MFA Boston Lays Off 57 Employees
August 4 2020
Picture: MFA Boston
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston has announced that it has laid-off 57 employees with an additional 56 employees taking voluntary retirement. The gallery has projected a $12m - $14m loss due to the covid crisis.
The American Alliance of Museums has suggested that one out of three museums in the USA might not reopen after the crisis.
San Pier Maggiore Project
August 4 2020
Video: University of Cambridge
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Here's a fascinating digital art and architectural project. The University of Cambridge and partners have been undertaking a fascinating digital reconstruction of the lost church of San Pier Maggiore in Florence. Built in the years around 1300, the Church was once home to many important fourteenth century Italian artworks now dispersed around the globe. Visitors to Florence will be able to use their smart phone or tablet to enter a 3D visualisation app called Hidden Florence 3D: San Pier Maggiore.
$2.5 bn Revenue - 25% Down on 2019 - at Sotheby's
August 3 2020
Picture: ArtMarketMonitor
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Art Market Monitor.com have published an interesting article exploring the recently published figures from the auction house Sotheby's.
Some of the headline figures:
- The sales volume to date (1st Jan - 31st July 2020) was $2.5 bn.
- The above figure is down 25% on 2019's figures of $3.3 bn. This fall is blamed on the covid crisis.
- Online sales increased by 540% in the first seven months of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.
- E-Commerce Retail is up 48% in transaction volume on the same period in 2019.
- Average lot value was over $20,000 on live and digital platforms, a figure that is double the average of those in 2019.
- 'Millennial buyers' (under age of 40) now account for 30% of total clients, with 30% of clients being new buyers.
- Strong results from the Asia Market with results totalling $450 m.
Art History Socks
August 3 2020
Picture: Curatorsocks.com
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
AHN has a long history of bringing readers only the best art history related ephemera.
Curator Socks are "socks inspired by masterpieces".
In their own words:
Curator Socks draws its inspiration from the beauty and emotion of some of the greatest masterpieces ever created. We reinterpret strokes, color, and styles to transform iconic works of art into a beautifully knitted canvas that you can wear and take with you everywhere.
Artists on offer include Caravaggio (pictured), Klimt, Van Gogh, Manet, Leonardo, Bruegel, and the list goes on... The Turner set, which pushes the boundary of the term 'inspired by' to the limit, are my favourite.
Tourist Breaks Canova Toes During Selfie
August 3 2020
Picture: @perchetendenza
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
News from the Museo Canova in Possagno that the plaster model for artist's Paolina Borghese has had its toes broken. The damage was caused last Friday by the posterior of a tourist who was attempting to take a selfie with the plaster figure. The individual involved, who has been called a 'vandal' by the Italian press, fled the scene and is yet to be apprehended.
Update - The tourist who was involved in the toe-breaking incident has handed himself in to the authorities. Here is the CCTV video of the incident.
Van Eyck's Mystic Lamb
August 3 2020
Picture: Ars Technica
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
ArtNews have published an article on the news that researchers from Antwerp and Washington have come out in support of the restoration of Van Eyck's Ghent Altarpiece. Experts from the University of Antwerp and the National Gallery of Art in Washington have asserted that the restored image of the Mystic Lamb is consistent with its original 15th century depiction. The restoration shocked several figures in the art world when it was unveiled last year (pictured).
This article by Ars Technica provides lots of interesting images of the conservation work conducted on the picture, including infrared scans etc.
Mattia Preti back in Malta
August 3 2020
Picture: Times Malta
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Maltese Government has acquired a painting that came up for sale in January at Sotheby's. Mattia Preti's Boethius Consoled by Philosophy was once part of the collection held in the Grand Master's Palace in Valetta. The above watercolour by Charles de Brocktorff shows the painting hanging in the rooms of the palace.
Times of Malta has published an article which describes the circumstances how the picture became known to the authorities there. The article claims that the picture 'mysteriously disappeared' from the palace in Valetta a century ago. In 2007 the art historian Theresa Vella began to look into what happened to the work for it then to reappear earlier this year at auction. The Sotheby's catalogue notes indicate it ended up in the collection of a historical society in Ohio before being sold at auction in 1992.
The picture was bought by the Maltese authorities for $1.46m (inc. fees) at the January Old Masters Sale in New York.
