Verdicts written after visiting, covering curatorial argument, installation quality, lighting, sequencing and value for the admission price. Praise and complaint are both specific. Written for people deciding between two shows on a Saturday and for readers who want criticism that commits to a position.
Auctions offer transparency and adrenaline at retail-plus prices; galleries offer vetting, placement and primary access at list price — the intelligent collector uses both, in the right order.
A good review is not opinion decorated with adjectives — it is an argument tested against the work's ambition, its execution and its context, and the criteria are more legible than most readers think.
An auction result is three numbers wearing one trench coat — estimate, hammer price and the total with fees — and knowing which one the press quoted tells you everything about the spin.