At European Art Fair, newcomers muscle in

A pair of uninvited guests arrived at this year’s European Fine Art Fair. For the first time in the fair’s 20-year history, the auction giants Sotheby’s and Christie’s have muscled their way into what has traditionally been a premier showcase for international dealers.

But neither is using its name. Sotheby’s presence comes under the guise of Noortman Master Paintings, a Maastricht art gallery it bought in June for $82.5 million. Christie’s is represented by King Street Fine Art, a subsidiary it formed especially for the fair.

The presence of these archrival companies, with booths directly facing each other, has caused a stir among dealers who have long considered the auction houses their biggest competitors.

Read full article: New York Times, 12 March 2007