Genius and Majesty at Versailles
May 29 2025
Picture: Palace of Versailles
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Palace of Versailles will be opening their latest exhibition Genius and Majesty - Louix XIV by Bernini next week.
According to their website:
From 3 June to 28 September 2025, the Palace of Versailles is presenting an exhibition focusing on the famous bust of Louis XIV created by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, a key figure of the Italian baroque era in the 17th century, better known in France as ‘le Bernin’.
This exhibition is running in tandem with the restoration work which has been taking place in the Diana Room since October 2021 to restore the decorative painted and sculpted scheme on the ceiling, coving and overdoors to their former glory. This room offers a setting designed to reveal the full detail of the connection between the genius of the artist and the majesty of his bust of Louis XIV.
The exhibition, which is being presented in the Dauphine’s apartment, turns the spotlight in particular on one of the most iconic artefacts in the palace collections: the bust of Louis XIV, sculpted in marble by Bernini during his trip to Paris in 1665.
V&A East Storehouse
May 29 2025
Video: BBC via Mark 1333
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Exciting news that the highly anticipated V&A East Storehouse opens to the public on Saturday (31st May 2025). As you'll see, the idea of open storage is a very exciting one - especially as the website promises that 250,000 objects, 350,000 library books and 1,000 archives will be featured within the displays. I wonder how many paintings will be on show? Regular readers might remember Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen opened a similar style facility back in November 2021.
Master MS and His Age in Budapest
May 28 2025
Picture: Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
I'm slow to news that the Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest, opened a new exhibition last month dedicated to Master MS and His Age.
According to their website:
The exhibition showcases one of the most significant yet enigmatic figures of medieval Hungarian art, known as Master MS. At the heart of the monographic exhibition is Master MS’s most famous work: the former high altarpiece of Saint Catherine’s Church in Selmecbánya (now Banská Štiavnica, Slovakia). The seven surviving panel paintings of this monumental masterpiece of late medieval art have never before been brought together in a single exhibition.
The exhibition, where visitors can see nearly one hundred works of art, maps, models, goldsmith’s pieces and period documents. They will not only discover the artist’s known and newly attributed works, but also a comprehensive overview of his artistic milieu, the artistic regions that influenced his style, and the historical context of Hungary at the turn of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. The curators even suggest a possible solution to one of the most interesting mysteries in Hungarian art history: who might be behind the MS monogram.The monographic exhibition, organised in conjunction with the Christian Museum of Esztergom and with contributions from over twenty lending institutions, will hopefully open a new chapter in the decades-long research into Master MS’s identity and art.
The exhibition will close on 20th July 2025.
Upcoming Release: The Art Market and the Museum
May 28 2025
Picture: bloomsbury.com
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Bloomsbury will be publishing the interestingly titled The Art Market and the Museum: Institutional Collecting, Display and Patronage since the Mid-Nineteenth Century next month. The volume was edited by Frances Fowle and MaryKate Cleary.
According to the publisher's website:
This book considers how art market stakeholders, including art dealers, collectors and agents, have shaped museum collections and affected exhibition practices since the mid-nineteenth century. Based on new archival research and data analysis, it explores the role of dealers not only in selling directly to museums, but in influencing museum collecting priorities, as well as potential donors. It also examines the important but hitherto overlooked contribution of the female curator-agent.
The book is divided into three sections, which address the relationship between art dealers and museums, women as art agents and influencers, and the strategies of entrepreneurial collectors. Featuring contributions from a wide range of international specialists in the market for decorative arts and antiquities, as well as European modernism, The Art Market and the Museum explores the origins and development of the modern Western art market and the global art networks that operated not only in Paris, London and New York, but in cities such as Glasgow, Vienna, Melbourne and Kansas City. It is perfect reading for scholars and researchers on the history of the art market, museum studies and art history more broadly.
Drawing by 11-year-old Joseph Wright of Derby Rediscovered
May 28 2025
Picture: The Art Newspaper
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Art Newspaper has shared news of this rather interesting rediscovered drawing by the 11-year-old Joseph Wright of Derby. The work on paper, which features within the Derby Museum's recently opened Joseph Wright of Derby: Life on Paper show, was unearthed in a private collection and is currently in the care of dealers Lowell Libson & Jonny Yarker.
According to the article:
The head of Silenus is proudly inscribed “Jos Wright 11 Years”, and may have been copied from a print in a book from his father’s library—or, curator Lucy Bamford thinks, possibly from an inn sign in the city.
