Print Collection
Inspiring and visually striking, the Baillieu Library Print Collection includes approximately 9,000 individual works of art. It encompasses prints (engravings, woodcuts etc.) and also print albums, drawings, paintings, tools and books. The majority of the collection is European, featuring such renowned artists as Albrecht Dürer, Rembrandt and William Hogarth. It is representative of Western printmaking practitioners and techniques (relief, intaglio and planographic) dating from the 15th to the 19th century, but it also includes examples from the 20th and 21st century.
The Persian, 1632
Etching, sheet: 9.7 x 6.1 cm
Print Collection, Baillieu Library,
University of Melbourne
Gift of Dr J. Orde Poynton 1959
reg. no. 1959.3709
History and development
The collection was first established in the Baillieu Library in 1959 through a gift by Dr John Orde Poynton of approximately 3,700 Old Master prints dating from 1460 to 1850. Works of art by high caliber artists such as Albrecht Dürer, Jacques Callot, Rembrandt van Rijn and William Hogarth were included in this major gift. The important Sadeler albums, which were collected by Elizabeth Seymour Percy Northumberland, were purchased in 1962. The collection was further enhanced in 1964 with Harold Wright’s bequest of half his Lionel Lindsay print collection and prints by Lindsay’s British contemporaries. In 1995 Dr Pierre Gorman gifted his collection of prints relating to Cambridge. The collection development has been guided by these individual collectors and continues to grow in scope and depth through additional donations and purchases. The primary role of the collection is its rich resourcefulness for teaching, research and exhibition.
Viewing the Print Collection
- The print collection is entirely searchable and its database is available online.
- To view prints in person, please submit a request via the Reading Room.
- To make an appointment in the print room, to book a class, or discuss a research project please contact the curator (prints).
The collection is available to study for research projects, such as thesis and scholarly articles. The Print Collection also offers a limited number of internships throughout the year, for further details please see the Museums and Collections Projects Program.
For associated study fellowships, such as the Ursula Hoff Fellowship please see Fellowships and Awards.
Important new research, conference proceedings and exhibitions produced from the Baillieu Library Print Collection have been produced in article and book formats. See key publications below and a complete list on the Museums & Collections website.
Object based learning with the Print Collection
The collection actively seeks and supports curriculum at the University. It has a strong teaching tradition particularly in the disciplines of paper conservation, art historical and curatorial studies. Yet images are also relevant to disciplines beyond the visual arts. Prints may be utilised during classes and for assessment tasks; prior discussion and booking of prints and rooms in the Baillieu Library with the curator is essential. Enquires about object based learning with prints are always welcome.

The practitioners of the visual arts
1578 engraving
Baillieu Library Print Collection
The University of Melbourne
Gift of Dr J. Orde Poynton 1959.
Thank you once more for the support that the Baillieu Library Print Collection provided toArt History: Theory and Controversy. Students loved the opportunity to engage directly with historic prints and nearly 100 of our 143 students chose to write about works from the collection. The essays showed their enthusiasm for the material as they discussed details about the paper, the visual dimensions of objects and other tactile qualities that can only come out of direct engagement with the works themselves.
Why study prints?
Hands-on experiential learning offers unique and meaningful interactions between people and objects. Students currently utilise the collection to study materiality, printmaking techniques and technology. They also work in groups to devise exhibitions, learning about the challenges and skills required for professional settings. Comparative visual analysis between images develops foundation skills for research. The application of art theory to prints provides practical academic exercise. Students also benefit from describing the subject of the prints in detail; these observation skills are useful across many disciplines and prints have been used by medical students and veterinary students, for example to apply the visual observation skills to enhance their x-ray reading. Discovering individual artists, the historical events reflected through the prints and perspective methods, also highlights social, economic, financial and mathematical concepts.
Seven centuries of art: a gallery of highlights from the Print Collection.
-
Junges paar
Scharl, Josef (1896-1954) Junges paar
(c.1935)
woodcut
image 34.9cm (H) x 26.0cm (W)
sheet (irregular) 43.0cm (H) x 33.0cm (W)
2011.0077.000.000
Baillieu Library Print Collection
University of Melbourne
Gift of Marion and David Adams, 2011 -
Untitled
Mitelman, Allan (1946)
Untitled
(2000)
ink
sheet 14.6cm (H) x 9.6cm (W)
2015.0047.000.000
Baillieu Library Print Collection,
University of Melbourne.
