Alexander Reid (art dealer)

Alexander Reid (1854–1928) was a Glasgow art dealer and amateur artist, and friend of James Abbott McNeill Whistler and Vincent van Gogh. He was one of the most influential art dealers in Europe in the early 20th century, exhibiting and selling artworks by some of the finest artists of his period, including the Impressionists, the Post-Impressionists, the Glasgow Boys and the Scottish Colourists. He helped build up the French painting collection of Sir William Burrell.^[1] and many of the works he dealt with now feature in major private, civic and national art collections all over the world.^[2]^[3] Within the Scottish art world he was called Monticelli Reid.

During this period dealers bought art at risk, becoming the temporary owner. They then reinvested the profit in more art, usually increasing the investment progressively, but also increasing the personal risk if the art did not sell or sold for less than the price paid.

^ The Oxford Dictionary of Art - Page 115 Ian Chilvers - 2004 "His interests were extremely diverse, but his collection became particularly strong in medieval art and in 19th century French painting (some of his finest pictures were bought from the Glasgow dealer Alex Reid (1854–1928), who helped to .."
^ Frances Fowle Van Gogh's Twin: The Scottish Art Dealer Alexander Reid 1854-1928 2010
^ Jack Webster From Dalí to Burrell: the Tom Honeyman story 1997 Page 47 "Having met Whistler in the French capital, he became a very close friend and sold many of the artist's most important works to Scottish collectors. That was how Whistler became godfather to Alex Reid's son. Reid had to work hard at interesting ..."

[1] The Oxford Dictionary of Art - Page 115 Ian Chilvers - 2004 "His interests were extremely diverse, but his collection became particularly strong in medieval art and in 19th century French painting (some of his finest pictures were bought from the Glasgow dealer Alex Reid (1854–1928), who helped to .."

[2] Frances Fowle Van Gogh's Twin: The Scottish Art Dealer Alexander Reid 1854-1928 2010

[3] Jack Webster From Dalí to Burrell: the Tom Honeyman story 1997 Page 47 "Having met Whistler in the French capital, he became a very close friend and sold many of the artist's most important works to Scottish collectors. That was how Whistler became godfather to Alex Reid's son. Reid had to work hard at interesting ..."

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