Previous Posts: February 2021

National Gallery Announce £30m Makeover for Sainsbury Wing Entrance

February 16 2021

Image of National Gallery Announce £30m Makeover for Sainsbury Wing Entrance

Picture: architectsjournal.co.uk

Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:

The National Gallery in London have announced a £30m makeover for the gallery's Sainsbury Wing Entrance. The development has been announced as part of an international competition for architects to 'vastly improve the welcome' experience in this portion of the building.

The gallery's director Gabriele Finaldi is quoted as saying:

We are incredibly fortunate to have a valuable modern heritage asset such as the Sainsbury Wing and it has more than met its original brief, notably in the world-class galleries. The dual challenge of a huge increase in visitor numbers and the changing expectations and needs of those visitors over the last 30 years means we do need to look again at the spaces we have, and in particular the ground-floor entrances and amenities.

Click here and here to read Bendor's own comments on his Twitter page. In particular, he has drawn attention to the disparity between the threatened closure to the Williamson Art Gallery & Museum in Birkenhead to save £212,000 and the £30m to be spent on a new entrance of this London gallery.

Les Musées de Strasbourg Acquires Guérin Self-Portrait

February 15 2021

Image of Les Musées de Strasbourg Acquires Guérin Self-Portrait

Picture: dna.fr

Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:

Les Musées de la Ville de Strasbourg have acquired a self-portrait by the artist and draughtsman Jean-Urbain Guérin (1760-1836). Unfortunately a pay-wall has prevented me from gleaming too many details, but it seems the portrait had been in the family of the printer Levrault for two centuries.

Uffizi Director cites Berlin Study to Show Museums are Safe

February 15 2021

Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:

The Uffizi Gallery in Florence was forced to close last Friday as Tuscany was plunged back into a stricter level of lockdown due to the virus crisis. The gallery had been open for a mere fourteen days since its reopening, welcoming over 18,000 visitors during that short period.

The gallery's direct Eike Schmidt has said that the promising visitor numbers is a case for the strong desire for culture from the local inhabitants of the area.

He has also quoted a recent study by the Hermann-Rietschel-Instituts of the Technische Universität Berlin, whose research indicates that museums with reduced capacity are amongst the safest of places to visit during these times. Their study claims that museums carry less risk of infection than supermarkets, cinemas, restaurants and sports halls. Factors considered included within the research are the dwell time in rooms, air flow, air quality and type of activity undertaken in such spaces.

Want to Live and Work at Petworth House?

February 15 2021

Image of Want to Live and Work at Petworth House?

Picture: The National Trust

Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:

Would you like to live and work at what must surely be one of Britain's greatest collections of art? Well, the National Trust are looking for a 'Collections & House Officer' at this important site. The role includes delivering the care and presentation of collections within.

The salary on offer is £19,928 per annum, but, onsite accommodation is provided. The closing date for applications is 21st February 2021.

Good luck if you're applying!

Celebrating 90 Years with Peaks & Glaciers

February 15 2021

Image of Celebrating 90 Years with Peaks & Glaciers

Picture: John Mitchell Fine Paintings

Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:

The dealers John Mitchell Fine Paintings are celebrating their 90th anniversary this year. To celebrate they have launched an online exhibition entitled Peaks & Glaciers. These pictures certainly resonate with the icy conditions that Europe has been experiencing over the past two weeks or so. The exhibition runs from 18th February - 18th March 2021.

Keep the Library Open, say the Wallace Collection

February 15 2021

Image of Keep the Library Open, say the Wallace Collection

Picture: Pinterest

Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:

It seems that the management of the Wallace Collection in London have had a change of heart and have reversed their decision to close their library and archive services. The online petition set up by staff has reached over 28,000 signatures.

In a statement from the museum, director Dr Xavier Bray included the following lines:

These are unprecedented times. Like many institutions, the Wallace Collection has suffered a precipitous drop in our self-generated income due to the pandemic, and is now facing an uncertain financial future as we weather the next few years. Our visitor numbers have dropped from over 450,000 in 2019 – 2020, to a mere 26,000 in 2020 – 2021; this is a 95% drop in visitors to the Collection. As well as the deep sadness we feel in not being able to share our works of art with the public, the effect of this drop has been a commensurate decline in our income. We will have to make difficult decisions in the future to ensure our financial sustainability.

Click here to read the museum's statement in full.