Gift of Matisse Mitelman. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program, 2015.
© the artist -
Up in the Heavens
Robinson, Brian (1973, Torres Strait Islander) Up in the Heavens
2015
linocut
image 60.0cm (H) x 113.5cm (W)
sheet 76.0cm (H) x 121.5cm (W)
2015.0024.000.000
Baillieu Library Print Collection
University of Melbourne
Purchased, 2015.
© the artist -
Christ Blessing the Virgin
Schongauer, Martin (c. 1430-91)
Christ Blessing the Virgin (1480-90)
engraving
image (sheet trimmed to image)
15.1cm (H) x 16.1cm (W)
2015.0025.000.000
Baillieu Library Print Collection
University of Melbourne
Purchased, 2015. -
Wawurritjpal V
Wanambi, Wukun (1962) Wawurritjpal V
(2006)
etching
plate 24.5cm (H) x 32.6cm (W)
sheet 39.1cm (H) x 45.1cm (W)
2017.0004.000.000
Baillieu Library Print Collection,
University of Melbourne
Gift of Dr Susan Lowish. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program, 2017.
© Reproduced with the permission of Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Centre -
[Kabuki actors]
Kunisada, Utagawa III (1848-1920)
[Kabuki actors]
(1891)
woodcut, colour
image 35.1cm (H) x 23.3cm (W)
sheet 36.0cm (H) x 24.1cm (W)
1959.6052.000.000
Baillieu Library Print Collection
the University of Melbourne
Gift of Dr J. Orde Poynton 1959. -
Windy day at Earith
Brown, Henry James Stuart (1871-1941)
Windy day at Earith 1919
etching
drypoint
plate 11.8cm (H) x 18.2cm (W)
sheet 13.2cm (H) x 19.9cm (W)
1964.2112.000.000
Baillieu Library Collection
the University of Melbourne
Bequest of Mrs L.I. Wright 1964. -
The Emu
Lindsay, Lionel (Engraver, 1874-1961)
The Emu
1923
wood engraving
comp. 5.3 x 7.2
1964.2321.000.000
Baillieu Library Collection
the University of Melbourne
Bequest of Mrs L.I. Wright 1964.
© the artist -
The Painter
Ostade, Adriaen Van (Etcher, 1610-85)
The Painter
(c.1647)
etching and drypoint
plate 23.4 x 17.4
1979.2050.000.000
Baillieu Library Collection,
the University of Melbourne. -
The consequences (Las resultas)
Goya, Francisco de (Etcher, 1746-1828)
The consequences (Las resultas)
1863
etching
plate 17.4 x 21.9
1982.2050.000.000
Baillieu Library Collection
the University of Melbourne
Purchased 1982. -
The Birth of John The Baptist
Scultori, Diana (c. 1530-85)
Romano, Giulio (Artist, 1499-1546)
The Birth of John The Baptist
(1547-1612)
engraving
image (sheet trimmed to image)
45.9cm (H) x 30.3cm (W)
1959.2920.000.000 Baillieu Library Print Collection, the University of Melbourne.
Gift of Dr J. Orde Poynton 1959. -
Seaport with the landing of Cleopatra at Tarsus
Earlom, Richard (1743-1822)
Lorrain, Claude (Le) (Artist, 1600-82)
Seaport with the landing of Cleopatra at Tarsus
1774
line, roulette etching
image 19.4cm (H) x 25.6cm (W)
plate 20.8cm (H) x 25.7cm (W)
sheet 27.7cm (H) x 43.0cm (W)
1983.2013.000.000
Baillieu Library Collection
the University of Melbourne
Purchased 1983. -
Tomb of the three Curatii brothers in Albano (Sepulcro de'tre fratelli Curazj in Albano)
Piranesi, Giovanni Battista (1720-1778)
Tomb of the three Curatii brothers in Albano (Sepulcro de'tre fratelli Curazj in Albano)
(1740-78)
engraving
plate 39.9cm (H) x 60.7cm (W)
sheet 55.5cm (H) x 79.5cm (W)
1984.2031.000.000
Baillieu Library Collection
the University of Melbourne
Acquired 1983. -
Mercury and the Graces
Carracci, Agostino (1557-1602)
Tintoretto, Jacopo (Artist, 1519-1594)
Mercury and the Graces
(c. 1589)
engraving
image (sheet trimmed to image)
20.2cm (H) x 25.6cm (W)
1991.2009.000.000
Baillieu Library Collection
the University of Melbourne
Purchased 1991. -
Silenus at the Wine Vat
Ribera, Jusepe De (1588-1656)
Silenus at the Wine Vat
(1649)
etching
image (sheet trimmed to image)
26.7cm (H) x 34.3cm (W)
1993.2242.000.000
Baillieu Library Collection
the University of Melbourne. -
Bookplate of Melitta Heroux
Héroux, Burno (1868-1944)
Bookplate of Melitta Heroux (n.d.)
