The Witt Photographic Collection, founded by Sir Robert Witt in the 1890s, comprises over two million images of Western art dating from the 13th century to present. Acquired by The Courtauld in 1944, this extensive collection includes photographs, reproductions, and printed materials. A recent digitization project, funded by a private benefactor, relocated the collection to the Netherlands and made it available online for free under a Creative Commons license. This initiative not only democratizes access to art history but also facilitates research and exploration among wider audiences.
A huge archive of over two million images of Western art spanning eight centuries has been digitised and published online for the public to explore for free.
Founded in the 1890s by art historian Sir Robert Witt, the collection expanded significantly in 1899 following his marriage to Mary, a fellow collector of photographs of Western art.
The Ministry of Culture highlighted the importance of accessing historical visual materials, stating it promotes cultural education and enhances engagement with art history.
Tom Bilson, Head of Digital Media at The Courtauld, commented on the significance of this project in making a rich resource available online for research.
Collection
[
|
...
]