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Richard P. Wunder Research Files

 Collection
Identifier: MS.002

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

  • Creation: 1945-1989

Creator

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

Additional Description

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.

Related Names

Subjects

Collection Categories

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

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

Repository Details

Part of the Frick Collection Archives Repository

https://www.frick.org/library/archives
Contact:
10 East 71st Street
New York NY 10021 United States