About
One of the largest 19th century galleries worldwide, Guarisco Gallery currently holds an extensive inventory of exceptional quality original 19th and early 20th century European and American paintings, watercolors and sculpture. At our beautiful 5,000 square foot gallery, located next to the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in the west end of Washington, DC, you can view over 600 paintings from every major school within the 19th and early 20th century, including Romantic, Barbizon, Victorian, Belle Époque, Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works. Subject matter ranges from sporting pieces, marines, and orientalist works to still-life, landscapes and elegant and charming genre works. The selection caters to the seasoned buyer as well as the new collector.
Guarisco Gallery's buying philosophy puts top quality, condition, aesthetics and affordability at a level of equal importance. For the last two decades, we have offered works of outstanding quality and excellent condition at affordable prices by carefully choosing artists whose market prices have yet to reach their peak and whose best work (the top 10%) is still available on the market. These are sometimes artists who are overlooked, undervalued, and haven't achieved the celebrity status of some of their contemporaries but who nevertheless painted superior works. Guarisco Gallery confidently predicts these are the artists whose works will achieve greater status and value in the near future.
Founded in 1980, the gallery has experienced consistent success, in spite of fluctuations in the economy. We feel that this achievement is based on the ever increasing demand for and new interest in nineteenth century work, both European and American. Several factors account for this enthusiasm.
First, the works of this century have surpassed their centennial and with this hundred year birthday has come a resurgence in appreciation. For example, there was a time in the early 20th century when Victorian Art was thought to be "out of vogue." Once relegated to basements and attics it has been rediscovered and is now desirous to a new and sophisticated audience.
Secondly, the nineteenth century was a revolutionary era in art history resulting in the largest, most varied and exciting body of work ever produced. Finally, the century has been granted the honored place in art history it so rightly deserves.
But most important is availability and affordability. The top 10% of most artists’ work is still available to the buyer. The “best” of the 19th century is still more reasonably priced than any other period, including modern. Lastly, the simple fact is that the majority of the works of the 19th century are beautiful and a pleasure to live with!