Art dealer Flavio Gianassi.
1 How did you get your start?
It all started more than 20 years ago when a dear friend of mine opened an art gallery in Florence and, while I was still at the university, I started helping him with art fairs and exhibitions. He opened a space in New Bond Street where I moved in 2007 to manage it as director.
2 What is one great discovery you have made?
A recent, very interesting discovery concerns the provenance of a polyptych by the 14th century painter Cecco di Pietro. Through extensive archive research, I was able to trace back the provenance to the person who commissioned the altarpiece for the church of San Francesco in Pisa (pictured). The four panels will be shown at TEFAF.
The polyptych by the 14th century painter Cecco di Pietro, priced around €300,000 by FG Fine Art.
3 What is one item you couldn’t do without?
I think it must be my phone. It has now become a luxury to be able to detach yourself from it. It is also one of the main working tools.
4 What is your favourite appearance of an antique in a film, play or book?
The Goldfinch by Carel Fabritius and the book of the same title by Donna Tart. It’s incredible how this little masterpiece of the Dutch golden age of painting has become the silent protagonist of such an intriguing, Dickensian, story.
5 Real ale or espresso martini?
Prosecco! (But a real ale would do the job, though)
