Robert Simon Fine Art presents a selection of Old Masters and works in the classical tradition priced between $4,000 and $50,000. View our digital catalogue here: www.robertsimon.com/new-old-unexpected.
It is not surprising that an art dealer will focus attention on his rarest, most important, and valuable works. These are the ones featured at art fairs, in advertising, in exhibitions, and in catalogues. But they comprise only a portion of what a dealer—at least this dealer—may acquire and then offer for sale.
The health crisis that we are experiencing has given us the occasion to re-examine some of the works of art that we ourselves have neglected to promote. We do this through this catalogue and online exhibition, the first of what is intended to be a regular series highlighting both recently acquired works and those that have stood in the shadow cast by the major paintings, drawings, and sculpture that we handle. (For a selection please see our recent publication 1380–1830: Important European Paintings, now viewable online here: https://www.robertsimon.com/catalogues).
The title is taken from a fondly-remembered radio program on New York’s WNYC hosted by Tim Page. In it he sought to enliven the world of classical music by introducing to his listeners an often surprising mix of the celebrated and the obscure, and making what might be unfamiliar or abstruse, accessible and stimulating for established and new audiences. That is our goal as well. There is no unifying theme to the works presented other than what we consider innate quality and interest. And while there are no works that are chronologically new, there will be some names unfamiliar even to the most erudite. For all we provide scholarly entries treating aspects of the works’ history, meaning, and context. And since the ability to examine an item in our gallery is at present difficult, if not impossible, we are including the cost of domestic shipping in the prices that we have given for each.
For many of us art is a necessity, whether we see it as a source of inspiration or solace, a tonic for our souls in problematic times, something to adorn our living spaces, educational tools, or treasured artifacts of our culture—all of the above, or for one of hundreds of alternative reasons. Now when we have been denied or have limited access to it, art has become all the more precious. Please enjoy this additional selection, whether on the screen or in your home.
