The Society for the History of Collecting took a tour of Masterpiece Art Fair, meeting gallery owners and examining works of art at first hand.

For members only, this visit was intended to introduce participants to the study of collecting as part of the art market. We discussed the provenance of works of art in the exhibits as well as considered their interest for collectors today.

The curator of the collection of the fair’s sponsor, the Royal Bank of Canada, Corrie Jackson, met the group to discuss the sponsorship and patronage of the Bank, and provided a fascinating insight into corporate sponsorship as a key aspect of collecting today.

The tour was led by Adriana Turpin. Masterpiece has established itself as the foremost art fair for old masters and works of art in the UK. ‘The Fair offers an unparalleled opportunity for new and established collectors to discover exceptional works for sale across a range of price points from 160 international exhibitors and across every major market discipline.’