Italian Culture Minister Accused of Theft
January 12 2024
Picture: The Telegraph
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Curious news from Italy that a Culture Minister, Vittorio Sgarbi, has been accused by officials of taking a painting by Rutilio Manetti from a castle in the northern region of Piedmont in 2013. The seventeenth century work was purportedly replaced with a photocopy.
The most curious part of the story is:
It is claimed that Mr Sgarbi acquired the artwork and hired a professional art restorer to paint a burning torch attached to a wall bracket in the top left of the painting to make it less identifiable.
Sgarbi claims that the work is a later copy and that he acquired it elsewhere. The case is being investigated.
Elton John Sales at Christie's
January 12 2024
Video: Christie's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Following on from the ever-increasing interest in celebrity ephemera, see the recent Freddie Mercury sales for evidence of that, Christie's New York have announced a significant 8 auction series dedicated to the collection of Sir Elton John. Sir Elton has had periodic moments of selling parts of his collection, including his art nouveau and art deco collections in the 1980s, but, this seems to be far more extensive and eclectic than any previous sales. It seems only a matter of time before the media circus kicks in, and art lovers will be aghast at the amount that 'stage-worn' shoes, boots, outfits and 'sneakers' will be selling for.
Schiele Drawing Questions in Chicago
January 12 2024
Picture: The Art Institute of Chicago
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
News from Chicago that the city's Art Institute will be defending its ownership of a valuable drawing by Egon Schiele later in April. A claim has been made by the heirs of Fritz Grünbaum, a performer and songwriter who perished at Dachau in 1941. His heirs claim that Grünbaum was forced to hand over his art collection under duress, a collection which included this drawing amongst several others by Schiele. Two have already been returned, however, the Russian War Prisoner (pictured) remains at the museum.
According to reports:
A spokesperson for the museum said in a statement that it had done “extensive research” on the provenance of the work and that officials were “confident” in their lawful ownership of the piece.
“Fritz Grünbaum’s sister-in-law, Mathilde Lukacs, inherited Egon Schiele’s ‘Russian War Prisoner’ and subsequently sold it in 1956,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson also pointed to a yearslong federal court case involving another piece of Schiele’s artwork that ultimately went against Grünbaum’s heirs in 2012 and raised questions as to whether his collection was actually stolen.
Similar arguments were made in court by an attorney representing an art dealer in a case involving two of Schiele’s works in New York in 2018. The judge dismissed the contention that Grünbaum voluntarily relinquished his collection in the first place and ordered the works returned to his heirs.
British Museum acquires £1.4m Rembrandt Drawing via AIL
January 12 2024
Picture: The British Musuem
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The British Museum have announced its acquisition of a drawing by Rembrandt as part of the Acceptance in Lieu Scheme. The drawing of A baby sleeping in a cradle came from the estate of Nancy Rae-Smith and its acceptance settled £1,406,250 of tax.
According to the museum's press release:
The newly acquired work, A baby in a cap sleeping in a cradle was drawn from life, and Rembrandt used it as a study for the Christ child in his painting of the Holy Family (signed and dated 1645, Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg). This is characteristic of the artist, who drew inspiration from the domestic sphere, and interpreted biblical stories in a touchingly human way – which contributes to his enduring popularity. The drawing was long thought to depict Rembrandt’s son Titus, although he was born in 1641 and therefore older than the depicted child.
...
The early reception of Rembrandt in Britain is integrally connected to the history of the collection at the British Museum. The newly acquired drawing was owned by some of the most important British collectors, including the Victorian painter, Sir Frederic Leighton. It is therefore significant to the broader history of British tastes and collecting, and to the reception of Rembrandt in Britain.
Open Access Publication: The Routledge Companion to Global Renaissance Art
January 12 2024
Picture: taylorfrancis.com
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The publishers Routledge have made their latest publication Open Access and freely available online. The Routledge Companion to Global Renaissance Art was edited by Stephen J. Campbell and Stephanie Porras and features a vast array of fascinating essays on the subject of 'the Global Renaissance'.
According to the book's blurb:
This companion examines the global Renaissance through object-based case studies of artistic production from Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Europe in the early modern period.
The international group of contributors take an art historical approach characterized by close analysis of form and meaning as well as function, and a focus on questions of crosscultural dialogue and adaptation. Seeking to de-emphasize the traditional focus on Europe, this book is a critical guide to the literature and the state of the field. Chapters outline new questions and agendas while pushing beyond familiar material. Main themes include workshops, the migrations of artists, objects, technologies, diplomatic gifts, imperial ideologies, ethnicity and indigeneity, sacred spaces and image cults, as well as engaging with the open questions of "the Renaissance" and "the global."
Neglected Genius Thomas Frye: An Irish Artist in London
January 12 2024
Picture: dublincastle.ie
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
A new exhibition opened in Dublin last month dedicated to the artist Thomas Frye. Neglected Genius Thomas Frye: An Irish Artist in London focuses on the many varying pursuits of this eighteenth century artist.
According to Dublin Castle's website:
Born in 1710, most likely in Edenderry, County Offaly, Frye moved to London as a young man, where he quickly established himself as a successful portrait painter. From the mid-1740s Frye ran a factory in Bow, just east of the City of London, set up to recreate Chinese porcelain which had been admired in Europe for centuries. Under Frye’s management the Bow factory thrived, producing inexpensive ceramics both decorative and utilitarian in a variety of designs.
Frye was among the earliest European artists to collapse the distinction between ‘high’ art and factory-produced design. In an age of increasing specialisation, the manner in which he ranged freely across multiple techniques and media was unique.
