Richard Green stands up for the art trade
February 21 2013
Picture: Telegraph
One of London's leading art dealers, Richard Green, has issued a bullish statement on the health of not only the art trade but also of London's commercial art galleries, following the closure of Agnews, the 195 year-old art business. When announcing the closure, Julian Agnew said:
"Changes in the market and technology make a gallery no longer necessary unless perhaps you are a big Contemporary art business."
Richard Green (seen above, at the opening of his newly refurbished premises in Bond Street) has responded with a letter in this week's Antiques Trade Gazette:
[...] I believe that the Antiques Trade Gazette should make it clear that he was speaking for himself, and not for the entire art trade. [...]
Julian says that a gallery is no longer necessary because of new technology. But if you want to question whether a gallery is necessary or not, why did thousands of people come and view our recent exhibitions of Sir Alfred Munnings and Ken Howard, instead of simply viewing these exhibitions online. Why have visitor numbers to The Tate and other museums helped to make London such an important tourist destination? Many of these people are not buyers, but some are, and they all want to experience art first-hand. Technology is surely a tool which can widen our audience and possibilitites, but it does not replace the first-hand viewing experience. [...]
I believe that there is plenty of life in the art market and I note that Julian will continue to deal privately after the gallery has closed. You only have to look at the number of dealers involved in Master Paintings Week in London (June 28-July 5) to see how active dealers are in this country. Or, go to TEFAF Maastricht (March 15-24) and see how many British dealers over there are handling Old Master paintings, unviling new discoveries and giving new attributions.
