Henry Cole

1867 cONVENTION

CONVENTION FOR PROMOTING UNIVERSALLY REPRODUCTIONS OF WORKS OF ART FOR THE BENEFIT OF MUSEUMS OF ALL COUNTRIES

Throughout the world every country possesses fine Historical Monuments of Art of its own, which can easily be reproduced by Casts, Electrotypes, Photographs, and other processes, without the slightest damage to the originals.

(a) The knowledge of such monuments is necessary to the progress of Art, and the reproductions of them would be of a high value to all Museums for public instruction.
(b) The commencement of a system of reproducing Works of Art has been made by the South Kensington Museum, and illustrations of it are now exhibited in the British Section of the Paris Exhibition, where may be seen specimens of French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Swiss, Russian, Hindoo, Celtic and English Art.
(c) The following outline of operation is suggested: 

I. Each Country to form its own Commission according to its own views, for obtaining such reproductions as it may desire for its own Museums.

II. The Commissions of each Country to correspond with one another and send information of what reproductions each causes to be made, so that every Country, if disposed, may take advantage of the labours of other Countries at a moderate cost.

III. Each Country to arrange for making exchanges of objects which it desires.

IV. In order to promote the formation of the proposed Commissions in each Country and facilitate the making of the reproductions, the undersigned Members of the reigning families throughout Europe, meeting at the Paris Exhibition of 1867 have signified their approval of the plan, and their desire to promote the realisation of it. 

GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND
– Albert Edward, Prince of Wales
– Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh

PRUSSIA
– Frederick-William, Crown-Prince of Prussia

HESSE
– Louis, Prince of Hesse

SAXONY
– Albert, Prince Royal of Saxony

FRANCE
– Prince Napoléon (Jérome)

BELGIUM
– Philippe, Comte de Flandre

RUSSIA
– The Césarevitch
– Nicolas, Duc de Leuchtenberg

SWEDEN AND NORWAY
– Oscar, Prince of Sweden and Norway

ITALY
– Humbert, Prince Royal of Italy
– Amadeus, Duke of Aosta

AUSTRIA
– Archduke Louis Charles of Austria
– Archduke Rainier of Austria

DENMARK
– Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark

This Convention was drawn up by Henry Cole, the founding director of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. 

150 years after the Convention, the Victoria and Albert Museum has launched ReACH, a global initiative for the Reproduction of Art and Cultural Heritage. Read it by clicking the link below.

ReACH DECLARATION