More than 200 years have gone by, but the name of Rudolph Ackermann is still associated with innovation, entrepreneurship, and his beautiful, profusely illustrated books. He provided employment , and a place for artists to explore and expand their creativity, to reach the public without the approval of the mainstream artistic institutions. His shop and showroom were a hub for the most modern, edgy tastes of the time.
The Repository of Arts seized publication in December of 1828 after 20 successful years and 40 beautifully presented volumes. Close to 1400 illustrations, mostly hand coloured, were issued for the duration of the periodical. They depicted the 19th century English, upper middle class with vibrant detail - from clothing, furniture, and house designs to country estates, international travels, new inventions and so much more.
Ackermann set out to deliver “ useful information in a pleasing and popular form” and the result was 40 volumes which historians, costume designers, film and theatre set creators still borrow costumes and interiors from, and the beautiful illustrations have shaped our vision of Jane Austen’s world in a way no other contemporary periodical has.
To me the volumes of the Repository are a treasured part of my collection, a portal to the past, unblemished by today’s views, modern opinions and sensitivities.
With today’s ease of printing , few of us realize the effort needed to produce such hand colouring, and the time, patience and precision essential to create engraving for each subscriber looking virtually the same as the other. In reality each and every individual plate is an original reflecting the skill of the colorist.
The 4 volumes of these series contain quick visual reference to all plates issued for the duration of the periodical. They offer quick reference as to what to expect to find in a Ackermann’s Repository volume before you make a costly purchase.
Time beats against what is left, and a little bit of what has reached us, is lost every day, I hope that we will preserve the little treasures still surviving in our time, and pass them on to those who come after us.
