Art collecting has existed since time immemorial, long before the creation of museums even, which benefited from the work of the first great art collectors. People who accumulated works of art to enjoy owning during all their life and who, in many cases, created museums to show off their collection in so that their name would live on after their death.

Art collecting is a very special activity since the collector becomes the owner of an object which, with the passage of time, will grow in value. Works of art are bought and sold, not for any use, but for what they mean, for their aesthetic, anthropological, technical and scientific value. Certificating these aspects is the task of the art specialist or expert, while the appraiser�s job is to put a monetary value on the work.

The former determines the period, the quality, the school, the workshop, the artist, the importance of the work, as well as the state of preservation it is in, and he or she will declare whether it is an original, a copy, an imitation or a fake. The appraiser, for his part, establishes the value of the work in accordance with the current market.

Galleries and auction houses
Art collecting is not just collecting works of enormous value, something which only a privileged few can afford. Nowadays it is not necessary to have a fortune to get started in the world of art collecting. The plethora of art galleries and auction houses that exist today means that works of art are on sale to suit the tastes and pockets of every collector.

There is an ample selection of galleries in all the major cities, especially Madrid and Barcelona, and there are also prestigious auction houses like Castellana 150 (Madrid and Barcelona), Lamas Bola�o (Barcelona) and Ansorena (Madrid). If you want to acquire a work of art at an auction you should remember that you have to add 16% VAT to the final price of whatever you buy, plus a tax on the commission.

A collector should not forget the national and international art fairs which are held annually. In Spain, the most important is the Contemporary Art Fair ARCO (Madrid). Others of great prestige are the Art Chicago, in the USA and FIAC, in France.

Know how to invest
Before getting into this fascinating world there are a few things you need to bear in mind. The first of which is to know how to invest, or in other words, how to buy intelligently. To do this it is vital to be aware of what is selling these days and to know the price ranges of the different places. Getting started as an art collector does not mean walking into an auction room or a gallery and buying the first painting you see.

Making a good investment also means making sure that it will be profitable in the long term, which is why you need information and advice from the experts.

As well as being able to spot a good investment you also need to develop some good taste, something which is only possible by understanding and reading up on what you want to buy. With this information it will be much easier to get hold of the production of recognised artists, whose works will increase in value over the years. However, it is also very gratifying to invest in young up and coming artists, and for that you will need a keen critical eye to decide who you are going to bet on.


The collector�s ten commandments
The art critic, Manuel March�n D�az, offers ten practical tips for anybody wishing to get into the world of art collecting:

1. Have space
This is essential because there are cases of collectors who have snapped up so many works that they have run out of room in their house to put them in.

2. Have enough money
Your disposable income needs to be large enough to support your hobby.

3. Understand the subject
The aim is to avoid making mistakes and being duped. As his or her collection grows, so the collector tends to become a real expert.

4. Read up on the subject
Once you have chosen a subject, you should read everything you can get your hands on about it, and don�t be afraid to ask the experts.

5. See a lot
Attend fairs and trade exhibitions, and visit shops and galleries.

6. Specialise
A good collector should avoid indiscriminate diversification.

7. Choose well
Choose works whose beauty, rarity etc. earn them a place in your collection.

8. Collecting is like a work of art
Collecting is a work of individualised creation, undertaken with an aesthetic aim. The important and fundamental thing is the artistic purpose of the work.

9. Join an association or club of collectors
The greatest satisfaction for a collector is to be able to enjoy and share his or her� finds and knowledge with other art enthusiasts.

10. Collect only what you like
The great collector L�zaro Galdiano, once said: I may have been tricked about the price of some things, but never about their beauty and taste. I have always bought things I like.