Around 14 dealers offering Old Master works, including Johnny van Haeften, De Jonckheere Gallery, Robilant + Voena and Koetser Gallery, are set to show at the fair which runs from October 4-7.
Newcomers in the field include Galerie Canesso, De Jonckheere, Galerie G Sarti and Stair Sainty Gallery (though other exhibitors such as Jean-Luc Baroni and Caylus are not returning for this staging).
“One of the greatest benefits of Frieze Masters from our perspective is the opportunity to show ourselves to a different audience. Frieze Masters brings together a diverse crowd of collectors and we meet people from other areas of the art world giving us the chance to increase both our collector base, and the audience for Old Masters,” says Jorge Coll of Colnaghi.
His stand features a selection of paintings by Dutch, Spanish, Italian and Flemish artists including Aesop by Jusepe de Ribera, the Spanish artist who was an early follower of Caravaggio.
Other leading examples of Old Masters appear on the stand of Richard Green, which hosts an exhibition of contrasts in compositions, such as winter scenes produced between the 17th and 20th centuries. Galerie G Sarti, meanwhile, presents Artemisia Gentileschi’s Cleopatra, while Johnny van Haeften offers more than 30 Dutch and Flemish Old Masters.
They stand alongside specialists in many other areas: Sam Fogg, for example, which showcases treasures of medieval art and Francesca Galloway, which offers textiles and works of art from Asia. Les Enluminures shows exceptional illuminated manuscripts and medieval and Renaissance gold rings, Alan Cristea brings a number of significant prints by British painter Howard Hodgkin and Blain|Southern stages a solo show of work by the Romanian born painter Avigdor Arikha.
According to Coll, such diversity at the fair can be a real advantage: “Two years ago we brought an early 17th century crucifixion scene to Frieze Masters and it was sold to a Chinese collector who buys 20th century art. We didn’t know him, and he probably hadn’t heard of us, but great art transcends time and Frieze Masters let’s that happen.”
Fair director Victoria Siddal said she is “thrilled” to have more galleries specialising in Old Masters. She added: “The fair is defined by its extraordinary quality and breath-taking diversity.”
Talks at the fair include appearances from Tacita Dean and representatives of the Royal Academy and the Courtauld Institute of Art.
