Library

The library of the Fondation Custodia contains 130 000 volumes and is one of the largest art history libraries in France.

The graphic art section is especially extensive, exhaustive in the case of the art of the Northern Schools of the Golden Age. The collection consists principally of monographs, periodicals and catalogues in the field of Western art from 1450 to 1900.

It also contains a sizeable number of studies of Indian miniature painting, of Danish art and topography, portrait miniatures, the history of collectors and collecting and the history of the illustrated book.

Reference works, such as Hollstein, as well as monographs of Flemish and Dutch artists, are available to the public free of charge. The Fondation Custodia, true to its mission ‘to serve the history of art’ – dear to its founder Frits Lugt – opens up the library to anyone wanting to carry out research: art lovers, professionals and students at any level.

Our titles are listed in the online catalogue. The books are delivered on demand and availability of new acquisitions is unusually quick.