Algernon Graves
Encyclopedia
Algernon Graves was a British art sales and art exhibition documenter. He created reference sources that began the modern discipline of provenance
research.
, Westminster
, the son of Henry Graves
(1806–1892) a publisher of prints, and Mary Squire (d. 1871).
Graves studied German in Bonn
, Germany
, before working for his father's company Henry Graves & Co., researching for catalogues that the company published.
In 1884 he published the first edition of his idea, entitled "A Dictionary of Artists who have Exhibited Works in the Principal London Exhibitions from 1760 to 1880". A second edition followed in 1885 and a third in 1901. In 1899, Graves and William V. Cronin issued the first volume of their work on Sir Joshua Reynolds
, which they sold by subscription. In 1900, a book on Sir Thomas Lawrence
by Lord Ronald Gower included a catalogue by Graves.
When his father Henry died in 1892, Algernon took over the running of Henry Graves & Company, where he worked until he retired in 1907.
, England and they had a son, Herbert Seymour Graves, who later assisted Graves with later editions of the 'Dictionary of Artists' series. His son died in 1898.
Graves remarried in 1919 to Madeline Lilian Sophia Wakeling Walker.
Provenance
Provenance, from the French provenir, "to come from", refers to the chronology of the ownership or location of an historical object. The term was originally mostly used for works of art, but is now used in similar senses in a wide range of fields, including science and computing...
research.
Early life
Algernon Graves was born in Pall MallPall Mall, London
Pall Mall is a street in the City of Westminster, London, and parallel to The Mall, from St. James's Street across Waterloo Place to the Haymarket; while Pall Mall East continues into Trafalgar Square. The street is a major thoroughfare in the St James's area of London, and a section of the...
, Westminster
Westminster
Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...
, the son of Henry Graves
Henry Graves (printseller and publisher)
Henry Graves was a printseller and publisher in Victorian London.-Life:Henry Graves published many of the artists whose works were exhibited at the Royal Academy and National Portrait Gallery...
(1806–1892) a publisher of prints, and Mary Squire (d. 1871).
Graves studied German in Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, before working for his father's company Henry Graves & Co., researching for catalogues that the company published.
Career
During a period of recovery following an injury, Graves had the idea of creating a catalog of art that was exhibited in London, from his extensive lists of artists and their works that he had compiled while working on other projects.In 1884 he published the first edition of his idea, entitled "A Dictionary of Artists who have Exhibited Works in the Principal London Exhibitions from 1760 to 1880". A second edition followed in 1885 and a third in 1901. In 1899, Graves and William V. Cronin issued the first volume of their work on Sir Joshua Reynolds
Joshua Reynolds
Sir Joshua Reynolds RA FRS FRSA was an influential 18th-century English painter, specialising in portraits and promoting the "Grand Style" in painting which depended on idealization of the imperfect. He was one of the founders and first President of the Royal Academy...
, which they sold by subscription. In 1900, a book on Sir Thomas Lawrence
Thomas Lawrence (painter)
Sir Thomas Lawrence RA FRS was a leading English portrait painter and president of the Royal Academy.Lawrence was a child prodigy. He was born in Bristol and began drawing in Devizes, where his father was an innkeeper. At the age of ten, having moved to Bath, he was supporting his family with his...
by Lord Ronald Gower included a catalogue by Graves.
When his father Henry died in 1892, Algernon took over the running of Henry Graves & Company, where he worked until he retired in 1907.
Personal life
Graves married the daughter of an art dealer, J. C. Grundy from ManchesterManchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, England and they had a son, Herbert Seymour Graves, who later assisted Graves with later editions of the 'Dictionary of Artists' series. His son died in 1898.
Graves remarried in 1919 to Madeline Lilian Sophia Wakeling Walker.
Publications
- "British Institution, 1806–1867" (1908)
- "Summary of and Index to Waagen" (1912)
- "A Century of Loan Exhibitions, 1813–1912" (1913)
- "Art Sales from Early in the Eighteenth Century to Early in the Twentieth Century" (1918 to 1921)