The accident, which happened at 11am on Monday, January 5 when the gallery was closed, destroyed the front window and around 20 paintings displayed in the window were damaged irreparably. Also damaged were a number of valuable Florentine Renaissance tabernacle frames.

The business has dealt in Russian post-War paintings and antique frames from the premises for 21 years, before which the current owner David Lacy’s father started trading on Portobello Road in 1960. Mr Lacy, who was in Thailand on holiday at the time of the accident, told ATG that the front of the building would have to be reinforced with steel columns and a new shop front fitted.

He hopes to be open for their normal hours of Wednesday to Friday 10am-5pm and Saturday 10-6 in roughly six to eight weeks.

In the meantime clients can contact the gallery on 020 7229 6340 for updated news and progress.