Financial Times FT.com

Affordable greats

By Anthony Thorncroft

Published: February 18 2006 02:00 | Last updated: February 18 2006 02:00

Anyone visiting the recent exhibition at the British Museum of works by that great rural romantic Samuel Palmer might have noticed his prints of "The Bellman" and "The Sleeping Shepherd". Now they can own them as the Fine Art Society is offering examples of both at next month's London Original Print Fair at the Royal Academy.

That is the attraction of prints - they spread around the ownership of great works of art and, through their multiplicity, they also reduce its cost. Palmer produced a couple of hundred examples of "The Sleeping Shepherd" and the FAS is offering one for £4,500. "The Bellman", rarer and produced on vellum, is priced at £17,000 - modest sums compared with an original painting by an artist whose work rarely appears on the market.

You have viewed your allowance of free articles. If you wish to view more, click the button below.

Read this