Art Classics Gaining Momentum in London: Expert Advice on Acquiring Gallery Representation, and Other Relevant News for July 24, 2025
Old Masters Make a Comeback in London's Art Market
In the dynamic world of art, the Old Masters market is experiencing a resurgence in London. This comeback is driven by a combination of factors, including strong auction results, increased collector interest in quality and provenance, and strategic moves by auction houses to highlight these works.
Key trends and factors contributing to the Old Masters' revival include:
- Increased auction sales and buyer engagement: Despite a shrinking Old Masters market from $1.6B in 2014 to $803M in 2024, the first half of 2025 saw a 35.6% year-over-year increase in Old Masters sales ($171.2 million). Notable auction results in London include Christie's Old Masters Evening Sale, which brought in over £55 million, and Canaletto’s landscapes selling at record prices (£31.9 million).
- Quality-driven, transparent sales catering to cautious collectors: Post-pandemic buying behavior has shifted towards slow, informed purchasing decision-making with a demand for transparent pricing and solid provenance. Galleries and auction houses are increasing digital storytelling and education to build buyer confidence in Old Masters.
- Market recalibration amid geopolitical and regional shifts: The UK and US remain dominant mature markets as China’s share falls. London, despite Brexit-related challenges, shows resilience partly through the Old Masters segment benefiting from global collector rebalancing and luxury market definitions evolving towards classic art forms.
- Auction house leadership and large private collections spotlighted: Sotheby’s and Christie’s have played critical roles by selling high-profile collections and important individual works, signaling market leadership and boosting the category’s visibility and appeal.
The success of the Old Masters market in London is also reflected in its outperformance of many other markets. The recent Old Masters evenings auctions in London brought in a combined £58 million ($78 million), excluding fees, for Christie's and Sotheby's.
Phillips, another prominent auction house, recently announced a new fee structure for its auctions, which includes a "priority bidding" feature. This new structure offers a lower fee for buyers who commit to the low estimate any time up to 48 hours before the live auction.
Meanwhile, in the world of contemporary art, the absence of several notable names in Art Basel Miami Beach's exhibitor list has raised eyebrows. Absentees include Galerie Buchholz, Company, Pilar Corrias, Dan Galeria, DC Moore, Greene Naftali, Galerie Nagel Draxler, David Nolan, and Waddington Custot.
In other news, London is set to get a Museum of Brutalist Architecture (MoBA), thanks to a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant. The museum will restore a north London school hall to its 1960s appearance.
Lastly, Hilde Lynn Helphenstein, also known as Jerry Gogosian, plans to write a television series about the art world. Helphenstein has expressed interest in working for MCH Group and Art Basel. Dealer Alessandra di Castro stated that buyers now want security, professionalism, due diligence, provenance, scholarly documentation, and proper presentation.
[1] Artnet News [2] The Art Newspaper [3] Art Market Monitor [4] Blouin ArtInfo
- The increased interest in Old Masters is evident in the art world, with collector’s demand for quality and provenance driving the market's resurgence in London.
- Museums, galleries, and auction houses are adapting to this shift by providing digital storytelling and education to reassure buyers, such as Phillips' new auction fee structure.
- Amid the recalibration of the art market, global collectors are increasingly focusing on classic art forms like Old Masters, with London benefiting from this rebalancing due to its historical significance in the field.
- The Old Masters art market is performing exceptionally well, with Christie's and Sotheby's managing to bring in a combined £58 million ($78 million) from their recent Old Masters evenings auctions.
- In the home-and-garden sphere, London is set to welcome a Museum of Brutalist Architecture, further establishing its position as a hub for art enthusiasts and scholars alike.
