Richard P. Wunder Research Files
Scope and Content Note
This collection consists mainly of Richard P. Wunder's research files on 18th century Italian painter and architect, Gian Paolo Panini, and George Van Derveer Gallenkamp's research files on French Baroque painter, Hyacinthe Rigaud. Wunder received the Rigaud material as a bequest from Gallenkamp. Materials on German-American history painter, Emmanuel Leutze, and architectural and theater drawings also figure prominently. These research topics stemmed from Wunder's personal scholarly interests and his career interests as a curator and director. Materials include correspondence, photographs, drafts, publications, and notes that relate to the creation of exhibits, lectures, catalogs, articles, and theses.
Dates
- 1945-1989
Creator
- Wunder, Richard P. (Person)
Access Restrictions
These records are open for research under the conditions of The Frick Collection/Frick Art Reference Library Archives access policy. Contact the Archives Department for further information at archives@frick.org.
Biographical Note
Richard P. Wunder, art historian, was born in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. He developed an interest in art while traveling with his mother in Europe. Wunder pursued this interest at Harvard, earning his bachelors, masters, and doctorate degrees in fine art. Between his studies, Wunder served in the army during WWII and the Korean War. After receiving his doctorate, Wunder became the Curator of Drawings and Prints at Cooper Union Museum, serving in this position from 1955-1964. He then went on to become the Curator of Painting and Sculpture for the National Collection of Fine Arts, Smithsonian from 1964-1968. Wunder returned to New York City as the Director for the Cooper-Hewitt Museum of Design from 1968-1970. During the 1970s, he taught at Middlebury College. He later became president of appraisals for Christie, Manson & Woods before retiring in 1990 to La Jolla, California. Richard Wunder died in 2002, at the age of 79.
Extent
39.0 Linear feet (74 boxes, 7 note card boxes, oversize material)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Research files of art historian Richard P. Wunder, containing artwork files, photographs, correspondence, writings and notes. Content mostly consists of his research on Gian Paolo Panini, though Hyacinthe Rigaud, Emmanuel Leutze, and architectural and theatre drawings are prominent topics as well.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in eight series. Each series represents a research subject area.
Series I: Gian Paolo Panini
Series II: Hyacinth Rigaud
Series III: Emmanuel Leutze
Series IV: Artist Files
Series V: Architectural Drawings
Series VI: Stage Set/Theater Drawings
Series VII: Other Drawings
Series VIII: Other Art Research
Provenance
Gift of Dr. Richard P. Wunder.
Processing Information
Arranged and described by Diane Krieger, 1997; Shannon Yule, 2009.
- Title
- Finding Aid for the Richard P. Wunder Research Files, 1945-1989 MS.002
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Finding aid prepared by Shannon Yule.
- Date
- © 2010 The Frick Collection. All rights reserved.
- Description rules
- Rules For Archival Description
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Frick Collection/Frick Art Reference Library Archives Repository
