Material relating to modern sculpture

Scope and Content

This series consists of material acquired by Strachan over a long period in relation to his interest in and research on sculpture, particularly the work of modern sculptors. Much of it was generated or accumulated during his work on Towards sculpture: drawings and maquettes, from Rodin to Oldenburg (1976) and Open air sculpture in Britain (1984), as well as a projected follow-up to the latter work which was not ultimately published. The material includes numerous exhibition catalogues (some of which are inscribed to Strachan by sculptors), exhibition invitations, and other printed and published material relating to modern sculpture. There are also over 200 photographs of sculpture accumulated by Strachan to illustrate articles, lectures and books over the years. There are some original sketches by Raoul Ubac, Vincent Guiro and Lucile Passavant, as well as a large bundle of correspondence with collectors and patrons of sculpture, gallery curators, and others (including the sculptors Robert Koenig, Michael Lyons, Keith McCarter and John Newling); the correspondence largely relates to Strachan's preparation of Open air sculpture in Britain and - to a slightly lesser extent - Towards sculpture. Material relating to Lucile Passavant forms a discrete grouping of its own, and represents Passavant's work as a wood engraver as well as a sculptor; it includes some original proofs of woodcuts by Passavant.

Arrangement

The material was organised into separate series by Geoffrey Strachan before coming to the Library, and his arrangement is retained here.