Introduction
A
Papers of Henry Wallis,
1846-1952
A.1 Letters to Henry Wallis,
1856-1915
A.2 Miscellaneous papers of Henry Wallis,
1846-1952
B
Papers of Harold Wallis,
1885-1918
| Abstract: Letters to Henry Wallis (1830-1916), painter, 1856-1915, letters to his son, Harold Wallis, 1884-1918 and miscellaneous papers of both, 1846-1952. |
Henry Wallis (1830-1916) was an artist, ceramics expert and collector. He achieved acclaim as a painter with the exhibition of his portrait 'The Death of Chatterton' at the Royal Academy in 1856, and followed up his success with 'The Stonebreaker', which was exhibited in 1858. Although he continued to paint and exhibit, he became increasingly interested in archaeology and ceramics. He travelled extensively and became an authority on Persian, Egyptian, Greek and Byzantine ceramics. He wrote and illustrated twenty volumes on ceramics during the period 1885-1899. He never married but he did have a son, Harold ('Felix'), with his lover Mary Meredith. For further details see Dictionary of National Biography and Timothy Wilson's article, 'A Victorian artist as ceramic collector: the letters of Henry Wallis', parts 1-2, Journal of the History of Collections, 14, no.1 (2002) pp.139-159 and no.2 (2002) pp.231-269.
The collection contains letters to Henry Wallis from artists, art collectors and museum curators, relating to the art world in England and the collection of fine ceramics, and a large series of letters from Henry Wallis to his son, Harold, written mostly from abroad, containing descriptions of his travels and archaeological finds.
Ten photographs of unidentified people, are MS. Photogr. 150, fols. 29-38.
See catalogue of the sketch-books of Henry Wallis, 1869-1910.
Oxford, Bodleian Library [followed by shelfmark and folio or page reference, e.g. MS. Eng. c. 7039, fols. 1-2].
| Letters to Henry Wallis from various
correspondents, 1856-1912 Shelfmark: MS. Eng. c. 7039 Extent: 119 leaves Scope and Content: Comprises letters from:
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| Letters to Henry Wallis from various
correspondents, A-H, in English, French and Italian,
1856-1915 Shelfmark: MS. Eng. c. 7040 Extent: 281 leaves Scope and Content: The letters are from friends, fellow artists, ceramic collectors and museums. They include letters from
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| Letters to Henry Wallis from various
correspondents, J-Z, in English, French, German and Italian,
1866-1915 Shelfmark: MS. Eng. c. 7041 Extent: 310 leaves Scope and Content: The letters are from friends, fellow artists, ceramic collectors and museum curators. They include letters from
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Goldsmith. An Almanack (London, 1846),
with sketches on fols. 1v, 4, 14, 24v, 52-3 and notes on fols. 19, 21, 24 Shelfmark: MS. Eng. e. 3394 Extent: 53 leaves Binding: Maroon leather with leather clasp |
| Passport for Henry Wallis and his son, issued 15
Dec. 1860 and stamped at Boulogne, 17 Dec.
1860 Shelfmark: MS. Eng. e. 3395 Extent: 1 leaf Binding: Black morocco, stamp inside front cover 'Edward Stanford Manufacturer 6 Charing Cross' |
| Wallet containing visiting cards and business
cards, many with pencilled additions by Henry Wallis, late 19th
cent. Shelfmark: MS. Eng. e. 3396 Extent: 48 leaves Binding: Cream cloth-covered wallet |
| Notes, letters and miscellaneous papers,
1858-1952 Shelfmark: MS. Eng. c. 7051/1-3 Extent: 89 leaves, ii + 82 pages and (item 3) 32 pages Scope and Content: Includes
A photograph of Professor Menzel and a photograph of an unidentified man and woman, removed from MS. Eng. c. 7051/1, are MS. Photogr. c. 150, fols. 39-40. |
| Notebook containing instructions for lace and
crochet work, inscribed on fol. 1 'Miss Abbott', 19th
cent. Shelfmark: MS. Eng. e. 3401 Extent: 12 leaves Binding: Quarter dark-blue leather, marbled paper boards |
| Letters from his father, Henry Wallis,
1885-95 Shelfmark: MS. Eng. c. 7049 Extent: 145 leaves Scope and Content: These letters are addressed to 'Felix', which was Henry's name for his son. They are written mostly from various places abroad, including Cairo, Luxor, Alexandria, Assouan, Athens, Sicily, Naples, Trieste, Paris and Marseilles. They contain descriptions of the places he visited and items he collected. They also contain instructions relating to his house and business interests in England. |
| Letters from his father, Henry Wallis and others, and
miscellaneous papers, 1895-1918, n.d. Shelfmark: MS. Eng. c. 7050 Extent: 194 leaves Scope and Content: Includes
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