Art at your fi ngertips
feature
At just
37 years old, granddaughter of portrait painter Augustus pulling together. Social factors have a real
Bridgeman John – whose distinctive art is now being infl uence and during an economic downturn
Art Library made available for licensing for the fi rst time. it is natural to seek assurance in images which
seems a little young to be called an institution, A distinguished artist, Rebecca fi rst started have a nostalgic quality.” And pictures from the
but within the world of art licensing that’s exhibiting her watercolour drawings in 1995 war eff ort and other nostalgic images such as
exactly what it is. As the world’s leading source after qualifying with distinction at the English Bridgeman’s Look and Learn archive of classic
of fi ne art, cultural, historical and modern Gardening School’s botanical painting course, children’s illustrations are evocative of a more
images, Bridgeman works with museums, art held at Chelsea Physic Garden. She has since innocent era. This is true across more classic
galleries and independent artists to make the had two sell-out exhibitions at the Lefevre imagery as well – English countryside imagery
world’s best art available for reproduction, Gallery in London and many commissions. will also continue to have wide appeal, and
whether that be in print, as editorial or on She has personally selected almost 40 images Bridgeman has a great selection of art featuring
product. Bridgeman represents a wide range for licensing, which she believes will prove British beauty spots by contemporary artists
of international museums, galleries and artists especially successful for textiles, ceramics, including Tim Scott Bolton and Kevin Hughes
and provides a central source of fi ne art – and stationery and editorial use. that are pure nostalgia.
specialist knowledge – for image users. Another area of art that has always been
All of the Bridgeman images – which are popular throughout the licensing world is
sourced from over 8,000 collections and more
“There is an affi nity
Oriental art, and our fascination with the far
than 30,000 artists – are available for licensing. East is showing no signs of slowing down.
As a result, the archive of images collected from
with wartime Britain
Bridgeman has a new collection of stunning
across the world is second to none. It contains
at the moment, with
Chinese woodcuts, from Paul Freeman. These
examples of almost every subject, concept,
style and medium one can imagine, ranging
everyone pulling
will be very straightforward to clear copyright
on, as the English image suppler commissioned
from ‘the masterpieces of national museums to
together. Social factors
the work so there is no need to spend time
the hidden treasures of private collections’. Fine
art is just one of the many sources of images;
have a real infl uence
chasing elusive Chinese artists! Annabel is
a particular fan of these, saying: “These are
design, antiques, maps, architecture, furniture, and during an economic really strong images, and their graphic style
glass, ceramics, anthropological artifacts and
downturn it is natural to
should work really well across a wide range of
many others also feature in the collection. products.”
Art Buyer met with Annabel O’Connor seek assurance in images What Annabel and I both found diffi cult
Fenton, who is Bridgeman’s senior marketing
which have a nostalgic
was working out what to address in this
excecutive, to take a look at a small section article as Bridgeman’s portfolio contains over
of their portfolio. I asked Annabel what was
quality.”
one million images, all available for licensing
proving popular at the moment – which key through Bridgeman’s one-stop shop approach
themes and trends could be identifi ed for for image selection, licensing and rights.
2009, bearing in mind the current fi nancial Of course, much of the art now available How is one supposed to choose? With over
climate and other social and economic factors, for licensing was not originally designed 500 contemporary artists, hundreds of out
including the changing retail market. Annabel for commercial use, as Bridgeman’s 1940s of copyright artists (where no additional fee
laughed: “It’s hard to know where to start! collection proves. The current fashion for funny is necessary) including big name artists and
There’s a lot of new, fashion-led art making an retro-styled cards and stationary means that major museums and galleries, and thousands
appearance, but the perennial favourites never these images are very much in vogue, and of illustrations, it’s diffi cult to know where to
seem to lose their appeal. Details of the classics this selection is quite wide-ranging, including begin. But Bridgeman has that sorted too,
are proving extremely popular, and every year public information and travel posters as well as Annabel explained. “If people only have a
we have plenty of requests for Renaissance as some really interesting social documentary vague idea of what they’re after then it can be
angels, Monet poppy fi elds, pretty fl orals and photography. The imagery invites captions hard for them to identify the correct imagery.
botanical images, both contemporary and likely to appeal, and ranges from candid But we can help – we’ll have a chat with them
classic – and Bridgeman has all of these in photography shots of Londoners during the and then put together a lightbox of suitable
abundance.” war to campaign posters encouraging people images to use as a starting point. From there
Botanical and fl oral artwork and imagery to do all sorts of thing – from visiting Blackpool we can tailor the search, to ensure that each
has always proven to be a popular choice for to eating less bread. It refl ects the current licensee receives the most appropriate art for
all types of homeware, from paper products mood of the consumer as we move away from their product.”
such as calendars right through to tableware, rampant materialism and echoes the more If you would like to get in touch with
and Bridgeman has a whole host of options appropriate ‘make do and mend’ mentality. Annabel to see what Bridgeman can do for you,
available. One particular new artist Annabel Annabel agreed: “There is an affi nity with please call her on +44 (0) 20 7908 1623 or email
was keen to highlight is Rebecca John – wartime Britain at the moment, with everyone Annabel.ocf@bridgemanart.co.uk.
Founded in 1972, The Bridgeman art Library works with museums, art galleries and artists to make the best art available for
reproduction. The result is an outstanding archive of images drawn from collections throughout the world, all of which are
available for licensing.
6
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68