Previous Posts: articles 2023
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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V&A Launches New Collection Search Engine
February 10 2021
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!
MET Considering Sale of Art (ctd.)
February 10 2021
Picture: MET
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Art Newspaper have published a piece on the growing 'rumbles' caused by the MET's suggestion that it is looking towards deaccessioning works of art to keep the institution afloat.
Former director Thomas P. Campbell has been quoted as saying:
I fear that this is a slippery path... Deaccessioning will be like crack cocaine to the addict—a rapid hit, that becomes a dependency. I fear that the consequences could be highly destructive to the art museum industry.
The article quotes a growing list of other museum professionals and former directors from institutions in the US who have been making public statements on the sales.
In addition to this, a petition has begun in opposition to any sales, claiming "The Met's board is responsible for the institution. It is chock-full of billionaires."
The National Trust Receives £3m Restoration Grant from US
February 10 2021
Picture: The National Trust
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The National Trust has received a £3m grant from the US Royal Oak Charity in order support conservation projects. This is set to include the conservation of a portrait of Sir John Maitland by Adrian Vanson, which seems to have been painted on top of a portrait of Mary Queen of Scots. This portrait from Ham House is currently undergoing treatment in the trust's conservation studios at Knole (pictured). Other works set to benefit from the money include a set of sixteenth century chairs at Petworth and a Samurai Armour from Snowshill Manor.
Was Rembrandt Linked to the Slave Trade?
February 10 2021
Picture: The Guardian
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The arts columnist Jonathan Jones of the Guardian has asked the above question in his recent review on the Rijksmuseum's new exhibition Slavery.
Jones describes the shock inclusion of Rembrandt's 1634 full length portraits of Marten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit (pictured):
But there’s a deeply troubling side to this couple’s wealth – and Rembrandt may have wanted us to register that there was something amiss. Soolmans was heir to one of Amsterdam’s biggest sugar refineries, and the production of sugar at its origin point depended on slaves.
...
The Rijksmuseum is stuffed with the artistic riches of the 17th-century Netherlands. For it to draw attention to the links between art, wealth and inhumanity in that age is a bold move. But it is time “to come clean”, Valika Smeulders, the museum’s head of history, told me – in order to “connect the collection to that history”. Parallel to the show, the Rijksmuseum has added labels to 80 objects in its collections that have links to slavery. This goes way beyond culture war cliches, though. In fact, Smeulders doesn’t see it that way at all. Far from a denunciation of the past, she argues, revealing this side of Dutch art can only make it richer.
He ends the piece by suggesting that the museum should have sought a balance by including the Dutch master's Portrait of Two African Men in the Mauritshuis, a point with which I couldn't agree more.
Update - A reader has sent in the following comment:
A little note regarding the article on the forthcoming slavery exhibition at the Rijks. I totally agree on including the 'two african men' in the exhibition, it would be such a nice and important nuance. However, unfortunately, this isn't possible: the picture is part of the Bredius bequest at the Mauritshuis, and can therefor never leave the museum. A construction comparable with the position of the pictures Henry Clay Frick aquired at the Frick. If only this was lifted, some wonderful pictures (some in storage) could complement ensembles and exhibitions elsewhere in the country....
Leonardo's Last Supper to Receive New Lighting
February 9 2021
Picture: finestresullarte.info
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
News from Italy that Leonardo's Last Supper will be receiving a new lighting system this autumn. The Museo Cenacolo Vinciano in Milan has announced that the new system will be preceded by inspections by conservators of the fragile surviving fresco. High resolution scans of the masterpiece will also be undertaken as part of this conservation campaign.
The Museum recently reopened to the public with a strict system of 12 visitors per quarter of an hour.
The Frans Hals Museum is Hiring!
February 9 2021
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Frans Hals Museum in Haarlem are looking to hire a 'Curator for Old Masters'.
You'll have to preferably have a doctorate, proven research skills and published works, four years museum experience and Dutch language skills of course.
The salary on offer is €4,831 gross (which I assume might be per month (?)) for this 32 hour per week role. Applications must be in by 21st February 2021.
Good luck if you're applying!
Prague Rembrandt Exhibition Extended till March
February 9 2021
Picture: National Gallery Prague
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
For the lucky inhabitants of Central Europe, the National Gallery Prague's current exhibition Rembrandt: Portrait of a Man has been extended to 21st March 2021.
As the exhibition blurb explains:
The exhibition’s central work is the portrait Scholar in His Study from the collections of the National Gallery Prague, which Rembrandt painted in 1634, a very successful time in his professional and private life. The portrait captures not only the physical appearance of an unknown elderly man, but also his dramatic spiritual life; the man’s facial expression tells a rich story elevating the painting to a level of historical significance. Yet this rare work conceals more questions than answers. In several interconnected parts, the exhibition project seeks to explore the theme of cognition and learning, contemplation and intimacy from various angles – from the artist’s beginnings and early works in this theme’s context to his increasing popularity in Amsterdam in the 1630s, relevant works by his students and contemporaries and the modern understanding of Rembrandt’s oeuvre.
Reopen Our Museums, say the French!
February 8 2021
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
There has been growing pressure on the French Government from cultural institutions and art lovers to reopen museums in France.
The recent reopening of museums in Italy and Spain have been cited by many in the country as a prime example of where France should follow, calling the most recent lockdown a 'cultural and learning winter'. The administrators of the Louvre too have been keen to point out that everything is ready to let the public back in. In the most recent intervention, twelve directors from public theatres have called for their reopening too.
Update - In a recent article Fabrice Bousteu, editor-in-chief of Beaux-Arts Magazine has said "The sanitary conditions in a museum are much better than in a department store or in public transport ", because " you do not touch anyone " and " there are extremely controlled gauges."
