Arlington Gallery

A little-recorded gallery that opened in 1923 at 22 Old Bond Street in London's West End. Its owner and manager was Lucy Winifred Macdonald (Royal Miniaturist Society), wife of Scottish watercolourist W. Alister Macdonald. The gallery appears to have attracted the lesser-known artists of the period who probably found difficulty in getting shows at the bigger galleries either because it was felt they were not famous enough names or perhaps the other galleries took too great a commission. The building was constructed by the Duveen family in the 19th century, based on the design of a favourite palazzo in Venice. The Arlington's regular 'customers' included the Royal Society of Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers who showed almost every year from the mid-1920's until its closure. The gallery also exhibited artists associated with textiles, glass, jewellery, tapestry and metalwork. Who the gallery principals were I have yet to establish. Today, international art dealer Dominique Lévy occupies part of the building ironically exhibiting important artists of international fame. These include Enrico Castellani, Frank Stella and Yves Klein amongst many. The gallery closed in 1941 following bombing, but not total destruction by enemy forces.