Gurke Fastentuch Conserved

February 13 2021

Image of Gurke Fastentuch Conserved

Picture: kath-kirche-kaernten.at

Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:

My attention has been drawn to a news story from Austria. The Gurke Fastentuch, a mid-fifteenth century painted textile found in the Gurke Dom in Carinthia, Austria, has been conserved and redisplayed. This Lenten shroud measures 89 square metres and features 99 religious scenes such as the one above (pictured). The restoration of this fragile gothic cloth has taken several years, however, visitors will now be able to see the fully restored artwork back in situ.

Louvre's New Storage Facility

February 13 2021

Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:

The New York Times have published a piece on the Louvre's new storage facility in the town of Liévin, near Lens. Over 100,000 objects have already been moved to the new facility which has come at a cost of €60m.

Cromwell's Portraits at the Cromwell Museum

February 13 2021

Video: Cromwell Museum

Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:

Curator Stuart Orme has made this short video on portraits of Oliver Cromwell kept in the Cromwell Museum in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.

Early Colour Printing in the British Museum

February 13 2021

Image of Early Colour Printing in the British Museum

Picture: paulholberton.com

Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:

Paul Holberton Publishing are about to release a new scholarly publication entitled Early Colour Printing: German Renaissance Woodcuts at the British Museum. Written by the curator and scholar Elizabeth Savage, the publication will examine works by the likes of "Erhard Ratdolt, Lucas Cranach, Hans Baldung Grien, and Hans Burgkmair, as well as unfairly overlooked entrepreneurs and innovators like Erasmus Loy (and his daughter Anna)."

As the publishers blurb explains:

Early Colour Printing: German Renaissance Woodcuts at the British Museum offers significant new research, including previously unidentified examples of early modern colour-printing. Some are believed to be unique in the world; others were made decades before the landmark invention of colourful chiaroscuro woodcut in Italy in 1516. By modelling a printer- and technology-based approach to the history of printing, it contributes to scholarship by pinpointing attributions to printers—not just to artists or designers. In doing so, it lays the groundwork for a new understanding of the history of print, one that encompasses all forms of printed material.

Louvre's new Tiepolo is 'Expensive', 'Mediocre' and in 'Poor Condition'

February 13 2021

Image of Louvre's new Tiepolo is 'Expensive', 'Mediocre' and in 'Poor Condition'

Picture: Louvre

Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz

La Tribune de l'Art in France has published a piece criticising the Louvre's recent Tiepolo acquisition.

Acquired towards the end of last year for a purported €4.5m, the arts magazine has called the ceiling painting 'expensive', 'mediocre' and in 'poor condition'. Its editor has given many reasons for these strong words, including analysis of the painting's provenance and conservation issues. Claims are also made that price paid was vastly inflated, considering the work had sold at auction in 2004 for €775,000. The photo supplied of the painting in raking light shows that the structure of the canvas and support is in a sad state, and a large campaign of conservation is likely to be needed.

The article also points out that the painting's provenance during the war is unaccounted for.

The Louvre are yet to reply to the criticisms raised.

History of Picture Frames Course at University of Amsterdam

February 12 2021

Image of History of Picture Frames Course at University of Amsterdam

Picture: Rijksmuseum via. auricularstyleframes

Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:

The University of Amsterdam are running what looks to be one of the most in depth courses on the history of picture frames available to scholars, arts professionals or any lover of art! Picture Frames 15th - 21st Century will consist of 2 hour lectures stretched over 4 weeks in April 2021. Furthermore, the course will be lead by Hubert Baija, Senior Conservator of Frames and Gilding at the Rijksmuseum, and cover all of the historical frame styles and periods.

This in depth online course begins on 1st April 2021 and will cost €350 to attend.

Ribera Conserved in Royal Palace of Madrid

February 12 2021

Image of Ribera Conserved in Royal Palace of Madrid

Picture: Patrimonio Nacional

Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:

Gosh, it seems that Spanish museums have been rather busy with conservation projects over the past few months!

The Patrimonio Nacional, under which the Spanish State's Palaces are administered, has recently conserved a painting by José de Ribera (1591-1652). The Liberation of Saint Peter is part of the art collection kept in the Royal Palace in Madrid. Conservation has uncovered the artist's signature and a possible date of 1631 or 1634. A pentimento of the angel's left arm has also been revealed, 

The organisation have published some interesting videos concerning the restoration on their Twitter page.

