Repton, J. Adey. On the Beard and the Mustachio: Chiefly from the Sixteenth to the Eighteenth Century, and Wigs of the Eighteenth Century (detail). London: 1839.
«I moved to New York from California five years ago, and one of the best parts about living and working in the city is that lots of friends and family come to visit. New York City is a dream vacation destination for many, but my guests have the added excitement of seeing the city from a "local's" perspective. I spend weeks planning each (fairly loose) itinerary, alternating visits to popular attractions with my personal favorites (DIA Beacon, The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, MoMA PS1), and planning activities tailored specifically to my visitors' professional and personal interests. Of course, these itineraries invariably include a trip (or several) to the Met and Watson Library.»
Watson Library, Stack Level 1
In the same way that a city tour can be customized for specific tastes, so too can a visit to the library. With a collection that contains close to one million volumes, I know that such a vast collection must have something to suit everyone's tastes, but I am often surprised by the books we have and am unbelievably giddy every time I find the exact right book for someone.
Clockwise from top left: Cowdrey, M. Horses and Bridles of the American Indians. Nicasio, Calif.: Hawk Hill Press, 2012; The Horse: From Cave Paintings to Modern Art. New York: Abbeville Press Publishers, 2010; Shales, E. Horse Tales: American Images and Icons, 1800–2000. Katonah, N.Y.: Katonah Museum of Art, 2001
My mom, Joanne Paolillo, has been a devoted 4-H leader for the past twenty-five years, with a lifelong passion for Western and Native American horsemanship. When she visited in the spring of 2013, I found dozens of books for her to peruse about horses in art, cowboys, Lakota art, and more.
Campbell, M. Self-instructor in the Art of Hair Work: Dressing Hair, Making Curls, Switches, Braids, and Hair Jewelry of Every Description (detail). New York: M. Campbell, 1867
When two close college friends, Melissa Massey and Vicki Griffin (both hair stylists), visited last May, I was astounded at how many hair-related books Watson had. Two of my favorites were a book of original drawings of beards, mustaches, and wigs from 1839 (seen at the top of this post) and a nineteenth-century hair art, jewelry, and wig-making instruction book. The latter contains detailed instructions on how to make a hair-bow (pictured above) that pre-dates Lady Gaga by 150 years.
Salter, J. Wine Labels, 1730–2003: A Worldwide History (detail). Woodbridge: Antique Collectors' Club, 2004
Crabtree, C. Beadwork: A World Guide. New York: Rizzoli, 2002
My friends Sean Roney (a vintner at Vintage Wine Estates) and Brittany Ketcham (a jewelry designer) also visited last year, and I was again amazed by the library's holdings. I knew the collection would have books about jewelry and wine in art, but I was delighted to find volumes with a much narrower focus—including wine labels, wine making, beadwork, and jewelry design.
Peirce, Ian G. Swords of the Viking Age. Rochester, N.Y.: Boydell Press, 2002
When Barrett Sweger, a childhood friend and photographer, first visited the library, I showed him as many books on fashion photography (his profession) and Viking art (his heritage) that I could carry. Barrett has since returned to Watson numerous times and discovered many treasures on his own, including an impressive reproduction of Rembrandt van Rijn's drawings.
A "shelfie" range, from outsider art to color theory
I tailor these library visits not just to entertain, but also to advocate for Watson Library and libraries in general, and to (hopefully) inspire my loved ones and increase their knowledge of art and art history. I also show off the collection because I am proud to work here and to be part of the team collecting and protecting evidence of, and teaching about, humanity's creativity, ingenuity, and expression. There really is something here for everyone. Watson's distinguished collection of exhibition catalogs, monographs, serials, auction and sales records, ephemeral files, and more is an encyclopedic representation of world art, art history, and visual culture from the dawn of man, through today, and into the future.