This September, Sotheby’s will offer more than 60 works from the collection of British entrepreneur, philanthropist and renowned art collector, David Ross.
Assembled since 2000, Ross’ collection mainly focuses on British Pop and Contemporary art, dating from the year he was born, 1965, onwards. The auction takes its title, “This is Tomorrow”, from a 1956 British art exhibition of the same name staged at the Whitechapel Art Gallery. Just as the artists in this show presented their vision of Contemporary art, Ross’ selection of works similarly presents his vision of collecting British art, which will now be shared with others.
Among the works coming to the saleroom is a large scale red interior by Tony Bevan, a serene abstract pastel piece by Sean Scully, a Gilbert & George, playful screenprints by Damien Hirst – with titles such as ‘MEATBALLS’, ‘DUMPLING’ and ‘SANDWICH’ – Peter Newman’s sky-scapes, and a porcelain installation by Edmund de Waal.
It was a lunch at Chatsworth House and a conversation with the late Deborah, Duchess of Devonshire, that first inspired Ross to focus his collection on British art. Ross recalls: “The Duchess talked in a very animated way about how her responsibility was to keep the Chatsworth collection current for her generation. I was struck by the passion that she got not only from collecting, but also from acquiring works by artists that were her friends. This is what really directed me to build a collection that was current for my generation, and which also focused on British artists. I worked out in my heart of hearts that if I was collecting artists from abroad I would never have enough time to meet them all, therefore, a focus on only British artists, working within my lifetime, would give me the opportunity to really channel my collection.”
Ross has since nurtured relationships with almost every artist whose works he has acquired, and comes armed with personal stories relating to them all, including Patrick Caulfield, Marc Quinn (whose brother he lived with at university), Ray Richardson, Tony Bevan, Glenn Brown, Sir Peter Blake and Allen Jones. Speaking about Jones’ Bus Paintings, for instance, Ross said: “They were all conceived while on the bus going to art college in Croydon, and on occasion, with Bridget Riley. Jones was fascinated by the dialogue between what was happening in the outside world and what he was thinking about while sitting on the bus. Once he’d told me this, I suddenly started looking at this body of work in a new light, it’s like he’d granted me access into his mind so I could better understand what he’d been trying to achieve.”
Over twenty years of collecting, Ross has now amassed too many artworks to accommodate at home, and so has made the decision to pass a selection on to a new generation of collectors: “I love all my pictures, but the reality is I no longer have room to hang them on my walls. I don’t believe in pictures being in storage, it’s part of my philosophy. I have always said that my collection should be on view, otherwise I feel duty bound to give somebody else the opportunity to enjoy them.”
Proceeds from the auction will benefit the David Ross Foundation, which provides world class educational opportunities and cultural initiatives to inspire young people to achieve the best that they can. Since its inception in 2007, the Foundation has given nearly £26 million to charitable causes around the UK.
In addition to his philanthropic endeavours, Ross is Chair of the National Portrait Gallery, The University of Nottingham’s Development Committee, and a board member of the British Olympic Association.
In November, Ross was also named the buyer of David Hockney’s portrait of Sir David Webster, former CEO of the Royal Opera House. Consigned to auction by the Opera House to raise vital funding, Ross stepped in to buy the work for £12.9 million / $16.8 million, with the pledge that the painting will go back on permanent display once again when the establishment reopens in 2023.
Oliver Barker, Sotheby’s European Chairman, said: “I first met David in Sotheby’s galleries in 2005, when he acquired an exquisite Glenn Brown painting from us. Sixteen years later, it will be a special moment to see works from his collection displayed in these same rooms. David’s repertoire truly holds a mirror up to some of the best British creators of the last fifty years, and his singular and studied focus on the artists of his lifetime has resulted in a unique collection that complements the deep knowledge of the collector behind it. Indeed, no exhibition of works from this genre would be complete without a piece generously loaned from David, who has always felt it his responsibility to ensure his collection is viewed and appreciated by all.”
Open for bidding online from 7-15 September, the dedicated single owner auction will be accompanied by an exhibition in Sotheby’s New Bond Street galleries from 10-15 September.
Smith Greenfield is an independent insurance broker specialising in insurance for collectors of valuable objects including: art insurance, antiques insurance, memorabilia insurance, vintage car insurance, fine wine insurance and more. To discuss specialist insurance for your collection, please contact our Premier Client Adviser, Imran Moideen, via email imran.moideen@smithgreenfield.co.uk or telephone 020 8603 3730.
Image: Tony Bevan, Red Interior, 1999, Sotheby’s