Dispelling the Myths About Works on Paper

Excellent online discussion from London Art Week looking at works on paper.

The panel consisted of Tom Marks, Editor of Apollo magazine; Tom Edwards of Abbott and Holder; Liberte Nuti of Helm Newty; Mathews Travers of Piano Nobile and paper conservator Jane McAusland. Marks chaired and invited each of the dealers to show two or three images on paper and talk about why they should be considered as collectable works of art alongside paintings and any issues that their condition and conservation might raise.

They all picked lovely works. I was interested to hear Edwards pick a fashion drawing which was a working document and never made as a finished art work but is now becoming collectible. Nuti chose this Matisse drawing which was a study for a portrait which was never completed. Travers picked a Picasso drawing partly to show how he signed drawings but also dated and numbered then all.

MacAusland then took us through the work of her paper conservation studio and talked about how works on paper can be treated to make them less fragile and more easily displayed.

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