| Admin/Biog History | Sir John Wyndham Pope-Hennessy (1913-1994) was a British art historian and Director of the British Museum. He was a scholar of Italian Renaissance art, publishing many seminal books on the subject.
Pope-Hennessy met Nicolson at Oxford. They shared a passion for art and socialised in similar circles, Pope-Hennessy acquiring the nickname 'Botticelli'. Although they became firm friends, Pope-Hennessy's relentlessly high-brow nature meant their relationship was always slightly reserved. Between 1936 and 1938, Pope-Hennessy travelled around continental Europe viewing pictures in public and private collections, a period he later called his 'Wanderjahre'. Many of the letters in the archive date from this period.
Nicolson and Pope-Hennessy had a serious falling out in 1939, following Nicolson's review of Pope-Hennessy's Sassetta publication. Although they successfully patched up their friendship, the archive contains only one letter - the letter Nicolson referred to in his journals as an 'olive branch' - after this incident. The letters between Nicolson & Pope-Hennessy are best viewed alongside the journals of this period. |
| Description | Includes correspondence of a personal and professional nature. Many of the letters are, to use Pope-Hennessy's language, 'technical letters' outlining his views and notes on particular pictures, mostly from the Florentine Quattrocento. The letters include references to Berenson's lists. They also include Pope-Hennessy's views on how to study pictures; discussion about his work for various articles and publications; views on mutual friends and other art historians (including Richter, Vavala, Offner, Blunt, Waterhouse etc.); as well as comments concerning National Gallery acquisitions. They also include requests for photographs and information, as well as discussion of books; films; ballet and opera.
Of particular note:
-three letters, dated September 1935, concerning a visit to Germany to study pictures in public & private galleries; German opera and the German people
-three letters, dated July-September 1936, concerning a visit to Italy to study pictures; meeting with Bernard Berenson at I Tatti; viewing the Loeser collection; advice to Nicolson about how to study pictures; and his impressions of the country. [A digital copy of this letter can be found below]
-letter, undated [1936] concerning Pope-Hennessy's technical notes on the pictures at Altenburg
-letter, dated 12 March 1937, concerning Tom Boase; the polictical situation in Europe
-two letters, dated May-June 1937, concerning a visit to study pictures in public & private galleries in Italy
-four letters, undated [cNov 1937-Jan 1938], concerning academicism of the visual arts and the planning and execution of his book Giovanni de Paolo; Anthony Blunt; a party thrown by Kenneth Clark for Tom Boase; Clark's purchase of four paintings for the National Gallery said to be by Giorgione
-three letters, dated 23 June-30 July 1939, concerning Nicolson's review of Pope-Hennessy's Sassetta publication
Also includes 2 pages of notes written for Nicolson about Florentine painting and the Florentine Quattrocento |
| Image Caption | Letter from John Pope-Hennessy to Nicolson, dated 10 September 1936, concerning a visit to Italy to study pictures (3pp) |