Art works catalogue and insurance paperwork

Description

This file contains correspondence and associated material including statements, cheques, receipts and lists of art works relating to various insurance, including of art works, taken out by Herbert Read.


The file includes a manuscript notebook titled 'Catalogue of Paintings Sculptures & Drawings, Stonegrave House', written by Herbert Read with annotations by Ben Read. The catalogue details the title, artists, measurements, inscriptions and valuations of 88 works of art in the possession of Herbert Read by artists including Picasso, Ben Nicholson, Paul Nash, Henry Moore, Kurt Schwitters and Barbara Hepworth. The catalogue is referred to in a letter from Read to his insurers dated 25th March 1963 and included in the file.


The majority of correspondence is to Herbert Read from Glanvill Enthoven Bottomley Limited, regarding such topics as the valuation of the contents of Stonegrave House, the damage and recovering of a Victorian easy chair, the acquisition by Read of a sculpture by Naum Gabo, the reframing of ‘Composition 1934’ by Joan Miro and ‘Crown of Thorns’ by Graham Sutherland, the alterations in price of works by artists including Ben Nicholson and Joan Miro, the lending to the Tate Gallery of Barbara Hepworth’s ‘Mother & Child’, ‘Abstract Drawing’ and ‘Theatre Sister’ and various renewal premiums and policy changes, including the valuations for the artworks owned by Read.


The file also contains correspondence to Herbert Read from The Yorkshire Insurance Company Limited regarding Read’s car insurance, and the United Kingdom Provident Institution regarding Read’s taking out of a Life Policy.


Also included in the file are 3 typescript lists of 'Details of Works of Art to be Insured Against "All Risks"' and 2 typescript policies for Lloyd’s Household Insurance in an envelope, dated Oct 1965.

Access and usage

Access

Access to this collection is protected under the Data Protection Act. You will need to complete a data protection access form and return it to Special Collections for review by staff before access can be granted

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