Bridgeman Images: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|International picture library (est. 1972)}}

The '''Bridgeman Art Library''', based in [[London]], is one of the largest archives for [[reproduction]]s of works of [[art]] in the world. Founded in [[1972]] by [[Harriet Bridgeman]], the goal of the library is to cover the entire history of mankind's relationship with art. The Bridgeman Art Library cooperates with many [[art gallery|art galleries]] and [[museum]]s to gather [[image]]s.

{{Infobox museum

The library was involved in the landmark [[United States Supreme Court]] case ''[[Bridgeman Art Library v. Corel Corp.]]'', where it was determined that exact photographic copies of two-dimensional works in the [[public ___domain]] cannot be copyrighted—even if making the image takes considerable effort—because the resulting works lack originality. The results of the case don't necessarily reflect views on copyrightability outside of the [[United States|U.S.]]

| name = Bridgeman Images

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| established = 1972

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| ___location = New York, London, Paris, Berlin

| type = [[Picture library]]

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| website = [http://www.bridgemanimages.com www.BridgemanImages.com]

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'''Bridgeman Images''', based in New York, London, Paris and Berlin, provides one of the largest archives for reproductions of works of art in the world. Bridgeman Art Library was founded in 1972 by [[Harriet Bridgeman]] and changed its name in 2014. The Bridgeman Art Library works with [[art gallery|art galleries]] and [[museum]]s to gather [[image]]s<ref name="archimuse">{{cite web |title=Museums and the Web 2001 : Exhibit |url=http://www.archimuse.com/mw2001/exhibit/ex_100000615.html |website=archimuse.com|accessdate = 2008-12-28}}</ref> and footage for licensing.

== History ==

[[Harriet Bridgeman]] was hired at 23 by Sir [[John Rothenstein]] to launch a UK version of the Italian journal ''I Maestri del Colore''. She discovered that gathering pictures of artworks was complicated and launched Bridgeman Art Library in 1972.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Walsh |first=John |date=2012-04-13 |title=Harriet Bridgeman: The first lady of fine art |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/harriet-bridgeman-the-first-lady-of-fine-art-7637095.html |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref>

In 1998, the company was involved in the case ''[[Bridgeman Art Library v. Corel Corp.]]'', in which the [[United States District Court for the Southern District of New York]] ruled that exact photographic copies of two-dimensional works in the [[public ___domain]] cannot be copyrighted, even if making the image takes considerable [[sweat of the brow|effort]], because the resulting works lack [[originality]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bridgeman Art Library, Ltd. v. Corel Corp., 25 F. Supp. 2d 421 (S.D.N.Y. 1998) |url=https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp2/25/421/2325910/ |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=Justia Law |language=en}}</ref> During the [[Royal Academy of Arts|Royal Academy]]'s 1998 exhibition ''Art Treasures of England: the Regional Collections'', 98% of the pieces exhibited came from Bridgeman Art Library.<ref name=":0" />

In 2007, Harriet Bridgeman restructured the company to pave the way for her succession.<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 July 2007 |title=Changes at the top for The Bridgeman Art Library |url=https://www.targetwire.com/targetwire/2007/07/31/po212/po212_uk.html |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=www.targetwire.com}}</ref> In 2012, Bridgeman Art Library started to represent the [[British Council]] Collection.<ref>{{Cite web |title=British Council Collection and the Bridgeman Art Library {{!}} All news {{!}} Blog {{!}} British Council − Visual Arts |url=http://visualarts.britishcouncil.org/news/all-news/british-council-collection-and-the-bridgeman-art-library- |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=visualarts.britishcouncil.org}}</ref> In 2014, the company officially changed its name from Bridgeman Art Library to Bridgeman Images.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carleton |first=Will |date=2014-06-04 |title=Rebrand: Bridgeman Art Library is now Bridgeman Images |url=https://photoarchivenews.com/news/rebrand-bridgeman-art-library-is-now-bridgeman-images/ |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=Photoarchivenews |language=en-GB}}</ref> In April 2015, Bridgeman Images acquired the French photo archives company Rue des Archives.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Puech |first=Michel |title=L’agence photo Rue des Archives vendue a la Bridgman Art Library |url=https://blogs.mediapart.fr/michel-puech/blog/240415/l-agence-photo-rue-des-archives-vendue-la-bridgman-art-library |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=Mediapart |language=fr}}</ref>

== Activities ==

Bridgeman Images is a company that represents museums, art collections and artists throughout the world by providing a central source of fine art and photography for image users (300,000 artworks and 750,000 historical photographs). The company provides a search engine to query its inventory.<ref name=":0" />

Bridgeman also provides customers with reproduction licensing and offers advice on how to clear artist's copyright, if additional permission is needed.<ref name=":0" /> Copyright holders receive remuneration in the form of half the reproduction fee paid by the customer. As well as supplying images to consumers, Bridgeman works with copyright holders to create high quality reproductions of artists' works using the latest imaging technology. These reproductions can be ordered through various websites and apps such as [[Art Authority]]. Over 500 new images are added to the Bridgeman archive each week. Museums represented in the archive include the [[British Museum]]; the [[British Library]]; the National Galleries of [[National Gallery of Scotland|Scotland]], [[Nationalmuseum|Sweden]] and [[South African National Gallery|South Africa]]; the [[Hamburg Kunsthalle]]; and the [[Barnes Foundation]].{{fact|date=July 2025}}

==See also==

*[[List of online image archives]]

==References==

{{reflist}}

==External links==

{{commons category|Images from Bridgemanart Library}}

*[http://www.bridgeman.co.uk/ Bridgeman Art Library]

*{{Official website|www.bridgemanimages.com/|name=Bridgeman Images}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Publishing companies established in 1972]]

[[Category:Museum companies]]

[[Category:Companies based in the City of Westminster]]

[[Category:Visual arts publishing companies]]

[[Category:Photo archives in the United Kingdom]]

[[Category:Stock photography]]

[[Category:Digital libraries]]

[[Category:Visual arts libraries]]

[[Category:Libraries established in 1972]]