Original Manuscript and Rare Book Library, Walters Art Gallery
(18th and 19th Centuries )
This watercolor captures Henry Walters' original library, created as part of his new museum building in the early years of the 20th century. Two stories of shelves were filled with books, and the manuscripts, which were housed on the upper shelves, would be lowered down in the basket shown here. Henry was very accommodating to scholars who wished to come and study his books, issuing them one-day reader cards and instructing his superintendent John C. Anderson to "clear the table of all the objects on it, so he [sic] can have a place to examine and compare." When a scholar was unable to visit the library, Henry allowed photographs to be taken and at times even sent the books to them.
Inscription
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.
Given to Walters Art Museum, 1975.
Geographies
Maryland, Baltimore (Place of Origin)
Measurements
H: 29 15/16 × W: 22 1/16 in. (76 × 56 cm)
Credit Line
Anonymous gift, 1975
Location in Museum
Not on view
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
37.2520
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