Alex Reid

Alexander Reid (1854–1928) was a Glasgow art dealer and amateur artist, and friend of James Abbott McNeill Whistler and Vincent van Gogh. He was one of the most influential art dealers in Europe in the early 20th century, exhibiting and selling artworks by some of the finest artists of his period, including the Impressionists, the Post-Impressionists, the Glasgow Boys and the Scottish Colourists. He helped build up the French painting collection of Sir William Burrell. and many of the works he dealt with now feature in major private, civic and national art collections all over the world. Within the Scottish art world he was called Monticelli Reid. During this period dealers bought art at risk, becoming the temporary owner. They then reinvested the profit in more art, usually increasing the investment progressively, but also increasing the personal risk if the art did not sell or sold for less than the price paid. Life He was born in Glasgow on 25 March 1854 the first of six children of James Gardner Reid (1828-1907) a cabinet maker and ship carver (specialising in figureheads) with premises at 47 Carrick Street, living at 10 Minerva Place in the Finnieston district. His mother Elizabeth Turnbull was the daughter of William Turnbull, a minor artist and pottery designer. In 1857 his father went into partnership with a Thomas Kay to create the carving firm of "Kay & Reid" based at 50 Wellington Street. The company made figureheads and ornate picture frames.