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The Collectors Guide Part 2: An Overview of Buying European Fine Art

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The second instalment in our collector’s guide series of articles is a helpful overview of the ins and outs of how to buy European fine art. As an art dealer who regularly sells European fine art online, it’s safe to say that Europe has had an enormous influence on the arts of a variety of other cultures for many centuries. As the arts typically reflect society as a whole, they have naturally evolved as a direct result of the interactions with other societies over the course of time, as well as their own cultural artefacts born out of previous civilisations.

European Art & Cultural Identity

There is undoubtedly an obvious cultural identity in European Art. From the Renaissance to the present day, European artists have typically been influenced and inspired by the various cultures that they encountered while travelling. This exchange of ideas has naturally led to the development of new styles and genres of art, as well as the spread of existing ones.

Formed in 1951 with The Treaty of Paris, Europe’s influence on the arts of other cultures is extensive. The European art forms of music, dance, literature, architecture, sculpture, and painting have had a significant effect on the cultural development of communities across the globe.

Choosing to Buy European Art

Of course, the monumental transition from the historic old master styles into new modernity was slow. But it can be separated into ten predominant periods of European art history where the cultural styles and identities of each movement undoubtedly played a significant role in shaping not only the region but a plethora of immensely talented and subsequently famous European artists.

So whether you’re interested in buying European fine art from the Renaissance period of 1400-1600, the Romanticism movement from 1750-1890, or the Impressionist period of 1870-1920, research into what appeals to you from each movement is a great place to start. European art is so varied and diverse that often a significant amount of exploration is needed to even know where to begin on your journey to buying European art. 

Buying European Fine Art Online

As an art dealer who sells fine art online, it’s always at the forefront of my mind that current and potential clients keep a close eye on the Victoria Fine Art website when buying European art online. We have a full category on the website devoted to European art, which includes a variety of paintings with subjects ranging from landscapes, still life, town scenes and animals.

If you have any further questions regarding the wide selection of European fine art to buy online at Victoria Fine Art or wish to set up an appointment, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Feel free to complete this form, telephone +44 (0)1727 861669 or email info@victoria-fine-art.com for more information.

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The Best Places to Buy Original Fine Art

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If you want to buy original fine art and potentially start to build up a collection, you may have plenty of questions about how to go about it. As a fine art dealer, Victoria Fine Art obviously offers a range of fine art paintings for sale online and have plenty of experience advising our clients on how to buy it. So, where are the best places to buy original fine art?

Buy Original Fine Art at Online Exhibitions

Online exhibitions showcasing a range of original art for sale are a great place to start when it comes to buying original art. From the comfort of your home, you’ll be able to get a valuable insight into a range of paintings from a variety of eras, themes, and geographical regions. In addition, you’ll have the luxury of exploring a range of artists both famous, less-well known, or even forgotten over time. Some people prefer the freedom of browsing paintings to buy online as there’s less pressure and far more privacy.

Visit a Reputable Gallery

Another great way to buy original fine art is to visit a long-standing, reputable gallery and see the pieces for yourself in the flesh. Our gallery was established back in 1965 by its proprietor David Roberts and is now one of the most established and long-standing galleries in England. If you are based in the south of England (and even if you’re not!), we fully recommend a visit to our gallery in the heart of beautiful St. Albans, where we have helped to form many collections of original fine art for both clients and designers.

Bringing Art to You

Here at Victoria Fine Art, we fully appreciate that original fine art can look very different in your home rather than in a gallery. That’s why we offer the service of bringing pieces to our clients’ home so that they are able to view the piece in situ. It’s a fact that in today’s fast paced society time is a premium, therefore this may be the perfect option for buying original fine art.

Why Choose Original Fine Art?

As a fine art dealer, I’d be lying if I said I’d not heard this question more than once. Despite the general public knowing exactly what, let’s say, Van Gogh’s ‘Sunflowers’ looks like from images in books, television programmes, or posters, when it’s on show in an exhibition, people flock to see it. In simple terms, the power of original fine art often supersedes the image. When a piece is viewed in the flesh there are obviously a variety of aspects that it is impossible to appreciate when replicated. You can see the exact marks on the surface of the image, the texture, and where particular elements have been purposefully emphasised for effect. Therefore, when viewing a piece of original fine art, you will see more the more times you view it. Each time you will notice a subtle detail that you’d not appreciated fully before or notice something slightly different.

Buy Fine Art Online at Victoria Fine Art

 Here at Victoria Fine Art, we have regular exhibitions so that our clients are able to get a fascinating glimpse into just some of the wonderful paintings that we hold. If you have any further questions regarding the wide selection of fine art to buy online at Victoria Fine Art or wish to set up an appointment, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Feel free to complete this form, telephone +44 (0)1727 861669 or email info@victoria-fine-art.com for more information.

