Research
Collectors’ marks sit at the intersection of connoisseurship, the history of collecting, and provenance research. They provide crucial evidence for reconstructing the ownership, circulation, and reception of works on paper across time and geography.
The research associated with Collectorsmarks.org focuses on several interrelated strands:
- Documenting marks: recording the appearance, variants, and technical characteristics of collectors’ stamps and inscriptions.
- Revising attributions: reviewing existing entries in the Lugt catalogue in light of new archival or photographic evidence.
- Provenance case studies: tracing the movement of individual drawings and prints through historical collections and sales.
- Contextual research: investigating the collectors and institutions behind the marks, their networks, and collecting practices.
Future updates to this section will include short essays, case studies, and references to publications and archival sources. Collaborative projects with academic and museum partners are very welcome.