Business Details
50 Years
experience
Japanese Art & St Petersburg Paintings Gallery in York
Established in 1976, our gallery has built a reputation as a specialist in Japanese woodblock prints and Russian paintings from St Petersburg and Crimea. We focus on works from the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa periods, curating a collection that reflects both historical significance and artistic excellence. Our founder, Percy Barkes, has cultivated relationships with artists and institutions across Russia, acquiring pieces primarily from graduates of the Repin Academy in St Petersburg. Over decades, we have developed expertise in identifying high-quality works, including over 1000 studio visits in St Petersburg. Our London presence at LIBERTY from 1984-2012 and our Camden gallery from 1987-2002 established our international credentials.Today, we continue to offer carefully selected artworks that appeal to collectors and enthusiasts alike. Our York location provides a dedicated space for viewing Japanese prints, while our website showcases our Russian collections. We maintain strong connections with artists and institutions, ensuring authenticity and provenance for every piece we offer. Our commitment to quality and customer education has made us a trusted name in the art world. Whether you are a first-time buyer or an experienced collector, we provide detailed information and guidance to help you make informed choices. This dedication to transparency and expertise underpins everything we do.
Services
Japanese woodblock prints
St Petersburg paintings
Crimea artworks
Art appraisal services
Private collection curation
International art shipping
Art investment advice
Historical provenance research
Gallery exhibitions
Art authentication
Details
- Year established: 1976
Highlights and features
- Specialists in Meiji/Taisho/Showa period Japanese prints since 1976
- Directly sourced works from 1000+ St Petersburg studios
- Showcasing Repin Academy artists' Soviet-era masterpieces
- Expert authentication with documented provenance
- York gallery housing UK's largest private Japanese print collection
Services
Japanese woodblock prints
Specialising in 20th-century Japanese woodblock prints from Meiji, Taisho, and Showa periods. Our collection includes bijin-ga (beautiful women) portraits and landscape series. Each print undergoes rigorous authentication to verify artist provenance and printing techniques, ensuring historical accuracy and investment value.
St Petersburg paintings
Curated selection of Soviet-era paintings from Repin Academy graduates. Works date primarily from 1945 onwards, featuring impressionist and realist styles. Percy Barkes has personally evaluated over 1,000 studios, selecting compositions that showcase technical excellence and cultural significance in Russian art history.
Art authentication
Expert authentication services for Japanese and Russian artworks. We provide detailed provenance research using documentation from artist estates, exhibition records, and historical archives. Our verification process includes material analysis and stylistic evaluation by specialists in 20th-century art movements.
Private collection curation
Advisory services for building specialist art collections. We help clients identify investment pieces with appreciation potential, focusing on underrepresented periods like Taisho-era prints and post-war Soviet paintings. Our expertise ensures purchases align with market trends and collection goals.
International shipping
Secure worldwide shipping for artworks using climate-controlled packaging. We handle customs documentation and insurance arrangements, ensuring safe delivery of fragile prints and paintings. Our shipping partners specialise in fine art transport with real-time tracking and handling by experienced art handlers.
Questions
What periods do your Japanese prints cover?
Our Japanese collection focuses on Meiji, Taisho, and Showa periods (1868–present), with particular emphasis on 20th-century shin hanga movement prints.
Are all Russian paintings from St Petersburg?
Most works originate from St Petersburg artists, though we also feature selected Crimean landscapes and portraits by graduates of the Repin Academy.
How do you verify artwork authenticity?
We use documented provenance, artist signatures, paper analysis, and style evaluation against verified works. Provenance includes exhibition records and direct studio acquisitions.
Do you offer framing services?
We recommend specialist framers for Japanese prints and provide guidance on period-appropriate framing techniques that preserve artwork integrity.
Can I view paintings in person?
Our York gallery displays Japanese prints, while Russian collections can be viewed by appointment at our viewing rooms or through our online high-resolution images.
What payment options are available?
We accept bank transfers, major credit/debit cards, and can arrange payment plans for high-value artworks over £2,000.
Reviews (2)
Oliver Grant
Jan 25, 2021
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I recently purchased a woodblock print from here. I was actually very lucky because I had seen the print in the window late in 2019, and Percy had just acquired the print again. Marc was also super helpful and the print arrived promptly and we'll packaged. I rarely buy something like this and it was a pleasure to buy. Many thanks guys!
Jena Habegger-Conti
Dec 09, 2018
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Stunning collection of images (many from the late 1800s), and lovely owner who is very knowledgable and helpful
