Teeming with History

The Boston International Fine Art Show returns this October with a variety of top historic art and a few new elements

The Boston International Fine Art Show returns this October with a variety of top historic art and a few new elements

Every year, the Boston International Fine Art Show sees more and more visitors attend the

landmark show. “it’s a combination of things that draws people to Boston. Certainly the history, the Freedom Trail, the history of the American Revolution,” says BIFAS co-producer Tony Fusco of Fusco & Four.

“There’s a buzz about Boston in the air, it’s a beautiful city, and we have great institutions.” the annual show, celebrating its 23rd year this October 24 to 27, is a gathering for both seasoned art collectors and those simply looking to learn more about historic art.

“It’s important to me personally that people come to the show not just thinking,‘ they want to sell me a painting.’ we do this because we love it. Because we have a passion for it.

The best way to bring people in is to educate them and share these stories with them. that’s what really gets me excited for this show,” says Fusco. A superb selection of historic, modern and contemporary fine art offered by 40 galleries from across the United States and Europe will be available for attendees to explore throughout the four-day event. Throughout its history, BIFAS has featured numerous galleries specializing

in American art of the 19th and early-20th centuries, and this year is no exception.

Esteemed dealers present for this year’s show include two 23-year veteran galleries that were among the handful of galleries that started the show in the late 1990s—questroyal Fine Art in New York and Martha Richardson Fine Art in Massachusetts. also returning this year are Avery Galleries and Parco Fine Art, as well as a new contemporary art section for individual artists and galleries that specialize in emerging and mid-career artists titled Emerge.

Avery Galleries brings to this year’s show a Frederick John Mulhaupt nocturne of several boats docked in Gloucester Harbor, as well as a Theodore Wendel pastel bursting with greenery, titled A New England Garden.

Parco Fine Art in Massachusetts specializes in top tier paintings by artists who worked and lived on Cape Ann. “we delight in helping people find the one great painting they will cherish for years to come, or perhaps several to begin or enhance a fine collection,” says Leonard Parco of Parco Fine Art.the dealer brings works by John Whorf, Donald Mosher and Gifford Beal to the 2019 Boston International Fine Art Show. A range of educational programming and panels will be

held throughout the duration of the event, including “An Insider’s View of Valuing Art” by internationally-recognized art expert Peter Falk, creator of Who Was Who in American Art, on Saturday at 3 p.m.; and on Sunday at 2 p.m., a discussion with Eve M. Kahn—widely known for her antiques column for the New York Times—who will be launching her new book, Forever Seeing Beauties:the Forgotten Impressionist Mary Roger Williams, 1857-1907. In addition, American Fine Art Magazine editor Joshua Rose will moderate Living with Art, a panel discussion with interior designers Craig Tevolitz,anelle Gandelman and Lucinda Loya on Saturday at 2 p.m.

A view of the domed skylight of the Cyclorama at the Boston Center for the Arts at last year’s Gala Preview. Photo by Tara Carvalho.

Attendees view artwork in Avery Galleries’ booth during the 2018 Gala. Photo by Tara Carvalho.

Mary Rogers Williams (1857-1907), A Girl in Red, pre-1901. Oil on panel. Private collection. Photo by Ted Hendrickson.

John Whorf (1903-1959), Northern Sword. Watercolor on paper, 221/8 x 30½ in., signed lower right: ‘John Whorf’. Courtesy Questroyal Fine Art.

Fairfield Porter (1907-1975), Woods, 1968. Oil on board, 20 x 18 in., signed and dated lower center: ‘Fairfield Porter 68’. Courtesy Questroyal Fine Art.

Theodore Wendel (1859-1932), A New England Garden. Pastel, 24 x 21 in., signed lower right: ‘Theo Wendel’. Courtesy Avery Galleries.

John Whorf (1903-1959), Provincetown Cottage. Oil on canvas, 29 x 36 in., signed lower right. Courtesy Parco Fine Art.

Frederick John Mulhaupt (1871-1938), Moonlight, Gloucester Harbor. Oil on canvas on board, 36 x 36 in., signed lower right: ‘Mulhaupt’. Courtesy Avery Galleries.

Eric Sloane (1905-1985), First Snow. Oil on board, 27¼ x 33 in. Courtesy Questroyal Fine Art.