbert, born 1892, from Thomson and other members of the family.
Arrangement
Organized in 3 series:
Series I. Letters from artists, dealers and friends, ca. 1850-1930
Series II. Family correspondence, ca. 1895-1931
Series III. Printed ephemera and miscellaneous papers
Thomson, David Croal, 1855-1930
Art critics
Art critics—England
Art dealers
Art periodicals
Artists
Artists—England
Painting, British—19th century
Painting, British—20th century
Thomas Agnew & Sons
Barbizon House (London, England)
French Gallery (London, England)
Goupil Gallery
Art-journal
Studio
Year's art
Thomson, David Croal, 1855-1930
Alma-Tadema, Lawrence, Sir, 1836-1912
Baldry, A. L. (Alfred Lys), 1858-1939
Berenson, Bernard, 1865-1959
Bouguereau, William Adolphe, 1825-1905
Bracquemond, Félix, 1833-1914
Brangwyn, Frank, Sir, 1867-1956
Brown, Ford Madox, 1821-1893
Burne-Jones, Edward coley, Sir, 1833-1898
Cameron, David Young, Sir, 1865-1945
Fildes, Luke, Sir, 1844-1927
Guthrie, James, b. 1874
Israëls, Jozef, 1824-1911
Kingsley, Rose Georgina, 1845-
Lavery, John, 1856-1941
MacWhirter, John, 1839-1911
Monkhouse, W. Cosmo (William Cosmo), 1840-1901
Moore, Henry, 1898-
Pennell, Joseph, 1857-1926
Sambourne, Edward Linley, 1844-1910
Sharp, William, 1855-1905
Sickert, Walter, 1860-1942
Skelton, John, Sir, 1831-1897
Stephens, Frederic George, 1828-1907
Stevenson, Robert Alan Mowbray, 1847-1900
Stone, Marcus, 1840-1921
Stott, Edward, 1859-1918
Stott, William, of Oldham, 1857-1900
Watts, George Frederick, 1817-1904
White, Gleeson, 1851-1898
Thomas Agnew & Sons
Barbizon House (London, England)
French Gallery (London, England)
Art-journal Studio Year's art