22 ACCOUNTS, (^C, OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 



Department of Prints and Drawings. 



I. — Arrangement and Cataloguing. 



The alteration and veritication of references in the general indexes, rendered 

 necessary by the recent removal of the collections, has been completed. 



The preparation for press of these general indexes, in a revised and expanded form, 

 has been continued. 



The collection of engravings by Lucas van Leyden has been re-mounted and 

 arranged in seven solander cases. 



A new and improved classification of the collection of Early Italian Engravings, 

 and the preparation of a final catalogue in accordance with the same, has been 

 continued. 



The recently purchased set of Florentine drawings in illustration of a " Cronaca 

 Mondiale," formerly in the possession of Mr. Riiskin, has been inlaid and bound in a 

 volume. 



The general collection of Dutch and Flemish Etchings has been re-arranged in 

 six portfolios, the large series of plates by modern Belgian artists recently ac- 

 quired being incorporated. 



The collections of engravings by members of the Sadeler and Passe families have 

 been re-arranged ; also the collection of foreign mezzotints, which has been sub- 

 divided into schools. 



The general collection of the works of English Engravers has been transferred to 

 fifteen large portfolios, preparatory to its final re-arrangement. 



The entire collection of etchings by Rembrandt has been examined, preparatoiy to 

 being re-mounted, and the states identified and marked wnth references to the cata- 

 logues of Wilson, Middleton, Blanc, and Dutuit. 



The collection of etchings by Claude Lorrain has been examined, and the states 

 identified and marked with references to the catalogues of Dumesnil and Duplessis. 



Classes II. — VIII. of the collection of English portraits have been finally re-arranged 

 in seventy one portfolios. 



Classes IX. and X. of the main collection of English portraits have been examined, 

 verified, and endorsed, and those in the supplementary series which belonged to them 

 have been incorporated. Two thousand two hundred and eighty-five titles have been 

 written for the new general index to the collection. 



The collection of Dutch and Flemish portraits has been revised, the portraits of 

 each person being placed in a separate wrapper, and the artists' names indexed. 



The second set of Houbraken's Heads of Illustrious Persons has been broken up 

 and distiibuted. 



The collection of proof book illustrations bequeathed by Felix Slade, E.s(|., has 

 been taken in hand with a view to identifying the various series of which it consists, 

 and distributing them amongst the works of the several engravers. 



The preparation of a new catalogue of the collection of English mezzotints ha.s' 

 been commenced. 



The preparation of an index to the prints and drawings contained in the Anderdon 

 set of Royal Academy Catalogues has been continued. 



The preparation of titles for a new index to the collection of Sale Catalogues has 

 been continued. 



Five hundred and seven duplicate volumes have been transferred from the Depart- 

 ment of Printed Books, and a portion of them have been incorporated with the 

 departmental collection of Books of Prints. 



A series of duplicate engravings, in sixty frames, has been lent for exhibition to 

 the Council of the Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts. 



Two thousand one hundred and fifteen pi'ints and drawings recently acquired have 

 been incorporated with the collections to which they severally belong. 



Two thousand eight hiindred and fifty-nine items have been entered in the Register 

 of acquisitions. 



Four thousand nine hundred and fifty-three prints, drawings, &c., have been 

 impressed with the departmental stamp and references to the Register. 



Four hundred and seventy-seven drawings and prints have been placed on sunk 

 mounts, and five hundred and ninety-four have been mounted in the ordinary 

 manner. 



II. — Additions. 



The total number of drawings, prints, &c., acquired during the year was 4,778, of 

 which the following ai'e the most impoi'tant : — 



Italian School. 



DroAvings. 



Anonymous, Florentine. A sketch-book containing designs by a Florentine artist, 

 about 1400 A.D. in illustration of a " Cronaca Mondiale," formerly attributed to 



Benozzo 