KHM Vienna Conserves a Rubens Landscape

February 12 2021

Video: Kunsthistoriches Museum Wien

Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:

The Kunsthistoriches Museum in Vienna have published the video above detailing the recent conservation and research into their large scale The Great Landscape with a Tempest by Peter Paul Rubens. The video details the changes the artist made to the landscape over time, including adding the figures and story towards the end of the picture's development.

Fortunately, all the research compiled during this project has been distilled into a rather impressive book available in both German and English.

Shelburne Museum Reunites Portraits of Mr & Mrs Scollay

February 12 2021

Image of Shelburne Museum Reunites Portraits of Mr & Mrs Scollay

Picture: Shelburne Museum

Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:

The Shelburne Museum in Vermont have reunited a pair of portraits of Mr & Mrs John Scollay by John Singleton Copley. The reunion was made possible by the acquisition of Mrs Scollay's (Mercy Greenleaf) portrait by the museum. Scollay was a a Chairman of the Boston Board of Selectmen and member of the Sons of Liberty, and commissioned both portraits from Copley in the 1760s. The portrait had been acquired from Shelburne Museum founder Electra Havemeyer Webb, who purchased the work for her own collection in 1959.

The museum's director Tom Denenberg will be giving a Zoom presentation on the acquisition on Wednesday 17th February 2021.

Art History Essay Prize for 16-18 Years

February 12 2021

Image of Art History Essay Prize for 16-18 Years

Picture: The Arts Society

Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:

The Arts Society are advertising for a rather impressive art history essay prize for budding art historians aged between 16 - 18 years. The prize of the Trenchard Cox Art History Abroad Scholarship is a two week Art History Abroad (AHA) summer course in Venice, Florence and Rome worth over £4,000. Candidates must submit two 400 word essays on one artwork that they love, and one that they 'loathe'. Entries must be in by 5pm (GMT) today (12th February 2021)!

Conserving Colonial Cuzco School Paintings at the MET

February 11 2021

Video: MET

Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York have released the following video giving an interesting insight into the conservation of colonial paintings from eighteenth century Latin America.

Museum of Fine Arts of València Restores Van Dyck Equestrian Portrait

February 11 2021

Image of Museum of Fine Arts of València Restores Van Dyck Equestrian Portrait

Picture: gva.es

Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:

Museum of Fine Arts of València has redisplayed a recently conserved portrait of Francisco de Moncada, 3rd Marquis of Aytona, After Sir Anthony Van Dyck. This restoration work was undertaken by l'Institut Valencià de Restauració, Conservació i Investigació (IVCR+i). The work, which seems to by owned by the Prado, had been a part of Valencian collection of Colonel Manuel Montesinos y Molina before it was acquired by the museum.

Although the article seems to suggest that the Valencian picture is by Van Dyck himself, the 2004 catalogue raisonné of the artist lists the work as being a copy of the original in the Louvre, Paris.

Many of you will spot that the composition is taken from Van Dyck's portrait of King Charles I in the Royal Collection. Indeed, I've always found it curious that the Marquis was painted wearing the exact same Greenwich armour as Charles does. This is surprising, as the Spanish tended to like highly gilded and flamboyant armours in this period. So here it seems obvious that Van Dyck used prepared studies which he brought with him to Brussels where he is believed to have completed the picture. In this case, it's possible that the head was simply stuck on. Very useful when you're trying to make an impressive painting in a hurry.

Here's a better image from the website above:

Prado Conserves Del Sarto Holy Family

February 11 2021

Image of Prado Conserves Del Sarto Holy Family

Picture: Prado Museum

Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:

The Prado Museum in Madrid have released a video on their Instagram account giving details behind the recent conservation of a painting of the Holy Family by Andrea del Sarto. The video is in Spanish, but thanks to a summary by @Boro_PR on Twitter, it seems that they have concluded that this version is a very late autograph replica of the more famous Barberini picture.

V&A Launches New Collection Search Engine

February 10 2021

Image of V&A Launches New Collection Search Engine

Picture: V&A

Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:

The Victoria and Albert Museum in London have launched a beta version of their new digital collections search engine on their website. This replaces their rather out of date and clunky predecessor, which had been in place for well over ten years I believe. On first glances it seems very easy to use and supplies fairly good images.

The only drawback, it seems, are its out of date image use terms. These appear to be rather antiquated compared to the growing list of museums who are allowing open access use these days!

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