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Advice from a Fine Art Dealer on Painting Restoration

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Here at Victoria Fine Art, we are experts in painting restoration and picture frame restoration. With over 30 years of experience working on everything from sixteenth century panels and old masters, right through to modern British paintings, our painting restoration services are both sympathetic to the piece of art in question, and of exceptionally high standards of quality.

As a fine art dealer, in addition to helping people build collections, I also spend time helping people to restore pieces of artwork that perhaps have suffered the ravages of time. We have some of the finest restorers in the country able to undertake all works.

Why Would you Need Painting Restoration?

There are many reasons why one may require a painting restoration service. Antique, contemporary, and modern paintings may all need some sort of conservation treatment during their lives. Some paintings may become torn or ripped during a careless move, may be damaged by fire, smoke, water or moisture, or even develop mould. In other cases, paintings may have been poorly restored in the past and work is needed to restore them to their original state. Cracking and flaking of paint are also common problems for aged paintings, but can be resolved by consolidating the paint layer, reapplying loose pigments, and then restoring the missing areas to ensure stability in the future.

Before we begin the process of painting restoration, we always evaluate the project thoroughly due to the various different approaches that can be utilised, and the complexity needed for each individual piece. Details of the piece are required including artist, size, subject, and condition. From there we also need a selection of images of the of the painting or frame in order to give an approximate idea of cost and timescale. Although this will not be an exact quotation because it’s hard to predict until the image has been assessed by the restorer and paintings will sometimes throw up unforeseen problems, the estimate will generally fall between two parameters and act as a guide.

Conservation & Restoration of Fine Art

Here at Victoria Fine Art, it’s really important to us to ensure that every painting restoration we embark upon does not alter the artistic or historical integrity of the piece. Even if your painting doesn’t need restoration, preventative treatments will ensure your artwork will look it’s best for decades to come. We also offer a full restoration service for oil paintings and antique frames, which may include relining paintings, and can offer all types of gilding from a standard gold finish to full gold leaf.

Painting Restoration & Fine Art Restoration

If you have any further questions regarding painting restoration, fine art restoration, or picture frame restoration services that we offer at Victoria Fine Art, or wish to set up an appointment, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Feel free to complete this form, telephone +44 (0)1727 861669 or email info@victoria-fine-art.com for more information.

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The Importance of Supporting Modern British Art & Artists

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Here at Victoria Fine Art, it’s always been a passion of ours to support modern British artists and make it easy for our customers to buy modern British art online. Of course, we are absolutely dedicated to traditional art too, but as fine art dealers we also represent British artists of international standing and promote contemporary art from emerging artists.

The truth is that tastes in modern British art are extremely diverse and arguably ever changing, which is why we have taken it upon ourselves to actively promote and support British modern art and artists with a wide range of media, visual representation, and sculpture. In the last ten years, in fact, we have worked very closely with some of the finest living artists holding regular exhibitions at Victoria Fine Art on their behalf.

The Vibrant Modern British Art Market

In my opinion, the Modern British art sector is one of the most vibrant in the market and very important for both collectors and dealers. As previously mentioned, I am extremely passionate about a variety of fine art including European art, Victorian art, and Impressionist art for example, but there’s no doubt that there is something incredibly exciting about appreciating newly emerging artists and having the chance to support and bolster their careers.

Modern British art is also a sector that has hugely benefited from changing tastes over recent decades, making it even more diverse and exciting. Since the early 1990’s, the popularity of modern British art has grown immeasurably with an expanding collector base and lively dealer activity. Throw in the introduction of the world wide web and you have a whole host of budding collectors hoping to buy modern British paintings online, helping to replace sometimes declining revenues from more traditional items.

British Modern Art and Geographical Diversity

Very fortunately for the market as a whole, a plentiful supply of brand-new British art becomes available each and every year and is commonly very diverse across a variety of geographical regions. Unlike Impressionist art, Victorian art or European art, many works are now appearing on the secondary market and can be bought easily online, often with only one careful owner.

As fine art dealers, Victoria Fine Art recognises that today’s art is both wide and varied. Modern British art is so exciting because tastes are constantly changing, and with the internet, it’s never been easier to buy modern British paintings online.  It is also really important to embrace this this fluid landscape and, by engaging with today’s artists, we can also engage with collectors and art lovers alike.

Discover Modern British Artists & Artists

Why not take a look at the selection of Modern British art to buy online at Victoria Fine Art? Alternatively, if you or wish to set up an appointment, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Feel free to complete this form (https://victoria-fine-art.com/contact/), telephone +44 (0)1727 861669 or email info@victoria-fine-art.com for more information.

