Paintings by Matisse, Picasso and Van Gogh worth hundreds of millions of pounds were threatened by a flash flood that caused an upmarket art fair to be evacuated.
The Hamptons Fine Art Fair, which showcased an estimated $400 million worth of art, jewellery and watches, was shut down at the weekend after torrential rain caused water to stream into the venue.
The works were left hanging on the walls, with the show’s director saying they were left inside to keep them sheltered from the rain even as water flooded the building. Any damage to artworks is understood to be minor, although the fair’s organisers are still evaluating.
Guests were evacuated from the building but organisers said the artworks were safer left inside
Rick Friedman, the fair’s executive director, said everyone present had evacuated calmly after the fire and police departments