Caravaggio's Cardsharps on Trial
July 31 2020
Picture: Burlington Press
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
This looks like an interesting book for anyone interested in what happens when art experts disagree about the attributions of paintings.
The Burlington Press have recently published the above book Caravaggio's 'Cardsharps' on Trial: Thwaytes v. Sotheby's by Richard E Spear. Spear, an expert on Italian Baroque Painting, acted as the expert witness in the case concerning a painting that Sir Denis Mahon had bought at Sotheby's and had declared a Caravaggio in full.
Here's AHN's summary of the story back in 2013.
Richard Wilson Article on ArtUK
July 31 2020
Picture: Lady Lever Art Gallery
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Dr Paul Spencer-Longhurst has contributed an interesting article on ArtUK entitled Richard Wilson: the father of British landscape painting. It is beautifully illustrated with images from the UK's public collection.
If like me you can't get enough of Wilson's landscapes, then I'd also recommend visiting the Richard Wilson Online Catalogue Raisonné project hosted by the Paul Mellon Centre. Dr Spencer-Longhurst was the compiler of this fantastic resource.
Seacole Bust Battle
July 31 2020
Picture: Dominic Winter Auctions
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The above terracotta bust of Crimean War nurse and heroine Mary Seacole sold for £101,000 at auction yesterday. The piece, sculpted by Count Gleichen in 1871, smashed through its estimate of £700 - £1,000.
The sale attracted several comments on Twitter. This included dealer Philip Mould who explained that he was one of the underbidders for the artwork. It turns out that the bust was purchased by Billy Peterson, owner of the production company Racing Green Pictures who are currently making a film on Seacole's life. The company has said that it is hoping to include the artwork in the film.
Christie's Results
July 31 2020
Picture: Christie's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The results are in for the recent Old Master Paintings sales, which also include sculpture and some decorative works of art it should be noted.
The 'Classic Art Evening Sale' realised £21,157,250 (inc. fees). The Old Master pictures contributed £9,849,000 to this figure which is roughly 46.55%.*
Their online Old Master Paintings & Sculpture sale realised £3,135,000 (inc. fees) with approximately 64.33% of lots sold.**
The 'Remastered: Contemporary Art and Old Masters' sale realised £2,549,500 (inc. fees). Old Master pictures contributed £1,255,000 which represents roughly 49.22% of the total.
The top lot old master, a portrait of a Lady by Rubens, came in just below the low estimate and made £3,965,250 (inc. fees). The real star of the sale was a fifteenth century Burgundian portrait of a man that made £1,631,250 (inc. fees) over an estimate of £400k - £600k. Considering the universal admiration it received on various commentaries I've read, it seemed obvious that it would smash past its temptingly low estimate. Although I didn't include it within the above tally, this very fine marble Death of Lucretia Attrb. to Antonio Lombardo smashed through its estimate to realise £3,724,750 over its £500k - £800k estimate.
The online 'day sale' also saw some rather impressive prices. The first lot, another Burgundian portrait, made £137,500 over its £5k - £8k estimate; the former Kimbolton Castle Charles I made a respectable £112,500 over its £50k - £80k estimate; A portrait of Henry Nassau-Breda made £81,250 over its £5k - £8k estimate; An early portrait of Henry VIII made £75,000 over its £25k - £35k estimate; and finally a curious Tuscan School oil on alabaster made £187,500 over its £7k - £10k estimate.
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It seems fair to suggest that Sotheby's managed to get ahead of Christie's in this season's Old Master Paintings duel. Obviously, it comes down to the fact that they seemingly managed to secure the most attractive paintings with estimates that proved attracted to bidders. Securing the Rembrandt Self Portrait, arguably the greatest marketing 'splash' of the season even if it didn't soar as people expected it to, must have helped.
These prices are still remarkable, especially considering the times in which we live. I am not by any means an economist, so I'll leave it to others to make comments on whether increasing numbers of investors are flocking to art for safety during these turbulent times.
I will watch with great anticipation to see what other masterpieces resurface in the coming months. Strong currents and tides usually deposit all sorts of curious treasures onto the shores. We'll wait and see if it has the same effect on the art market.
* Note - this sale contained no modern art, hence a like for like comparison with the 'Rembrandt to Richter' sale isn't entirely appropriate.
