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Ben Nicholson papers

1903–82

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Available to view online are a selection of items from the personal papers of Ben Nicholson including writings, correspondence and photographs. The manuscripts that have been selected have been written by Nicholson over a large time frame, spanning from the mid 1930s to the early 1980s and cover Nicholson's thoughts on his own art and other artists. The digitised correspondence is between Nicholson and his father, William Nicholson. Furthermore there is a selection of photographs of Ben Nicholson with his friends and family together they provide an insight into his relationship with his father and with his family.

Also available online is correspondence from Henry Moore to Ben Nicholson.

Further details on this collection are available on the archive catalogue.

Collection Owner
Ben Nicholson OM 1894–1982
Collection
Tate Archive
Acquisition
Purchased by the Tate Archive from Ben Nicholson's executors in 1987.
Reference
TGA 8717

233 objects in this collection

  • Ben Nicholson papers

    233 Objects

    • Correspondence

      79 Objects

    • Writings and documentation on and by Ben Nicholson

      32 Objects

    • Photographs

      122 Objects

      • Photographs of Ben Nicholson taken by family and friends

        82 Objects

      • Forty one photographs of Ben Nicholson, with family, friends and associates

        40 Objects

Title
Photographs
Description
This series contains photographs of works and of people and places. Nicholson kept photograph albums of his work as well as large quantities of loose photographs and colour transparencies. Therefore there is some duplication of material amongst the sections listed below. A significant amount of photographic material showing Nicholson and his family were only represented in the collection by negatives therefore contact photographs were made by the Archive and have been included in this listing, although not originally in the collection.
Reference
TGA 8717/5

Showing 1–20 of 122 objects

Photograph of Ben Nicholson in school uniform as a child

Anonymous, Ben Nicholson OM
[c.1902]

Photograph of Ben Nicholson in a hat leaning against a wall

Anonymous
[c.1920s]

Photograph of Ben Nicholson wearing swimming shorts

Anonymous
September 1931

Photographs of Ben Nicholson lying on the beach reading a newspaper

Anonymous
September 1931

Photographs of Ben Nicholson in swimming shorts, holding a ball

Dame Barbara Hepworth
August 1932

Photographs of Ben Nicholson’s hands while drawing

Anonymous, Ben Nicholson OM
[1934]

Photograph of Ben Nicholson working on a still life

Anonymous
1936

Photographs of Ben Nicholson working on a still life (1929-1935)

Anonymous, Ben Nicholson OM
1936

Photograph of Ben Nicholson in a t-shirt and cap skiing at Beuil, Alpes Maritimes

Anonymous
January 1936

Photograph of Ben Nicholson skiing in the trees at Beuil, Alpes Maritimes

Anonymous
January 1936

Photograph of Ben Nicholson skiing at Beuil, Alpes Maritimes (rear view)

Anonymous
January 1936

Photograph of Ben Nicholson skiing at Beuil, Alpes Maritimes (side view)

Anonymous
January 1936

Photograph of Ben Nicholson dressed in black skiing at Beuil, Alpes Maritimes

Anonymous
January 1936

Photograph of Ben Nicholson looking down while skiing at Beuil, Alpes Maritimes

Anonymous
January 1936

Photograph of Ben Nicholson dressed in black with a white cap skiing at Beuil, Alpes Maritimes

Anonymous
January 1936

Photograph of Ben Nicholson looking in the mirror

John Humphrey Spender
[c.1936]

Photographs of Ben Nicholson at 60 Parkhill Road, Hampstead

Anonymous
[c.1936]

Photographs of Ben Nicholson holding a cat

Anonymous
[1940s]

Photograph of Ben Nicholson in Cornwall holding one of his works

Mark Kauffman
[1940s]

Photograph of Ben Nicholson with a collage (1933)

Anonymous
[1940s]
Artwork
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