Private Collections

Working alongside collector Frank Raysor (right) and Jennie Runnels (center), Permanent Collection Registrar at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, I conducted hair-raisingly exciting research identifying artworks in Mr. Raysor’s collection. Using only the information inscribed in the plate, I scoured catalog raisonne and digitized museum collections to identify the artist, title, medium, date, and state of the print. Using Fritz Lugt’s digitized database of Les Marques de Collections de Dessins & d'Estampes, I also identified collector’s marks. From Frank, a print afficionado, I learned to differentiate between laid and wove paper, as well as chine appliqué. After identifying essential information, I took measurements and input data in the VMFA’s Museum Systems database. Lastly, I produced loan documents for Frank’s artworks that would be included in The Age of Hogarth and Piranesi.

In order to handle prints at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, I attended a paper handling class led by Samantha Sheesley, Head of Paper Conservation at the VMFA.