BROWSE & DARBY: 45 YEARS ON CORK STREET

Browse & Darby was established at 19 Cork Street in 1977, by Lillian Browse and William Darby. Browse, an eminent art dealer and art historian nicknamed ‘the Duchess of Cork Street’, had previously run a gallery since 1944 in the same premises.

Euan Uglow
Zoe, 1977-83

It is, of course, one of the most prestigious of the Mayfair art venues, dealing in British and French paintings, prints, sculptures and etchings. The gallery, housed in an elegant late-Georgian building, is celebrating its 45th anniversary with this excellent exhibition, entitled 45 Years on Cork Street, which largely – but by no means entirely – features eminent Modern British painters and sculptors.

Browse & Darby’s inaugural show featured ten works by Euan Uglow, who the gallery represented until his death in 2000, and two Uglow paintings – Zoe (1977-83, pictured) and Half an Apple with 50p (1976) – are included among the 59 works on display. 

Other artists featured include Craigie Aitcheson, Elizabeth Blackadder, Jeffrey Camp, William Coldstream, Lucien Freud, Elizabeth Frink, Patrick Heron, Ivon Hitchens, Augustus and Gwen John, John Nash, William and Winifred Nicholson and Walter Sickert, a who’s who of ModBrit stars. There are also works by Degas and Rodin if your tastes extend across the Channel.

The show runs from May 26 until July 1.