Dowdeswell and Dowdeswell

In 1865 Charles William Dowdeswell (1832-1915) owned and ran a frame-making business in Chancery Lane, London. In 1878 he turned to art dealing and opened Dowdeswell and Dowdeswell, being joined in the venture by his son Walter. The gallery exhibited the work of the Societe des Impressionistes in 1883 which was the first major display of French Impressionism to be held in London. The gallery which was located at 133 New Bond Street, London, later moving to number 160 New Bond Street, London. It closed in 1912 after Walter Dowdeswell left to join art dealer Joseph Duveen. The gallery contents, largely the library was auctioned by Christies in 1912. Further sales were held at other auction houses in London in 1920. During more than 30 years of trading, countless artists of the period showed their works at Dowdeswells as it was affectionately known.