Contini-Volterra Photographic Archive
Scope and Contents
The Contini-Volterra Photographic Archive contains over 50,000 photographs of art objects created in Europe during the 13th through 20th centuries. The collection is especially strong in Italian art of the 13th through 18th centuries, offering breadth and depth coverage of each major Italian region and featuring both major (Botticelli, Tintoretto) as well as lesser known (Turino Vanni di Rigoli, Deodato Orlandi) artists of the period.
Dates
- 1930 - 1967
Conditions Governing Access
This collection may be viewed only in the reading room of Special Collections in the Jean and Alexander Heard Library. Collections should be requested 2-3 days prior to visiting in order to facilitate easier access. For questions or to request a collection, contact specialcollections@vanderbilt.edu.
Biographical / Historical
The Contini-Volterra Photographic Archive was created by Florentine art connoisseur Count Alessandro Contini-Bonacossi to supplement his own knowledge and understanding of art in support of his growing collection of paintings. After Contini's death in 1955, the collection was acquired by Florentine antiquarian Gualtiero Volterra, who continued to add photographs to the collection.
Extent
126 Linear Feet (300 Hollingers)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Contini-Volterra Photographic Archive, 1930-1970, consists of photographs of art objects created in Europe during the 13th through 20th centuries. The collection was assembled by Alessandro Contini-Bonacossi, 1878-1955, and Gualtiero Volterra, 1901–1967.
Physical Location
Offsite Storage, Special Collections & Archives
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Vanderbilt University purchased the collection from the Volterra estate in 1969 to support its growing Art History program. The collection was transferred to Special Collections in 2002 for preservation and broader public access.
- Title
- Finding Aid for the Contini-Volterra Photographic Archive
- Status
- Completed
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Vanderbilt University Special Collections Repository
Special Collections Library
1101 19th Ave. S.
Nashville TN 37212 United States
specialcollections@vanderbilt.edu