Organisation: National Gallery
Principal investigator: Marika Spring
Project overview
The National Gallery Collection encompasses more than 2,300 works representing major Western European painting traditions from the late medieval and Renaissance Italy to the French Impressionists. This project aims to create a comprehensive digital resource by consolidating extensive data gathered from the examination of paintings by Joshua Reynolds, an influential 18th century British artist renowned for his innovative yet occasionally controversial experiments with painting materials. Currently, the data are dispersed across institutions, are disorganised and difficult to access. This project unites leading UK institutions with significant Reynolds collections and detailed technical documentation to develop a new accessible resource.
Project purpose
The project aims to meet the urgent need for a centralised and accessible technical data resource on the Reynolds’ collection by the establishment of ResearchSpace, an open-source web platform. This resource will function as a repository and a platform for curated data presentation and visualisation. This new resource will enable researchers to gain new insights, make new connections, and conduct comparisons through aggregated data enhancing research and conservation efforts in British art.
Project impacts
This project will enable collaborative interdisciplinary research, enhancing the understanding and providing deeper insights into Reynolds’ collection and his techniques. The project aims to establish a reusable template for heritage science data documentation, with potential expansion to include other British artists. This project will ensure the long-term sustainability and accessibility of the resource, significantly advancing the field of heritage science.