wood engraving
image 13.4cm (H) x 10.1cm (W)
sheet 16.9cm (H) x 13.0cm (W)
1994.2578.000.000
Baillieu Library Print Collection
University of Melbourne
Gift of Neville Barnett, 1936. -
Saints Thomas and James the Less
Meckenem, Israhel Van (c. 1440-45-1503)
Saints Thomas and James the Less
(1480-90)
engraving
image (sheet trimmed to image)
21.1cm (H) x 14.5cm (W)
sheet (adhered) 21.6cm (H) x 15.2cm (W)
1994.2611.000.000
Baillieu Library Collection
the University of Melbourne
Purchased 1994. -
Le Stryge (The vampire)
Meryon, Charles (1821-68)
Le Stryge (The vampire)
1853
etching
drypoint
image 15.5cm (diam)
plate 17.2cm (H) x 13.1cm (W)
sheet 26.3cm (H) x 21.0cm (W)
1997.2002.000.000
Baillieu Library Collection
the University of Melbourne
Acquired 1997. -
St. Jerome
Leyden, Lucas Van (1494-1538)
St. Jerome
1521
engraving
image (sheet trimmed to image)
10.0cm (H) x 14.6cm (W)
1959.3203.000.000
Baillieu Library Print Collection
the University of Melbourne
Gift of Dr J. Orde Poynton 1959. -
Interior of A Church With the Parable of the Mote and the Beam
Hopfer, Daniel (c. 1470-1536)
Interior of A Church With the Parable of the Mote and the Beam
(c. 1530)
etching
sheet 29.9 x 19.9
1985.2010.000.000
Baillieu Library Collection
the University of Melbourne
Purchased 1985. -
Three Persons Viewing the Gladiator By Candlelight
Pether, William (Mezzotinter, 1731-95)
Wright, Joseph (Artist, 1734-1797)
Three Persons Viewing the Gladiator By Candlelight 1769
mezzotint
plate 48.1 x 55.7
1959.3510.000.000
Baillieu Library Print Collection
the University of Melbourne
Gift of Dr J. Orde Poynton 1959. -
The Judgement of Paris
Raimondi, Marcantonio (1480-1527-34)
Raphael (Artist, 1483-1520)
The Judgement of Paris
(1510-20)
engraving
image (sheet trimmed to image)
29.0cm (H) x 43.5cm (W)
1959.3647.000.000
Baillieu Library Print Collection
the University of Melbourne
Gift of Dr J. Orde Poynton 1959. -
Calvary
Unknown Artist
Calvary
(c. 1460)
woodcut
image (sheet trimmed to image)
26.7cm (H) x 18.7cm (W)
1959.4277.000.000
Baillieu Library Print Collection
the University of Melbourne
Gift of Dr J. Orde Poynton 1959. -
Organisation
Steinlen, Theophile-Alexandre (1859-1923) Organisation
1917
drypoint
aquatint
plate 59.7cm (H) x 49.5cm (W)
sheet 72.2cm (H) x 72.2cm (W)
1959.4661.000.000
Baillieu Library Print Collection
the University of Melbourne
Gift of Dr J. Orde Poynton 1959. -
Arpino
Hackert, Jacob Philipp (1737-1807)
Arpino
1793
sepia watercolour
sheet 64.4 x 47.0
1959.0045.000.000
Baillieu Library Print Collection
the University of Melbourne
Gift of Dr J. Orde Poynton 1959. -
The wheel (La roue)
Callot, Jacques (1592-1635)
The wheel (La roue)
(1633)
etching
image (sheet trimmed to image)
8.3cm (H) x 18.5cm (W)
1959.2124.000.000
Baillieu Library Print Collection
the University of Melbourne
Gift of Dr J. Orde Poynton 1959. -
The bath house
Dürer, Albrecht (1471-1528)
The bath house
(c. 1496)
woodcut
image (sheet trimmed to image)
39.3cm (H) x 28.2cm (W)
1959.2141.000.000
Baillieu Library Print Collection
the University of Melbourne
Gift of Dr J. Orde Poynton 1959. -
