Greek Art, Coming of Age

Last Thursday the international auction house Bonhams in London offered for sale over two hundred paintings and works depicting Greek subjects by 19th and 20th century Greek and Foreign artists. The paintings came from private collections.

Caption: Celest Polychroniadi (1904-1985): "Dreamy Landscape"

"Herakleidon, Experience in Visual Arts" in Athens also had the exhibit online. Unlike Bonhams', their catalog is thankfully still operative. "Herakleidon" is a story in itself. I'm sure we'll post news here more often. Proprietors Paul Firos and his wife Anna-Belinda, collectors and art lovers, created the private museum which is located in the heart of Athens, under the shadow of the Acropolis.

The exhibition program consists of artists who play or have played an important role in the evolution of art. In addition to the permanent collections, the museum will host exhibitions of work by Greek and foreign artists.

But back for now to Bonhams' "Greek Sale". Artdaily's reporting that "(...) with an auction of 209 pictures which saw 82 per cent of lots sold (... the ) sale was £2m up on (the one) earlier this year, which made almost £4m."

Caption: Nikos Engonopoulos (1910-1985): "The Sailor"

"Terpsichore Angelopoulou of Art Expertise, Bonbams agents in Greece commented: “This sale shows the growing strength of the Greek art market. We saw an amazing number of world record prices achieved in Bond Street today, no fewer than fourteen and the highest price ever paid for a painting at a Greek sale." >>>

Greek modern art is coming of age ...