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The Collector’s Guide Part 1: How to Buy Modern British Art Online

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In the first article of our collector’s guide series of articles, we’ll be discussing how to buy modern British art online. As an art dealer who sells fine art online, it’s always at the forefront of my mind that current and potential clients keep a close eye on the Victoria Fine Art website when looking to buy modern British art online. Whether they fall in love with the piece itself, or are buying with the intention of investment, here are some of my own personal tips to follow when buying art online.

Start with Research

Although I would like to stress that there really is no right or wrong way to go about buying art online, the first obvious step in the process is to do some research into what appeals to you by seeing and experiencing as much art as you can. Start by browsing online and getting a feel for what you like, what inspires you, and how viewing various pieces makes you feel. In addition to looking online, why not seek out a local gallery or open studio event so that you can see work in the flesh and meet the gallery owners to speak about the artists they’re representing.

Advantages of Buying Art Online

Of course, buying art in person doesn’t suit everyone for many reasons. The challenges of distance and time may be a factor, but some people prefer to browse in the comfort of their own homes without having to physically walk into a gallery. When looking to buy modern British art online, viewing pieces on the internet gives a transparent buying experience and allows you to view a wide range of work. Prices are visible and there’s no limit to the time or variety of art you can browse at a time. And, don’t forget, we can always bring art to you!

Ask Questions

Whether you choose by buy modern British art online, at a gallery, or even an auction, as a fine art dealer I would always recommend that you ask as many questions as possible. As a specialist, I am always available to answer as many questions as I can, and more. I love nothing more than having an in-depth conversation about a piece of modern art, diving deep into every aspect of it. When buying modern British art online, don’t hesitate to ask for more photos, more information about the piece itself and the artist, and a report on the condition of the piece too before you make a buying decision. In my opinion, it is my job to provide my clients with the very best service, so the more questions the merrier as far as I’m concerned!

Seek Advice

When buying modern British art online, I would always suggest asking for advice from a professional if you feel the need to. Art should be selected wisely, and professional advice is key to the decision-making process in many cases. Here at Victoria Fine Art, we have over 50 years of experience and always provide our customers with all the necessary information pertaining to each piece.

If you have any further questions regarding the wide selection of modern British art to buy online at Victoria Fine Art or wish to set up an appointment, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Feel free to complete this form (https://victoria-fine-art.com/contact/), telephone +44 (0)1727 861669 or email info@victoria-fine-art.com for more information.

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The Role of a Fine Art Dealer

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As a fine art dealer, Victoria Fine Art has an exceptionally privileged job. It’s an absolute joy to spend my days immersed in the word of art, whether it’s meeting clients and designers, buying art, or learning more about the scholarly background to each painting I come across.  So, here are a few insights into my life as a fine art dealer.

Representing Artists

One of the most enjoyable parts of my job is being able to represent current artists. We love nothing more than discovering and representing British artists of international standing, as well as being involved in the promotion of contemporary art from emerging artists. Many people assume that fine art dealers are solely concerned with traditional art and conclude that they spend their days trying to buy European art, or buy Victorian fine art, for example. But in reality, that’s only part of the job. While we are absolutely passionate about our traditional art, a big part of what I do as a fine art dealer is engaging with today’s artists. Many artists have difficulty finding a market for their work during their lifetime, so it’s extremely satisfying to be able to use my skills as an art dealer to market their talent.

Building Collections for our Clients

Of course, a large part of my job as an art dealer is the great privilege of being able to buy original art in order to build collections for clients and designers. This skill requires an element of discretion and balance, fully respecting our clients’ choices while offering a straight-forward approach to buying fine art and building a collection. The relationships I am able to forge along the way are a great part of my job, and one that I enjoy very much. By taking the time to get to know my clients, I am far better equipped to make an informed decision on what old or new artists I feel that they will take an interest in, and subsequently introduce them to.

Offering Advice as a Fine Art Dealer

After more than 50 years working as a fine art dealer, I particularly enjoy being able to advise my clients not only on the choice of what paintings to buy, but also how to display the beautiful pieces that they decide to purchase and display in their homes. Acquiring a stunning piece of fine art is only part of the process, and my years in the industry have taught me that the framing of a painting, as well at its hanging, are very important to the overall enjoyment of the piece. In addition, insurance advice is something I am always happy to give as a vital part of the process.

If you have any further questions regarding the wide selection of fine art to buy online at Victoria Fine Art or wish to set up an appointment, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Feel free to complete this form (https://victoria-fine-art.com/contact/), telephone +44 (0)1727 861669 or email info@victoria-fine-art.com for more information.