London's Leading Galleries and Auction Houses Join Forces to Create Major Event
Twenty-one of London’s top paintings dealers have joined forces with two auction houses to stage Master Paintings Week in London from Saturday 4 to Friday 10 July 2009. This new event is held to coincide with the auctions of Old Master Paintings and Master Drawings London and will encourage collectors, curators and other enthusiasts to come to London this summer. Each dealer will stage a special display or an event in their gallery to draw attention to the great paintings and unrivalled expertise to be found in London.
Master Paintings Week in London was initiated by Konrad Bernheimer of P&D Colnaghi & Co, Johnny van Haeften, and Jonathan Green of Richard Green and the dealers joining them all have established international reputations. Johnny van Haeften said: ‘Collectors are often unaware of how much dealers have to offer not only in terms of the wide range of paintings but also their extensive knowledge. The old cliché of the fusty Old Master paintings gallery is totally out of date and we want people to know just how accessible we are. Most people think of Old Masters being dark and dreary but in fact I think they would be surprised at just how vibrant and fascinating they can be. No other city has such a concentration of works of art and expertise.’
The other participating galleries are: Thos. Agnew & Sons, Verner Amell, Charles Beddington, Simon C. Dickinson, Ben Elwes Fine Art, Fergus Hall, 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 twenty dealers, who all abide by strict codes of conduct and guarantee the fine paintings they offer, are joined by Christie’s and Sotheby’s who recognise the importance of this initiative. Unlike other fields, this area of the art market has not seen wild price fluctuations in recent years and the traditional qualities of rarity and provenance are still the key factors when determining desirability and value.
With such a distinguished roll-call of names, Master Paintings Week promises to be a major event in the art world this summer offering visitors a wonderful selection of predominantly European paintings dating from the 15th to the 19th centuries. All these galleries are in the heart of London’s Mayfair and St James’s, a short walk from one another, and will be open during Master Paintings Week on Monday to Friday 10 am to 6 pm, Saturday and Sunday 10 am to 5 pm.
For further information and photographic material, please contact:
Sue Bond Public Relations
Hollow Lane Farmhouse, Thurston, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP31 3RQ, UK
Tel. +44 (0)1359 271085
Fax. +44 (0)1359 271934
info@suebond.co.uk
www.suebond.co.uk