The Art Newspaper

London Old Master dealers create new alternative to fairs

By . Published online: 28 January 2009

NEW YORK. A group of 20 Old Master paintings dealers are joining forces with Christie’s and Sotheby’s to launch London’s inaugural Master Paintings Week with a series of gallery openings from 4-10 July.

The week coincides with the auctions of Old Master Paintings and Master Drawings, and will provide an alternative to art and antique fairs.

Master Paintings Week in London was initiated by Konrad Bernheimer of Colnaghi & Co, Johnny van Haeften, and Jonathan Green of Richard Green.

Mr Bernheimer said he had already decided not to participate in the Grosvenor House Art & Antiques Fair, held from 11-17 June, for the first time in more than 20 years.

“This is a different kind of cooperation from a fair, but it is not new,” he said. “The Carré Rive Gauche dealers in Paris started it and the Munich dealers do it as a joint effort. It creates momentum for interest in Old Masters paintings and sales. Together, we have an enormous amount of expertise and this series of special exhibitions will draw attention to London. No one refused to participate.”

Other participating galleries include: Agnew’s, Verner Amell, Charles Beddington, Simon C. Dickinson, Ben Elwes Fine Art, Derek Johns, Matthiesen Gallery, John Mitchell Fine Paintings, Moretti Fine Art, Philip Mould, Rafael Valls, Robilant & Voena, Michael Tollemache Fine Art, Trafalgar Galleries, William Thuillier, the Weiss Gallery and Whitfield Fine Art. The focus will be predominantly European paintings dating from the 15th to 19th centuries.

This new initiative is similar to the London Master Drawings Week held at the same time and started by Crispian Riley-Smith nine years ago.

“We’re helping them, and this new addition next July will benefit our Drawings Week by increasing the number of general and overseas visitors,” said Mr Riley-Smith. He said that sales were substantial last year and he sold a 1790 drawing to the Getty.

Three years ago, he expanded his “Week” to New York in January, where 18 dealers now participate.