Freeman's Appoints Jelena James as Senior Specialist, Head of Sale, Old Masters & 19th Century European Art

Freeman's is pleased to announce the appointment of Jelena James as Senior Specialist and Head of Sale for Old Masters & 19th Century European Art. In this role, James will lead the sourcing and execution of the department's sales, further strengthening Freeman's position in the European paintings market.

James brings more than two decades of experience in the international auction market, having held senior specialist positions at Bonhams Skinner and New Orleans Auction Galleries, where she served as Director of Fine Art. During her tenure in New Orleans, she launched the firm's first dedicated Fine Art auction in 2017, establishing a specialty platform for European and American paintings; in 2021, she founded the Modern and Contemporary Art & Design department, whose inaugural auction realized $1.8 million.

"Jelena's connoisseurship and track record of uncovering exceptional works make her a tremendous addition to our team," said Daisy Edelson, Executive Vice President, General Manager, Fine Art. "Her leadership will be instrumental as we continue to build on Freeman's legacy in European paintings and connect collectors with important works in this collecting category."

In her role, James will advise private collectors, estates, and public institutions on all aspects of collecting European works of art—from valuation to sale. Over the course of her career, she has overseen the sale of significant estates, private collections, and deaccessioned works from museums and universities, including the distinguished collection of Old Master paintings from Friends University in Wichita, Kansas. She has directed the successful sale of important works by numerous artists, including Thomas Gainsborough's Portrait of Gainsborough Dupont, rediscovered in a Jackson, Mississippi, estate and sold in 2018, and a fifteenth-century Portrait of Julia De Rubeis, from the House of De' Rossi, attributed to the Manner of Lorenzo di Credi, rediscovered in a private collection in Ocala, Florida, in 2015.

James holds a diploma from Christie's Education, London (Royal Society of Arts) in Fine and Decorative Arts from Antiquity to the Renaissance, and a bachelor's degree from Hollins University.

Her appointment underscores Freeman's continued investment in category expertise and its commitment to serving collectors across the United States.

About Freeman’s

Freeman’s is a premier American auction house offering services in multiple categories including fine art, jewelry, design, books and manuscripts, furniture, decorative arts, antiquities, couture, and Asian works of art. With 16 regional locations nationwide, the firm provides auctions, appraisals, private sales, and art advisory services, connecting clients to the global art market. Freeman’s strives to bring art, history, and design to life by connecting people with extraordinary objects through exceptional service and expertise.