** - This is an approximate number as Christie's remove unsold lots from their online platform.
Cerruti Collection Pays Heirs for Stolen Painting
July 30 2020
Picture: ArtNews
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Cerruti Collection in Turin has paid out an undisclosed sum to keep Jacopo di Arcangelo's, known as del Sellaio, Madonna and Child with the Young St John and Two Angels (pictured). The painting, which was owned the art dealer Gustav Arnes, was seized by the Nazis during the annexation of Austria in 1938. By this time it had descended with Arnes's heirs into the Unger collection. The painting had passed through several dealers hands during the twentieth century and had sold at Christie's in London as recently as 1985 before entering the collection of the Villa Cerruti.
Unger's daughter, who is 93 and remembers seeing the painting as a child, is quoted:
At almost 93, I had lost hope that this beloved Italian Renaissance painting belonging to my parents would ever resurface. I am pleased not only that the Cerruti Foundation has reached an equitable agreement with the Unger family heirs, including a full account of the painting’s troubled history, but also that I might yet see the work itself in the Castello di Rivoli Museum in my lifetime.
This quote contains an interesting detail of the story. One stipulation of the heirs, as part of the monetary agreement, is that the painting's murky history should be published in any future catalogue notes.
Salvator Mundi - The Musical
July 30 2020
Picture: The Art Newspaper
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Art Newspaper have published news that the tale of Leonardo's Salvator Mundi is going to be transformed into a musical.
According to the Caiola Productions Company:
It will follow the story of how a shredded, scratched wooden panel painting of Jesus purchased for $1,100 in 2005, evolved to become the Leonardo da Vinci masterpiece—lost for over 500 years—titled Salvator Mundi that in 2017 was auctioned at Christie’s auction house for over $450m...
The Musical will mix the “historical reportage of Hamilton with the fantasy and delight of Willy Wonka's golden ticket”, the company says.
Will dealer Robin Simon, conservator Dianne Modestini, Leonardo scholar Martin Kemp and various Christie's experts be written into the script and given singing roles, I wonder?
Michelangelo's 'The Dream'
July 30 2020
Video: CourtauldInstitute
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Courtauld Institute of Art in London have published this interesting video describing Michelangelo's drawing The Dream. The talk is given by Ketty Gottardo, the curator of drawings at the Institute.
Phallus Alert: The Courtauld have decided to put an age restriction on the video due to its content.
Sotheby's Results
July 30 2020
Picture: Sotheby's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The results from the recent Sotheby's Old Master Painting sales are in.
The Evening 'Rembrandt to Richter' sale realised £149,730,290 (inc. fees). The Old Master pictures in the sale contributed £28,411,800 to this figure which is roughly 18.97%.
Their online Old Master Sale, which included drawings and watercolours, brought in a very respectable £4,669,000 (inc. fees) with 73.26% of lots sold.
The top lot old master of the evening, Rembrandt's self portrait, made £12,600,000 (hammer) which totalled £14,549,400 when fees are included. It was sold to a phone bidder with an expert from the company's New York office, prompting speculation that it was bought by an American collector.
The old master that created the greatest 'buz' in the sale was the incredible rare Paolo Uccello battle scene which made £2,415,000 over an estimate of £600k - £800k. Judging from the commentary on social media and elsewhere, its obvious that this beautiful picture was going to smash through its temptingly low estimate.
Equally dramatic was the news an hour before the sale started that several lots had been withdrawn. This included the Verrocchio drapery study and the Frans Hals portrait. A valuable Bacon was also withdrawn. We may only speculate as to why, but it's possible that there simply wasn't enough interest in the pictures.
Coming back to the online 'day-sale', some very impressive results were achieved. A Van Dyck of Saint Philip made £675,000 over an estimate of £120k - £180k; A still life by Balthasar van der Ast made £150,000 over an estimate of £20k - £30k; A Francois Boucher study doubled its high estimate to make £43,750; an a portrait of a servant of the Lawrence Family by John Taylor made a staggering £137,500 over a £1k - £1.5k estimate.
Several old master drawings too smashed through their estimates, which must have contributed greatly to the sale's success. This included a very lovely 'Attributed to Carel Fabritius' which made £150k over an estimate of £7k - £9k.
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So, did the 'boundary breaking' evening sale have the desired effect? Only the experts at Sotheby's will know for sure. It would be interesting to get an insiders perspective if any contemporary collectors decided to take a flutter on the Van Goyen or Bellotto.