The exhibition, which contains no fewer than 50 works on paper by the artist, will run until 7th September 2025.
Curate Ottoman Collections in Qatar
May 28 2025
Picture: Qatar Museums
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Qatar Museums are hiring a Curator for Ottoman Lands.
According to their website:
Roles and responsibilities:
-Assist with day-to-day documentation and research of the collection
-Responsible for all curatorial matters relating to the Ottoman world.
-Contribute to (temporary and permanent) display and exhibition development.
-Handle public queries, Educational and Communication Division requests, and scholarly requests.
-Must be able to work within a team, be flexible and self-motivated. Liaise with museum conservators, registrars and other colleagues on a regular basis.
-Other activities as requested by the Deputy Director of Curatorial Affairs.
Curiously, there is no salary or closing date indicated. Do get in touch if you've found this important information somewhere...
Good luck if you're applying!
University of Oxford seeking History of Art Tutor
May 28 2025
Picture: University of Oxford
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The History of Art Department at the University of Oxford are looking to hire a Departmental Tutor.
According to their advert:
We are seeking a part-time tutor to teach on our courses in the History of Art, with a specialism in the History of Art of the Global Renaissance. The successful candidate would teach on our part-time award-bearing courses, including the Certificate and Diploma modules (first-year undergraduate level (FHEQ level 4) and second-year ( FHEQ level 5) respectfully). In addition, the successful candidate might be required to teach across our wider provision, including short weekly classes, the day and weekend programme, and summer schools. Tutors’ duties include teaching face to face and online, marking and providing feedback on assessments, and providing supervision.
This part-time permanent role comes with a salary of £34,982 -£40,855 per annum and applications must be in by 9th June 2025.
Good luck if you're applying!
Bader Collection Online
May 27 2025
Picture: Agnes Etherington Art Centre
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
News from the Agnes Etherington Art Centre at Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, that the Bader collection has been uploaded online. The entire collection is now searchable via the museum's website.
According to their website:
The Bader Collection is the strongest holding of Old Masters in any Canadian university art gallery, and the most comprehensive collection of authenticated paintings by Rembrandt van Rijn and his circle in any institution within Canada. Comprised of over 500 paintings, sculptures and works on paper that span the fourteenth through the mid-nineteenth centuries, the collection contributes fundamentally to the study and enjoyment of early modern European art in Canada and abroad.
A result of the highly discerning eye of Dr Alfred Bader (1924-2018), The Bader Collection has brought international stature and renown to Agnes’s collections.
Wealth in Illegio
May 27 2025
Picture: turismofvg.it
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Casa delle Esposizioni in Illegio, Italy, will be opening a new exhibition next week on the curious subject of Wealth: Perennial Dilemma (I'm sure a reader will get in touch if I've translated this incorrectly). The show features 52 works by major artists, including those by Caravaggio, Titian, Rembrandt, Lorenzo Lotto, Filippino Lippi and others, many of which are on loan from private collections. The exhibition will run from 6th June until 9th November 2025.
Luxembourg Musée d'Histoire et d'Art acquire Shepherd Boy
May 27 2025
Picture: Sotheby's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
La Tribune de l'art have shared news that the Luxembourg Musée d'Histoire et d'Art acquired the following painting of a Shepherd Boy at the Sotheby's New York sale earlier in February. Catalogued as Netherlandish School, 17th century, where it made $60,000 (inc. commission) over its $20k - $30k estimate, the article explains that the museum's director Ruud Priem has suggested a new attribution to Hendrick Bloemaert.
Sotheby's Paris Online Sale
May 27 2025
Picture: Sotheby's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Sotheby's Paris have published their upcoming Tableaux 1400–1900 Online. Bidding for this online sale will close on 6th June 2025.
Christie's Paris Online Sale
May 27 2025
Picture: Christie's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Christie's Paris have published their upcoming Maîtres Anciens : Peintures - Sculptures, Online sale. Bidding for this online auction opens today and ends on 12th June 2025.
Frans Hals Museum and Mauritshuis jointly acquire Frans Hals pair
May 27 2025
Picture: Sotheby's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
News from the Netherlands that the Frans Hals Museum in Haarlem and the Mauritshuis in The Hague have jointly acquired Boy, Possibly Frans Hals (II), Playing the Violin; Girl, Possibly Sara Hals, Singing by Frans Hals. The pair were sold at Sotheby's New York last week where they realised $7,980,000 over its $6m -$8m estimate.
