Art Markets, Agents and Collectors brings together a wide variety of
case studies, based on letters and detailed archival research, which
nuance the history of the art market and the role of the collector
within it. Using diaries, account books and other archival sources, the
contributions to this volume show how agents set up networks and
acquired works of art, often developing the taste and knowledge of the
collectors for whom they were working. They are therefore seen as
important actors in the market, having a specific role that separates
them from auctioneers, dealers, museum curators or amateurs, while at
the same time acknowledging and analyzing the dual positions that many
held. Each chronological period is introduced by a contextual essay,
written by a leading expert in the field, which sets out the art market
in the period concerned and the ways in which agents functioned. This
book is an invaluable tool for those needing a broader introduction to
the intricate workings of the art market.