During the sale auctioneer Oliver Barker, senior director of the Contemporary Art department, was keen to point the cross departmental phone bids. As many of you will know, top collectors are assigned dedicated experts and directors from departments to be their main point of contact for phone bidding. It seems that there was some overlap, but only the auction house will be able to see whether it made a difference.
Did the sale contribute to promoting Old Master Paintings on a wider scale? Perhaps so. Yet, I found it highly amusing to read several spectator comments lauding the fact that a Joan Miró had 'beaten' a Rembrandt by making c.£22m over £14m etc.
In this case yes, the market had judged this specific Rembrandt to be worth £8m or so less than a blue canvas with some white, red and yellow splodges on it. More widely speaking, are auctions the best way to judge the true value of artworks? I am certain that the readers of AHN will relish in Wilde's famous dig at cynics who 'know the price of everything but the value of nothing'.
1,200 Jobs at Risk at The National Trust
July 30 2020
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The National Trust, an organisation that cares for a substantial collection of historic properties and art collections in the UK, has announced that 1,200 jobs are at risk due to the covid crisis. This is roughly 13% of their salaried workforce. The Trust has said that it expects to lose £200m worth of revenue this year and is looking to make £100m worth of savings.
In a statement the charity said:
Nearly 40% of the proposed savings (£40m) will be non-pay spending cuts, including reducing travel and office costs, reducing marketing and print spend in favour of digital, renegotiating contracts, reducing IT spend and introducing more efficient processes to manage key areas of the charity.
Update - Here is the full press release from the National Trust.
Spanish Tax Authority Murillo (ctd.)
July 29 2020
Picture: El Pais
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Spanish newspaper El Pais has reported on controversy that has arisen over a Murillo which is due to be sold by the Spanish Tax Authorities. It seems that a row has erupted over both the quality and estimated price of the work. Enrique Valdivieso, the scholar who authenticated the work, described the painting as being over-valued. Other scholars have pitched in to describe the work as a second rate copy.
More details concerning the work's provenance have also been published.
Sleeper Alert!
July 29 2020
Picture: Skinner Inc
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The portrait above, catalogued as 'Dutch School, 17th century' made $40,625 over an estimate of $300 - $500 at Skinner Auction in Marlborough yesterday. The unknown gentleman reminded me a lot of John Donne, or even the 2nd Earl of Essex perhaps, with its glassy smoothness evoking the works of William Larkin (?).
There were several interesting paintings in the sale that smashed their estimates. What seems to have been a corridor portrait of Mary Tudor made $21,250 over an estimate of $200 - $400; and a rather pleasing copy of Henrietta Maria after Van Dyck made $15,000 over an estimate of $1,000 - $1,500.
Update - Art dealer Philip Mould has Tweeted this photograph of the painting mid-clean.
Van Gogh's Roots (?)
July 28 2020
Picture: The New York Times
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The New York Times have published news that a researcher has discovered the root system that Van Gogh painted during the last few days of his life. The exact location for his painting Tree Roots (above), now in the Van Gogh Museum, has never been established. Wouter van Veen, scientific director of the Van Gogh Institute, had been investigating the area in which the troubled artist spent his last days in Auvers-sur-Oise. A spot on the Rue Daubigny became of great interest, and an 100 year-old postcard of the location (below) added further evidence to support his theory.
Van Veen's research has been endorsed by the curators of the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.
While we're at it, can anyone identify where exactly Van Dyck made this beautiful watercolour that survives at the Barber Institute? Somewhere along the Kentish Thames Estuary has been suggested in the past, and I'm sure someone will tell me if it has already been pinpointed.
Half-Dozen Dealer Fair at the Hilton, Amsterdam
July 28 2020
Picture: Bijl-van Urk
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Six Dutch art dealers are teaming up to put on their own fair at the Hilton Hotel in Amsterdam from 3 - 6 September 2020. This venture was inspired due the many cancelled fairs due to the continuing virus crisis. Social distancing will be enforced and capacity capped at 40 visitors at any one time.
Dealers involved include A. Aardewerk from the Hague, Kunstgalerij Albricht from Oosterbeek, Bijl-Van Urk from Alkmaar, Jaski Gallery from Amsterdam, and Kollenburg Antiquairs from Oirschot.
This rather fun study of a Vervet Monkey by Pieter Boel was shared by dealers Bijl-van Urk on their Instagram account a few days ago. It has already found a new owner, in case you were wondering.