$78.8m in New York and a John Vanderbank in Wolverhampton
May 23 2025
Picture: Wolverhampton Art Gallery via. ArtUK
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
This was quite a week for the sale of Old Master Paintings. Totting up the recent four big sales in New York shows that $78.86m of art was sold during the past five days. Although less than forecasts had projected, this is still a rather colossal amount for a period which is usually considered 'mid-season' (not to mention the breaking of several artist records also). With lots of exciting announcements made for the July season in London, and surely many more to come, will 2025 be a record year for our small corner of the art world?
In less significant news, I've had the pleasure to spend quite a bit of time in the early-eighteenth century recently (for reasons I'll explain another time). One of the accidental 'finds' on my journey has been this beautifully painted head study by John Vanderbank (1694-1739). The Wolverhampton Art Gallery, where the picture has been since 1887, had catalogued it as by 'an unknown artist'. Vanderbank's vigorous brushwork, which he may have picked up whilst studying at Kneller's academy, is very distinctive along with the rather pointy face pattern he uses. It's quite possible this is a preliminary study for the full-length portrait of James, 2nd Duke of Hamilton, dated 1732, which was sold from Hamilton Palace in 1919 (2). An example, perhaps, that some artists really couldn't rise to the challenge of scaling up sometimes.
Wishing readers of AHN a very good weekend ahead.
Sotheby's Paris Sale
May 23 2025
Picture: Sotheby's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Sotheby's Paris have uploaded their upcoming Tableaux 1400–1900 sale online. The auction will take place on 11th June 2025.
Childhood in the eyes of artists (1790-1850)
May 23 2025
Video: France 3
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
I'm very slow to news that the Musée de Tessé in Le Mans opened a show dedicated to Childhood in the eyes of artists (1790-1850) earlier this year. The exhibition, which contains around 100 works, has been supported by the Louvre and the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Bordeaux. If you want to go and view the show, you'll only have until the 8th June 2025 to do so!
Riemenschneider acquired by Yale University Art Gallery
May 23 2025
Picture: Sam Fogg
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The London dealers Sam Fogg have announced their sale of Tilman Riemenschneider's The Seebenstein Madonna to the Yale University Art Gallery.
Explosion Damaged Artemisia on Display at the Getty
May 23 2025
Picture: Getty
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Getty Museum in Los Angeles have unveiled the freshly conserved Hercules and Omphale by Artemisia Gentileschi, a painting which was damaged by the 2020 explosion in Beirut. The picture, from the collection of the Sursock Palace, had been restored by the Getty conservators over the past 3 years and is now part of a special display entitled Artemisia’s Strong Women: Rescuing a Masterpiece highlighting the campaign of work undertaken. The show will run from 10th June until 14th September 2025.
Rubens and the Flemish Baroque in Barcelona
May 23 2025
Picture: CaixaForum Barcelona
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The CaixaForum Barcelona will be hosting a temporary exhibition of 60 works on loan from the Prado later this month. The show, dedicated to Rubens and Flemish Baroque Artists, will feature lesser-known works by the likes of Rubens, Van Dyck, Jordaens and Jan Brueghel and will run from 29th May until 21st September 2025.
The Stuart Collection of 18th- and 19th-Century British Landscapes in Houston
May 23 2025
Picture: MFA Houston
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
I'm very slow to the news that the MFA Houston opened a new temporary exhibition at the beginning of this year dedicated to Picturing Nature: The Stuart Collection of 18th- and 19th-Century British Landscapes and Beyond.
According to their website:
Featuring more than 70 works of art in a variety of media, Picturing Nature: The Stuart Collection of 18th- and 19th-Century British Landscapes and Beyond explores how the genre of landscape evolved during an era of immense transformation in Britain. This diverse collection of watercolors, drawings, prints, and oil sketches traces the shift from topographical and picturesque depictions of the natural world to intensely personal ones that align with Romantic poetry of the period.
The exhibition spotlights the Stuart Collection, built over the past decade in collaboration with Houstonian Francita Stuart Koelsch Ulmer. This exceptional collection includes standout works by notable artists such as John Constable, John Robert Cozens, Thomas Gainsborough, J.M.W. Turner, and Richard Wilson, whose innovative approaches to watercolor raised its status as an art form and heralded a golden age for the medium.
The display will run until 6th July 2025.
