Meet The Specialist

What is your current position at Bonhams?

I am a specialist in European Paintings and Works of Art based in Los Angeles and, in partnership with my colleagues, host four sales annually. European Fine Living is a curated and eclectic lifestyle auction that incorporates fine art, furniture, decorative arts, silver, and carpets. We also have two additional sales titled Home & Interiors which further include offerings of Americana, Asian and European fine and decorative arts. The upcoming European Fine Living auction is scheduled for 27 April in Los Angeles.

Where are you from? And what inspired you to go into the auction world?

I was born and raised in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. While at university, I studied abroad in Rome and thus began my passion for European art, culture, and aesthetics.

What was your first job?

I was fortunate to begin my career at one the world’s premiere auction houses in New York immediately out of university. I started as an art handler and was promoted to cataloguer and then became a specialist. The 19th Century was a prolific period for painting and therefore, I’m fortunate to have had quite a bit of exposure to many different works of art. This exposure has been instrumental in my success as a specialist, as I’m constantly viewing artwork for the first time by a large stable of artists.

 Name one of your triumphs.

One of my personal triumphs is that after an already long career in the auction world, I made the decision to detour from a traditional career path and chose to stay at home and raise my two children. I was the primary caregiver to my two sons and, with the support of my highly motivated and successful spouse, have nurtured them into young adulthood. I’m fortunate to have returned to a position that I also love, again in the auction world.

What has changed in your area of the business since you first started?

I have witnessed many fluctuations in both the buyers’ and sellers’ markets across my 30 years in the auction business. Despite changes in taste and fashion which impact market changes, the desire of both buyers and sellers nevertheless continues. Also, I would be remiss not to mention the impact of the internet, online bidding and access to items globally has certainly made positive changes to the landscape of the auction business.

What is your strength as a specialist?

One of my strengths as a specialist is my ability to build relationships with clients and to be a strong representative of Bonhams. I’m able to use my extensive experience and subject matter expertise, while creating a trusting partnership, to create mutually beneficial relationships. I think it’s apparent that I really enjoy the work I do. I consider myself fortunate to have had so many years in a profession that is both exciting and rewarding.

What's most exciting about your upcoming auction?

We are very excited about the upcoming sale of works and items in the European Fine Living auction on 27 April. We have a fantastic large-scale work by the French artist Marie-Francois Firmin-Girard that has been in private hands for many decades and new to the market. It depicts two figures’ encounter at a shared well in a garden amidst an abundance of flowers. We are also offering a very high-quality work by American artist Frederic Arthur Bridgman, most known for his paintings of Orientalist subjects entitled The Appraisal, which I find extremely charming and a kinship to the subject. Another highlight is a French carved marble putto entitled L’amour à la folie by Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux, whose original design was a part of the larger sculptural group, La Danse, for the Opéra Garnier in Paris. I am always excited to find and offer great works and assist collectors, enthusiasts and ultimately new homes for these items to be appreciated!

Do you have a hidden talent?

I am an accomplished, fearless and self-taught home chef. I enjoy making all sorts of cuisines, including Italian, Indian, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese, and like to challenge myself in the kitchen. Most recently for a holiday celebration I prepared traditional Peking Duck with homemade Mandarin pancakes and plum sauce.

Which work of art has changed your life?

In 2002, I attended two dear friends’ wedding at the yet to be unveiled and unfinished Roden Crater by James Turrell. We spent an entire day at the crater with James and was introduced to crater’s monumental gateway to observe light, time and space. Nature is essential to life and the appreciation of its beauty and mystery provides us humans with hope and optimism.

Rocco Rich is a Specialist in European Paintings and Works of Art in Los Angeles. He can be reached at rocco.rich@bonhams.com