Art dealer D'Offay to close galleries

One of London's most respected art dealers is closing down his galleries, it was reported yesterday.

Anthony D'Offay, who was known as the "king" of the capital's art scene, said he wanted to retire while he was still at his height of his reputation. Some of the artists that he represented admitted privately yesterday that they had been given no warning that he was leaving the business.

In a brief statement, Mr D'Offay said: "I am 62 in January and not getting any younger. There is never a good time to announce one's retirement but I would rather step down when the gallery is at its height and I feel that now is the right moment.

"I am in excellent health and will continue to be involved in the art world, offering a support service to artists," he said.

The millionaire built a reputation for nurturing artistic talent, developing close relationships with prominent post-war artists including Mark Rothko, Andy Warhol and Joseph Beuys. More recently, he had shown works by Rachel Whiteread, Howard Hodgkin, Anselm Kiefer and Gerhard Richter.

Anna Somers Cocks, of The Art Newspaper, said: "This comes as a real shock. But he has always been a very mysterious man."