Note to the reader
Lay-out
The present edition follows a simple lay-out. On the right is a scan of the original text, or of the interleaved page with handwritten annotations by Thoré-Bürger. On the left is the translation or transcription of that text in which Bergvelt’s footnotes have been inserted. Thoré-Bürger’s own footnotes are placed directly underneath each translated page. A limited number of artworks is illustrated between the pages.
Footnotes
The newly included footnotes can be divided into several categories. Most are basic references to the artworks that are referred to in the text. Thes are listed by the current attribution, the title of the artwork–including a hyperlink to the RKD images entry–the current whereabouts, and a limited selection of literary sources of which we can say with certainty that Thoré-Bürger consulted them:
- Smith 1829-1842
J. Smith, A catalogue raisonné of the works of the most eminent Dutch, Flemish, and French painters, 9 vols., London 1829-1842 - Aanwijzing 1853
Aanwijzing der schilderijen, berustende op het Rijks Museum, te Amsterdam, 1853 (annotated copy in Rijksmuseum Library 19 D 23) - Amsterdam 1858
P. L. Dubourcq, Beschrijving der schilderijen op ’s Rijksmuseum te Amsterdam met fac simile der naamteekens, Amsterdam 1858
In addition, the entry from Aanwijzing 1853, including the handwritten taxation value from the Rijksmuseum’s copy of the publication, is cited in full. The reason for this, is that the annotated copy is not easily accessible, and that the appraisals give interesting insight into the appreciation of the artworks at the time that Thoré-Bürger was working on them. The other annotations that have been included, consist of either corrections or explanations of what Thoré-Bürger writes, more complete references to the sources he mentions, and elaborations on particular topics.
RKD images database
All the identifiable artworks that are referred to in Thoré-Bürger’s text and handwritten annotations have been included in the RKD images database. Again, a standard selection of literature is referred to, mainly focusing on the sources that Thoré-Bürger was able to consult himself. If those specific editions were not available, a previous or subsequent edition of the same publication was used instead. In many cases, also the reproductive prints that are mentioned in Thoré-Bürger’s text, or in Smith 1829-1843, have been included in the database with a link to the painted example.
Bibliography
The bibliography lists the abbreviated literature referred to in the footnotes. To illustrate the wealth of digitized publications that have increasingly been released online over the past years, a link to a digitized version of a publication has been included, when available.