The Dragon Devouring the Companions of Cadmus
Goltzius, Hendrick (1558-1617)
Cornelisz. van Haarlem, Cornelis (Artist, 1562-1638)
The Dragon Devouring the Companions of Cadmus
1588
engraving
image (sheet trimmed to image) 25.1cm
(H) x 31.7cm (W)
sheet (adhered) 32.8cm (H) x 43.0cm (W)
1959.2534.000.000
Baillieu Library Print Collection
the University of Melbourne
Gift of Dr J. Orde Poynton 1959. -
Seymour, seated (a little boy)
Whistler, James Mcneill (1834-1903)
Seymour, seated (a little boy) (1857-58)
etching
plate 13.5cm (H) x 9.7cm (W)
sheet (irregular) 20.5cm (H) x 13.7cm (W)
1959.2579.000.000
Baillieu Library Print Collection
the University of Melbourne
Gift of Dr J. Orde Poynton 1959. -
In Bridewell
Hogarth, William (1697-1764)
In Bridewell
(1732)
etching, engraving
image 30.2cm (H) x 37.5cm (W)
plate 32.0cm (H) x 38.7cm (W)
sheet 46.2cm (H) x 57.9cm (W)
1959.2603.000.000
Baillieu Library Print Collection
the University of Melbourne
Gift of Dr J. Orde Poynton 1959 -
Adam van Noort
Dyck, Anthony Van (1599-1641)
Adam van Noort
(1630-40)
etching
image (sheet trimmed to image)
23.8cm (H) x 15.1cm (W)
1959.3083.000.000
Baillieu Library Print Collection
the University of Melbourne
Gift of Dr J. Orde Poynton 1959. -
The Alchemist
Peluso, Francesco (1836-?)
The Alchemist
1870
oil on canvas
75.0 x 113.0
1959.0021.000.000
Baillieu Library Print Collection
the University of Melbourne
Gift of Dr J. Orde Poynton 1959. -
Christ Crucified Between the Two Thieves : "The Three Crosses"
Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669)
Christ Crucified Between the Two Thieves : "The Three Crosses"
(c.1660)
drypoint, etching
image (sheet trimmed to image)
37.4cm (H) x 44.7cm (W)
1959.3754.000.000
Baillieu Library Print Collection
the University of Melbourne
Gift of Dr J. Orde Poynton 1959. -
Purple orchid (Orchis Iatifolia)
Besler, Basil (1561-1629)
Purple orchid (Orchis Iatifolia)
(c.1613)
engraving
plate 48.5cm (H) x 40.3cm (W)
sheet 56.6cm (H) x 45.2cm (W) 2015.0051.000.000
Baillieu Library Print Collection, University of Melbourne.
Gift of Ronald Alfred Walker.
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program, 2015. -
Chiropractic adjustment
Kuhn-Reginer, Joseph (1873-1940) Chiropractic adjustment
(1934)
lithograph
image 19.5cm (H) x 14.5cm (W)
sheet 27.6cm (H) x 22.4cm (W) 2012.0214.000.000
Baillieu Library Print Collection, the University of Melbourne.
Gift of Russell Beedles, 2012. -
Nieuw-Hollanders
Kuyper, Jacques (1761-1808) Nieuw-Hollanders
(c.1802)
lead pencil, grey watercolour
sheet 14.0cm (H) x 9.5cm (W)
sheet (adhered) 63.5cm (H) x 48.1cm (W) 1959.5650.000.000
Baillieu Library Print Collection, the University of Melbourne.
Gift of Dr J. Orde Poynton 1959. -
Mrs Cosway
Green, Valentine (1739-1813)
Cosway, Maria (Artist, 1759-1838)
Mrs Cosway
(1787)
mezzotint, chine collé
image 21.4cm (H) x 17.0cm (W)
plate 25.0cm (H) x 19.5cm (W)
sheet 38.2cm (H) x 28.2cm (W)
sheet (adhered) 42.7cm (H) x 35.3cm (W) 1959.5577.000.000
Baillieu Library Print Collection, the University of Melbourne.
Gift of Dr J. Orde Poynton 1959.