The Johnstone Gallery archive correspondence files
Gallery correspondence penned almost exclusively by Brian Johnstone spans the early 1950s and continues into the 1970s. His letters describe with distinctive flair and wit his approach to the operation of his gallery and his response to critical appraisal of gallery exhibitions. They document his view of the quantity and types of works that should be included, together with detail concerning the day-to-day business of a commercial gallery. Johnstone's correspondence with galleries in other states is open and friendly, and often includes frank advice and the benefit of his considerable experience. He also corresponded personally with clients and artists on all matters, ranging from possible purchases to art world personalities and gossip.
The Correspondence files, containing inward and outward letters, tell stories about the relationships, sometimes over a number of years, between some of the represented artists, such as Donald Friend, Sidney Nolan, Ray Crooke and Arthur Boyd and Brian Johnstone as gallery director. They detail the organisation of exhibitions, appraise their success and discuss thematics.
For example, Brian commented on the Gareth Jones-Roberts exhibition thus:
I am very pleased with the result of your first show here. As you know it is always a problem introducing a new artist and I think the 8 sales to date have made it all very worthwhile... if I may be so presumptuous as to offer one word of advice - it is to suggest to you that in a one-man show it is always best I think to stick to a certain theme or line of thought. In this exhibition... It would probably have been better to have stuck entirely to those very good central Australian paintings. End of advice!
(Letter from Brian Johnstone to Gareth Jones-Roberts, 6 April 1965:The Johnstone Gallery Archive: Gareth Jones-Roberts Correspondence File: RBHARC 7/3/54)
Financial information is also included, and these records give valuable information about the way in which Brian Johnstone managed the gallery, detailing commission percentages, fees payable by artists for the use of various galleries, and the way in which these evolved over the years.
Eighty-eight alphabetical Correspondence Files and sixteen General Correspondence Files are listed in the Guide to The Johnstone Gallery Archive.
Last updated: 10th January 2008
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