Research on Mortimer, John Hamilton 1740-1779

This series contains the research notes, correspondence, manuscripts and photographs compiled by Benthall, Nicolson and Sunderland in relation to their respective research on the artist, John Hamilton Mortimer.

Sunderland kept the material created by Benthall as a separate entity and it has been preserved as such (see catalogue reference JNS/1/1). However, whilst much of Nicolson's research notes remain distinct (see JNS/1/2), some of the material was incorporated, by Sunderland, into his own files. Where this is the case, it has been noted in the catalogue descriptions.

Whilst much of the material in the archive was used to inform Sunderland's catalogue on Mortimer, it also includes - within the files of correspondence and research notes in particular - a considerable amount of information that remains unpublished. There is also material relating to Sunderland's work post publication including, in particular, corrections and queries from other scholars and collectors.

Gilbert Benthall (1880-1961) was an amateur art historian and a collector, with a specific interest in John Hamilton Mortimer. Although his work was never published he did complete various manuscript catalogues concerning Mortimer's prints, drawings and engravings, as well as a comprehensive biographical history of the artist (for more information on these volumes, see catalogue reference JNS/1/1).

Lionel Benedict Nicolson (1914-1978) was an art historian and editor of the Burlington Magazine. In the mid-1960s he began work on an exhibition of the works of Mortimer, eventually delivering the exhibition in Eastbourne and London, as well as publishing an exhibition catalogue (for more information about this see catalogue record JNS/1/2). During the course of his research, he made use of the unpublished works of Benthall which were held at the V&A, acknowledging him in the exhibition catalogue. It seems he acquired copies of many of these works from Benthall's widow, which he then passed to Sunderland along with his own notes in December 1968 once his work on Mortimer had concluded.

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