280 Years of Distinction: Celebrating London's Oldest Art Gallery
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Overview
There are few institutions in the art world that can truly speak of centuries rather than decades. Founded in 1746, Gladwell & Patterson has traded continuously through the reigns of ten British monarchs. Today, as London's oldest art gallery, we look both backwards and forwards at once: honouring an extraordinary history while shaping the next chapter of our story.
Since its foundation in the City of London, Gladwell & Patterson has witnessed almost every chapter of modern British history. It has lived through the Industrial Revolution, two World Wars and profound shifts in the way art is created, exhibited and collected. Across nearly three centuries, one thing has remained constant: a commitment to exceptional art and the people who live with it. Throughout that history, the gallery has occupied a place within a network of artists, collectors, patrons and connoisseurs. Generations of the Gladwell family moved within circles that shaped the cultural landscape of their day, and their friendships extended across Europe into the artistic communities that produced some of history's most celebrated figures, not least Vincent van Gogh.
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While our roots remain firmly in London, the story of Gladwell & Patterson has never been confined to a single place. As the Fuller family made their home in Stamford, so too did the gallery. Today our Stamford gallery occupies a beautifully restored five-storey former bank and draws visitors from across Britain and beyond. This year marks another milestone with the opening of House 50 in Burlington Arcade, our flagship gallery in the heart of Mayfair. Welcoming, elegant and thoughtfully curated, it reflects both our proud heritage and ambitions for the future. As we mark 280 years, we are conscious that our heritage is to be celebrated but also built upon. The opening of House 50, the continued development of our Stamford gallery, our presence at leading art fairs and commitment to supporting our artists and our clients' collections all point towards a future every bit as ambitious as our past.
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The exhibition is on view from 13 September at House 50, Burlington Arcade W1J 0QJ.
