cover

• Second-hand Booksale

• Oskar Kokoschka: The Prometheus Triptych
• Tom Philips Paints Sir Nicholas Goodison
• Prof. T.J. Clark Honorary Degree DLit
• Scholarship Graduates from the MA Programme
• Scholarships
• Academic Information Services
• CCSS; Dr. Sue Price Retires
 • Witt – Watts: Investigating the Archives
• Exhibitions: David Teniers and the Theatre of Painting
 • Guercino: Mind to Paper
 • Hermitage Rooms: The Triumph of Eros
• Studying York’s Treasures
• In Memoriam: Michael Doran
• Leave a Bequest to the Courtauld Institute
• Frank Davis Memorial Lectures
• Modern and Contemporary Research Seminars
• Courtauld Association of Former Students
• Supporting Kokoschka; Friends and Patrons
• Friends Events: November to January 2007
• Short Courses: Tradition and Innovation
• Publications by Former Students
• Supporters of the Courtauld Institute of Art

• Newsletter Archive: Autumn 2006

 


Michael Doran, former Book Librarian of the Courtauld, died after a brave battle with leukaemia on 12 Sept 2006. Michael was appointed Librarian by Anthony Blunt in 1970, having previously worked for seven years as the Librarian of the Chelsea College of Art. At Portman Square, Michael took charge of a library that was housed in rooms all over Home House. The accommodation of the Library was to be a major challenge to him during his tenure as he confronted first the difficulties of working at Portman Square and then, in 1989, the logistics of moving the Library into the barely-completed premises at Somerset House. Once the Library was installed in Somerset House, the entire stock was available in one space for the first time. It was consequently a cruel blow to have to deal with the unforeseen environmental problems, particularly water leakage, which meant that some parts of the collection had to be sent to the Depository at Egham. In spite of these problems, Michael’s seven years working in the Strand were a congenial time, and he periodically enjoyed meeting colleagues present and past for lunches at a favourite café in the Aldwych.

Michael was truly dedicated to books and had a deep interest in the literature of art history. His lasting contribution was to develop a specialised collection in this subject and to build a library of international repute. He was particularly interested in special collections and was endlessly fascinated by the rare and antiquarian books in the Library collection. He was erudite enough to know the significance of items that others could overlook and such was his pleasure in books that he would often refer to ‘mouth-watering’ examples. He was instrumental in beginning the negotiations over John Shearman’s library and, on his latest visit here, was pleased to see the collection housed in a purposebuilt space. Michael did not always find the time for all the things he so desperately wanted to do; his office was legendary for the piles of books and papers it contained. Nevertheless, under Michael’s management, the Library became increasingly professional, the first steps towards automation with computerised cataloguing were taken, and handlists of the unique archival material were begun. He had a genuine and wide ranging interest in the history of art, but his enduring passion was for Cézanne. His book Conversations avec Cézanne was published in 1978 and in a revised English edition in 2001.

A book acquisition fund in Michael’s memory is being established and we plan to acquire material relating to his interests for the Library. Anyone wishing to make a contribution is kindly asked to contact Helen Thorn in the Development Office at the Courtauld Institute of Art by email at helen.thorn@courtauld.ac.uk or telephone 020 7848 2056. Please provide Helen with your name and address, and she will forward you a gift form for you to complete and return with your donation.

TIM DAVIES  Book Librarian