Home > Reference Works & Finding Aids >

Lugt's Répertoire online

  

Order Background Specifications

Frederik Johannes Lugt (1884-1970)
Frits Lugt was both an art collector and an eminent scholar. He received his early training at the well known was compiling auction catalogs. This may have been the reason why he later put together the Répertoire des catalogues de ventes publiques intéressant l'art ou la curiosité …, a finding aid for art sales catalogs from the period 1600 to1925. This immense work in 4 volumes appeared between 1938 and 1987 (volume 4 appeared after his death). It lists more than 100,000 auction catalogs. The basis for this index was his own collection of auction catalogs which he later donated to the Rijksbureau for Kunsthistorische Documentatie (RKD) in the Hague.

The Répertoire
For some decades now, the Répertoire des Catalogues de Ventes Publiques by Frits Lugt has been one of the most widely consulted art historical reference works. In four volumes, Lugt lists more than 100,000 art sales catalogues from libraries in Europe and the USA. He not only describes the collections of the larger libraries, such as the Paris Bibliothèque de l'Art et de l'Archéologie, but also catalogues the contents of minor collections. In the Répertoire, all catalogues are arranged in strict chronological order, giving date, place, order or provenance of each property, type of sale (whether pictures, prints or objets d'art), number of lots, auctioneer, library in which the catalogue may be consulted and details of any annotations in the catalogue described (prices, names, additions, remarks).

Volume one of the Répertoire was printed in 300 copies only. The other volumes also had relatively small print runs. Volumes 1-3 are now highly sought after, and very expensive to buy through antiquarian sources.

The Répertoire online
In close cooperation with the Rijksbureau for Kunsthistorische Documentatie (RKD) in the Hague, IDC Publishers has created an online edition of Lugt's Répertoire, long since out of print. The aim is not only to create a copy of the original work but also to increase its value by adding many recently discovered catalogs and making corrections. The publication features a multitude of search options (e.g. Lugt number, date, place, provenance, auctioneer, library). The database can be consulted both in French and English. Where relevant we have added the Provenace index number to the records. This number refers to the identication number of the sale catalogs in the Provenance Index of the Getty Research Institute.

Reprint editions
IDC Publishers expands its service by introducing the possibility to order high quality reprints on paper of the art sales catalogs that are available on microfiche. These reprints of art sales catalogs are easy to access, offer excellent readability and there is no need for special reading equipment. This makes them ideal for researchers interested in just one or a small number of catalogs or for libraries seeking to complete their art sales catalogs collection, local auction houses, or for particular provenances. It is also possible to order single catalogs on microfiche. Both microfiche and paper copies can be ordered directly via Lugt online www.idcpublishers.info/lugt

Publication schedule
In January 2003, IDC released the online edition of Lugt's Répertoire Volume 1, listing catalogs from the period 1600 to 1825. In spring 2003, IDC Publishers has made available Volume 2 of Lugt's Répertoire. With the addition of Volume 3 (1861-1900)the total number of records available is almost 60,000.
Although Lugt's Répertoire online is now completed, recently discovered catalogs will constantly be added and corrections to the original work will be made. Subscribers of the database are invited to inform IDC Publishers about changes and additions to the data in the publication.

Subscription
The subscription starts immediately after IDC Publishers has received and processed your request for connection through www.idcpublishers.info/lugt. You will receive an invoice for payment within a few days.
All buyers of complete parts of the Art Sales Catalogs microfiche collection will obtain access to Lugt online free of charge. Institutes that have bought parts in the past will be contacted by IDC Publishers or can contact us. .