Dear All,
Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, one of the greatest works of art created during the Italian Renaissance, shows the goddess of love and beauty arriving on the Island of Cyprus. Almost 50 years to the day, a young intrepid traveler found himself in the Uffizi Gallery spending hours looking in awe at this painting. Whereas most people take a few minutes and walk on, for myself, this marked the moment my passion for the art world was born. And, as such began a career that has spanned over four decades, starting with my working at a renowned gallery before moving on to one of the world’s largest art auction houses, and finally to the launch of Cottingham Fine Art three years ago.
Sandro Botticelli, The Birth of Venus (c. 1484–86). Tempera on canvas. 172.5 cm × 278.9 cm (67.9 in × 109.6 in). Uffizi, Florence
Today’s art market has undergone a dramatic change and continues to reinvent itself, much like art itself; even to the point where an art object can disappear in front of our eyes, as was the case with Bansky’s “Girl With Balloon” painting that was shredded during a recent live auction at Sotheby’s in London. At present, Modern and Contemporary Art together with jewelry is in high demand. However, the one true barometer for the art market that has remained throughout the years, is quality!
Banksy’s ‘Self-Destruct’ Art Stunt. Photo credit: CNN.com
Not too long ago I discovered in the home of a client, tucked away in a closet, a beautiful Boldini painting. The client was unaware of its value and it subsequently sold for a premium at auction. Similarly, last year, I facilitated the sale of hundreds of smaller works of art belonging to the family of a well-known artist. I created a marketing strategy for this sale assisted by a major New York dealer and a local auction house. At the same time, I had a chance to broker the sale of a significant Matisse painting for a European client.
Sotheby’s, London Art Week.
If you are looking to sell or buy or are interested in having an appraisal of your works or a single piece of art, I would welcome the opportunity to meet with you and to offer my objective advice on how to best proceed. I would be happy to guide you through the sophisticated sales process amidst an ever-burgeoning market with so many different players; dealers, auction houses and mega-galleries. What is the best way to buy or sell? How does one negotiate a preferred commission and achieve maximal value for the art or jewelry? What is the value to begin with?
I look forward to answering these questions for you! Please feel free to call (617) 413-4785 to speak with me directly.
Happy New Year and all my best,
____
Bill Cottingham
