Collection Highlights

Catalogue Raisonnés: Oxford Art online describes it as descriptive, systematic list of objects gathered together temporarily or permanently or otherwise associated in some way. Art catalogues are compiled to serve a variety of purposes: museum and collection catalogues record the works in public or private collections; catalogues raisonnés attempt to establish the oeuvre of an artist; exhibition catalogues document the contents and intellectual thrust of temporary exhibitions; other catalogues inform potential buyers about art works available for sale at auction or in dealers’ galleries.

If you are researching an artist's works the appropriate catalogue raisonné is your best bet for credible information. They are almost always very expensive, though, so finding catalogue raisonnés through an art library is recommended for anyone on a budget. Cleveland Public Library Fine Arts is fortunate to own a large number of catalogue raisonnés, dating back as far as the 17^th century.

Pictured here are catalogues of four well known artists who died in 2011; Helen Frankenthaler, Cy Twombly, Lucian Freud and John Chamberlain. Find these and many more in the Fine Arts and Special Collection Department