SOTHEBY'S SO FAR

My fourth day of work at Sotheby’s

and I’m already in love

Between the amazing walk down the very posh Bond Street every day, joining in on my first “basement meeting” in the picture gallery, and simply being around co-workers who enjoy and appreciate art as much as I do; Sotheby’s is a dream come true. The entire 19 Century European Painting Department has been extremely welcoming and encouraging since I walked in the door on my first day this past Wednesday. I arrived 15 minutes before Sotheby’s even opened because I was so nervous about getting there on time, since it was my first time taking the tube and the train from Richmond into the city.

London is stunning. Although I have only been here for three days and have been blessed with warm sunshine and clear skies, I already love the metropolitan feel which accompanies Sothebys' location very well. My first day, Tatiana, a nice young girl of seventeen who was lucky enough to get to do her “work experience” here, toured me around the building. Sotheby’s is divided into three separate buildings but the main headquarters is where my department is located on the sixth floor.
Most days I complete a range of tasks as small as getting coffee from the small Sotheby’s Canteen café and mail from downstairs, to very interesting tasks looking through art history catalogues for certain images or researching various artists to support the specialists in the department. I’ve been told that I came at what will be the busiest time of the year because the department will be on deadline for the end of November auction which is the biggest and most important 19th c. European Painting Auction. I will also be here during some other greatly interesting auctions including;
Modern and Contemporary prints, Finest and Rarest Wines & Spirits, the Scottish Sale, Islamic Works of Art, 20th c. Italian, Contemporary Art, Contemporary Arab and Iranian Art, Old Master and Early British Sale, Chinese Ceramics and Art, and the Greek Sale.
All of these auctions lead up to the November 23rd auction that my department will put on which showcases Spanish, Orientalist, German, Austrian, Scandinavian, and Symbolist works of art. Clearly this is the perfect way for me to learn about Art History outside the classroom and I have no doubts that I will walk out the door in 3 months having learned more than I ever could have imagined.