| Admin/Biog History | Thomas Girtin, descendant and namesake of the artist, was an art historian whose research was largely focused on his ancestor. The main output of this work was: Girtin, T. and Loshak, D. (1954) The art of Thomas Girtin. London: Adam & Charles Black. [Oppé's annotated copy is available in the Paul Mellon Centre Library, see URL below]. As explained in the preface, this volume attempts a historical narrative of Girtin's life, mostly authored by Loshak, and Girtin focused mostly on the catalogue which forms the second half of the publication. |
| Description | This file contains seventy-eight letters and postcards from Thomas Girtin (the last of these is addressed to Armide Oppé), dated between 16 Oct 1929-12 Dec 1955, concerning various research matters in relation to the life and works of Girtin, including reference to Dr. Thomas Munro and J.W.M. Turner.
The letters also include some mention of Edward Dayes, to whom Girtin was thought to have been apprenticed. There is a list of works by Dayes with titles, dates and catalogue reference numbers, although it is not certain who authored this. Additionally, there is frequent discussion of the work of John Robert Cozens and some mention of John Sell Cotman. There is one reply from Oppé, dated 2 Jan 1954.
Also included are further letters related to this correspondence:
-letter from Gerald Agnew to Girtin, dated 24 May 1951, concerning an appointment to inspect the collection of drawings that belonged to Hickman Bacon
-letter from Robert Witt to Girtin, dated 26 Jun 1951, concerning a letter from the artist, Girtin, to Munro
-two letters from Jane Bailey to Oppé, dated 15 & 19 June [1954], concerning a work by Girtin inhertited by her
Relevant material held elsewhere: the other side of this correspondence - letters and postcards sent from Oppe to Girtin - are located in the Print Room at the British Museum.
The Paul Mellon Centre's Archives & Library collections contain additional material on this artist. Please see the Artist Guide on our website for further information (link below). |
| Image Caption | Letter from Tom Girtin, dated 1 Jul 1951 |