The New York Public Library’s Collections Go to the Mat (and Custom Frame)

New Library Art Shop Offers Shoppers Custom-Framed Reproductions from World-Renowned Research Collections

Green Velvet Ladies' Slipper, 1900. Artist: T. Watson Greig. Shown with warm gray/white mat and wood frame with champagne leaf pattern with inner bead edge and patina accent.
New York, NY, November 20. 2003 -- Bothered by empty wall space? That space over the mantle or couch, by the bookcase, or in the foyer that just needs something, well – special. A gorgeous illustration of orchids, for instance, from one of the greatest botanical works ever published? Or an antique map, circa 1655, of darkest Africa? Maybe a whimsical drawing of a green velvet lady’s slipper from the turn of the last century?

The New York Public Library is announcing the launch of The Library Art Shop, a website where both the first-time designer and the

professional can find custom-framed reproductions of images from the Library’s world-renowned research collections. Partnering with ArtSelect, Inc., the largest supplier of custom-framed art via the web, the Library presents rare and beautiful prints, illustrations, photographs, maps, and posters from its digital archives, many of which have never been available before.

Among the offerings are dramatic images from its critically acclaimed fall exhibition, Russia Engages the World, 1453–1825; Utamaro's Floating World series; Berenice Abbott’s photographs of New York City; brilliantly colored prints of wildlife; and many, many more, available in search categories such as Antique Maps, Flora & Fauna, New York City, and Fashion & Design. New images and categories are being added to the site on a regular basis.
Painting the Lips, ca. 1794-95. Artist: Kitagawa Utamaro. Shown on canvas with wood-burnished bronze frame.
Through a high-resolution computer technology known as “giclée,” these extraordinary reproductions, rich in color saturation with four or five times more detailing than can be obtained with standard offset printing, are virtually indistinguishable from the original art. Visitors to the site need only choose their prints, then link to subsequent pages for a wide selection of sizes, mats, and frames, at the substantial discounts that are possible over the web. In addition, The Library Art Shop also makes available more than 10,000 other images from ArtSelect. Shipping direct to your home or office is free.

Each purchase through The Library Art Shop brings in much-needed dollars in support of The New York Public Library’s

programs. And buyers will own a work of art from one of the world’s most celebrated collections.

Contact: Tina Hoerenz, 212-704-8600

 

 

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