Identity area
Reference code
FR PUNES AG 13
Title
Archives of Colour Reproductions of Paintings
Date(s)
- 1949 - 1979 (Creation)
Level of description
Archive Group
Extent and medium
Circa 5000 colour reproductions of paintings and 5 boxes of documents about the project, card index of reproductions and original photos for the catalogues
Context area
Repository
Archival history
The UNESCO Archives received part of the UNESCO collection of colour reproduction of paintings from the Culture Sector and keeps them in the archives. Since the collection was not complete when transferred to the archives and had to suffer further losses over the time, only about 50% of the original collection is still kept in the archives.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
This Archive Group refers to a project of the Culture Sector from 1949 to ca. 1979. Since 1949, UNESCO, with the assistance of its National Commissions, made contact with publishers of reproductions of famous paintings throughout the world. The reproductions were examined and the publishers were then listed as sources for accurate reproductions of masterpieces of world art. The reproductions could then be purchased and disseminated, rendering the masterpieces accessible to the world. UNESCO then published several catalogues and maintained a collection (called "Archives of Colour Reproductions of Paintings") which contained all reproductions received as samples.
The idea of the UNESCO project was to give the vast majority of people who never or only occasionally have the chance to see the originals of great paintings access to them by substituting these art works with high-quality colour reproductions.
With the aim of making the best colour reproductions more easily available to teachers, students and the general art-interested public, UNESCO, over a period of 30 years, produced catalogues listing by the end more than 15,000 paintings of which high-quality reproductions exist and could be obtained. The volumes were intended not only to bring art into homes and schools but also to encourage the increased production of colour prints and the improvement of reproduction standards and methods.
At UNESCO Headquarters complete sets of the prints were kept so that visitors would have been able to see the reproductions themselves.
The main criteria by which the prints have been chosen were the fidelity of the reproduction, the significance of the artist, and the importance of the original painting. The selection had been done by two committees of experts set up in agreement with the International Council of Museums that decided which reproductions should be included in UNESCO’s catalogue and collection.
The idea of the UNESCO project was to give the vast majority of people who never or only occasionally have the chance to see the originals of great paintings access to them by substituting these art works with high-quality colour reproductions.
With the aim of making the best colour reproductions more easily available to teachers, students and the general art-interested public, UNESCO, over a period of 30 years, produced catalogues listing by the end more than 15,000 paintings of which high-quality reproductions exist and could be obtained. The volumes were intended not only to bring art into homes and schools but also to encourage the increased production of colour prints and the improvement of reproduction standards and methods.
At UNESCO Headquarters complete sets of the prints were kept so that visitors would have been able to see the reproductions themselves.
The main criteria by which the prints have been chosen were the fidelity of the reproduction, the significance of the artist, and the importance of the original painting. The selection had been done by two committees of experts set up in agreement with the International Council of Museums that decided which reproductions should be included in UNESCO’s catalogue and collection.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
No further accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
The reproductions are not accessible for the public but documents, catalogues, photos and card index can be consulted.
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
AG 13/1: Catalogue of reproductions of paintings prior to 1860, 10th ed. Paris, 1978 (CUA/18/21)
AG 13/2: Catalogue of reproductions of paintings 1860-1979, 11th ed. Paris 1981 (CUA/18/22)
AG 13/3: Card index of pictures included in the catalogues
There are several catalogues published earlier than these two, but all reproductions listed in those are also included in the later versions.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Part of the collection, the catalogues, documents about the project, card index of reproductions and original photos are kept by the UNESCO archives.
All catalogues of reproductions are also available via the UNESCO Archives.
All catalogues of reproductions are also available via the UNESCO Archives.
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Publication note
Great paintings for everyone, in: The UNESCO Courier. VI, 7, Paris, Unesco, 1953. p. 12-13, illus.
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Created by Julia Pohle, July 2009. Revised AWT 9 March 2010.