About Vitruvian

Jessica Franses, Founder and Managing Director

Jessica has worked as an art consultant since 2013, advising private clients on acquisitions and sales. She comes from four generations of art dealers. Her family has dealt in art in London since 1909, when her great-grandfather opened his gallery, and her grandfather, great-uncles and father each went on to run their own galleries in Mayfair and St James’s. Before and alongside her early years at Vitruvian, she practised at the Bar for nearly twenty years, latterly leading her chambers’ art law team, experience that informs her approach to due diligence and the structure of transactions.

She has assembled and led teams presenting museum-quality collections and artworks to major museums. At Vitruvian she leads the client relationship and brings together the art-historical, legal, commercial and technical expertise each matter requires.

Jessica is a director of the Art Due Diligence Group and Vice-Chair of the Contemporary Arts Trust, a registered charity that supports promising artists through prizes, awards and residencies.

Malcolm Taylor

Director

Malcolm Taylor is a director of Vitruvian and works with Jessica on the structure and negotiation of its transactions. A solicitor by background, with more than thirty years’ experience in commercial law, he has served as a managing partner and chief executive, and has co-owned an art gallery. He is a director of the Art Due Diligence Group and Chair of the Contemporary Arts Trust, a registered charity supporting promising artists.

Simon Harding

Legal Adviser

Simon Harding advises Vitruvian on its corporate affairs and on the contracts behind each transaction. A barrister at 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square, called in 1998, he brings more than twenty-five years’ experience of commercial and company law, including shareholder and director disputes.