About
Richard Green is an international family business of great distinction, his two galleries are in the heart of the London art world. For three generations, Richard Green has dealt in traditional and classical Post-War paintings of the highest quality dating from the 17th through to the 21st Century.
Forming a collection of paintings is a most interesting and rewarding experience. However, art must be wisely selected with professional advice. Richard Green assists collectors to make their choices, providing the scholarly background to each painting, and advising on framing, hanging, insurance and all other aspects of collecting.
The gallery exhibits a selection of paintings from its unrivalled stock at international art fairs and maintains close contact with clients. Connoisseurs marvel at the collection of Fine Old Masters, 18th Century British, Sporting, Marine, Orientalists, French Impressionist, Victorian, European and Modern British paintings.
We pride ourselves in offering the finest quality works from our large and diverse stock. Among the leaders in our profession, we have helped form important collections for both individuals and museums.
This is an exciting time for Richard Green, as our third-generation family art firm celebrates more than fifty-five years in business and have now completed the construction our new building at 33 New Bond Street, the first purpose-built art gallery on the street since the early twentieth century.
Paintings have always been part of my life; my father James Green opened a gallery at 4 St James's Street in 1936, the year I was born. I left school at fifteen to work with him at his Bond Street Gallery (9 New Bond Street), before setting out on my own in 1955. I then joined my elder brother John, who owned a gallery in Piccadilly Arcade and in 1959 we opened the St James's Gallery in Jermyn Street. We worked together until 1964, when we went our separate ways as picture dealers, John to develop his twin interests in art and property businesses and I to open my own gallery.
The following year, together with my wife and partner Jennifer, we established our first gallery at 36 Dover Street, expanding to 44 Dover Street in 1972. As well as Old Masters and Victorian pictures, I have always had an interest in Sporting paintings. My father represented Sir Alfred Munnings in his lifetime, and the Turf and ownership of racehorses have always been an absorbing hobby for me. In 1979 we acquired a gallery at 4 New Bond Street to display Impressionist and Modern British paintings.
From the 1970s onwards, Richard Green has developed its business in Old Masters, traditional British paintings, Impressionists and Modern British masters. Our philosophy is to source paintings worldwide, buying the best examples, in the finest condition, with excellent provenance. Over the years I have been ably assisted by my sister Penny, and subsequently I have been joined by my children Jonathan, David, Matthew and Marie-Claire, who have grown up in the stimulating and challenging atmosphere of picture dealing and have applied their talents to many aspects of the business.
In 1990 my brother John joined the business, bringing to it his many years of experience in property development. The previous year we had acquired from the Throgmorton Trust the former Ackermanns gallery at 33 New Bond Street, which became our Old Master gallery under the direction of Jonathan and John. Among the highlights of exhibitions held at number 33 was The Cabinet Picture in 1999, a loan exhibition of exquisite, small-scale Dutch and Flemish works from public collections. This coincided with our sponsorship of the Richard Green Room in London's National Gallery, which displays the museum's own superb cabinet paintings. Over the years we have been very pleased to assist international museums in the development of their collections.
Richard Green opened its premises at 147 New Bond Street in 1998, after two years' complete renovation of the five storey building which had been occupied by Wildenstein since 1936, and which had once been the home of Lord Nelson. This gave us our first taste of a large architectural project, as the space was completely redesigned, with galleries over three floors. The spectacular main gallery, with its beautiful glazed ceiling, has displayed to advantage our shows of Sporting, Impressionist and Modern British paintings. The new millennium saw the rapid development of the market for the leading British artists of the twentieth century, and we have found the light, airy spaces of 147 New Bond Street ideal for showing the works of Henry Moore, William Scott, Patrick Heron, Ivon Hitchens and Frank Auerbach.
Having acquired the freehold of 33 New Bond Street in 1995, Richard Green has now taken the opportunity to redevelop the premises, creating six floors of galleries and offices. We commissioned an entirely new building, designed by George Saumarez Smith of Robert Adam Architects and brilliantly fusing modernity and tradition. The sculpture on the façade was created by the distinguished Scottish sculptor Alexander Stoddart, whose commissions include the bas-reliefs for The Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace.
We hold several gallery exhibitions a year, which can be viewed on our website, as well as attending international fairs, including Palm Beach; the European Fine Art and Antiques Fair, Maastricht and the Biennale, Paris.
Richard Green