Although his name is scarcely known today outside specialist circles, Frye has a strong claim to the title of Ireland’s most successful printmaker, industrial artist and design entrepreneur. At the same time Frye’s career in London illustrates the incipient globalization of the period. Frye attempted to emulate Chinese technology with raw materials from north America.
This exhibition sets side-by-side his portraiture in oil, his enamel miniatures, his mezzotints and the production of the Bow porcelain factory under his management. For the first time equal emphasis is afforded to each facet of this supremely gifted and highly innovative Irish artist.
The exhibition will run until 19th March 2024.
Tapestry Mystery!
January 11 2024
Picture: Carlton Hobbs
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The furniture dealers Carlton Hobbs have put out an appeal on Instagram to find out if anyone can identify this mystery figure in a set of embroidered wall hangings they are researching. It is possible that this gentleman may provide a clue as to the patron or original commission behind the scheme. The precise origin of the hangings are also not yet known.
Considering how wide the readership of AHN spans, there's a chance someone out there will know!
The Huntington are Hiring!
January 11 2024
Picture: huntington.org
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in California are hiring an Assistant Director of Research.
According to the job description:
Essential Duties
Organizing and managing the academic programs (conferences and lectures) sponsored by the Research Division each year, in conjunction with the Director
Fostering the visibility of the Fellowship Program through outreach to academic institutions and attendance at regional, national, and international conferences; identifying, creating, and publicizing opportunities for Fellows to present their scholarship in diverse public settings and formats
Working with the Fellows in consultation with Library, Art, and Botanical Curatorial staff to develop content across multiple platforms for The Huntington
Working with Huntington colleagues to develop special programs (workshops, symposia, summer institutes, etc.)
Liaising with the Education, Communications, and Digital Divisions to connect the scholarly work that Fellows do in our collections to a broad audience of educators, students, members, and the local community.
Other duties as may apply.
The job comes with an annual salary between $80,000 - $90,000 per annum.
Good luck if you're applying!
Oligarch buys expensive art (ctd.)
January 10 2024
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The ongoing art related lawsuits relating to the Russian oligarch Dmitry Rybolovlev have appeared in the press again recently. This time Rybolovlev is suing the auction house Sotheby's in New York, accusing them of assisting the dealer Yves Bouvier in convincing him to pay what he claims to be inflated prices for works of art.
Become the Director of The British Museum
January 10 2024
Picture: saxbam.com
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The British Museum are hiring a new Director.
According to the covering letter from the museum's Chair of Trustees (the former Conservative chancellor, George Osborne):
We are looking for someone who has a vision for the future of the British Museum and its purpose as a national and a global museum in the 21st century. Developing and articulating that vision will require creativity, charisma and a passion for the British Museum. But that alone is not enough. The next Director must also have a track record of successfully running a complex organisation, and of commanding the respect of a large and diverse staff, which has a body of curatorial and collection care staff at its core but also includes a wide array of other functions, from security and visitor services to HR and IT. The next Director must also be willing and able to communicate the purpose of the Museum to the media and to the public.
The Board of Trustees go into this recruitment campaign with an open mind. We are agnostic about the type of candidate we are looking for, whether that is someone from within or outside the museums sector. I would encourage anyone who thinks they have the knowledge, skills, energy, and temperament to run one of the world’s greatest museums to apply. Show us how you can seize the opportunities available to the Museum and how you can help address the challenges it is facing.
The job comes with an annual salary of £215,841 per annum and applications must be in by 26th January 2024.
Good luck if you're applying!
Being a woman between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance
January 9 2024
Picture: mba.tours.fr
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours are opening a very interesting sounding exhibition later this Spring. The Sceptre and the Distaff. Being a woman between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance (basic translation) aims to examine the place, role and image of women in society in the late middle ages through over a hundred paintings, sculptures, manuscripts, prints and everyday objects. The exhibition draws on loans from throughout France and is jointly organised with the Bibliothèque nationale de France and the Louvre.
The exhibition will run from 8th March until 17th June 2024.
The National Gallery acquire Bloemaert
January 9 2024
Picture: The National Gallery
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Apologies, I'm a little slow to the news (posted here by CODART) that The National Gallery in London have acquired Abraham Bloemaert's Lot and his Daughters. The work has been on loan to the gallery for several years now, and had formerly been given both the Rubens and Jordaens in the distant past.
The Wallace Collection are Hiring!
January 9 2024
Picture: The Wallace Collection
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Wallace Collection in London are hiring a Curator of Arms and Armour.
According to the job description:
The Curator of Arms and Armour is part of the Curatorial Team and is managed by the Director of Collections and Research. The main purpose of the role is to provide curatorial expertise in the development, care, documentation and research, presentation and interpretation of the Arms and Armour collections at the Wallace Collection.
The job comes with a salary between £40,000 - £45,000 per annum and applications must be in by 28th January 2024.
Good luck if you're applying!
UK Temporary Export Ban on Fra Angelico
January 9 2024
Picture: Christie's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Following on swiftly from the previous post, the UK Government has placed a temporary export ban on Fra Angelico's Crucifixion which realised £5,001,000 at Christie's London last July. UK institutions have until 7th April 2024 to help save the artwork for the nation.
According to the above press release:
Committee member Christopher Baker said:
Fra Angelico was one of the great innovators in the evolution of early 15th-century Florentine art. This profoundly moving devotional work, with its delicate colour harmonies and deeply considered, expressive figures, demonstrates the enduring power of his achievement. It is an extraordinary rarity that assists with our understanding of a formative period in the artist’s career and in the development of Italian Renaissance painting more widely. Its appeal also extends far beyond such scholarship because of its numinous beauty.
Executed in tempera on a wooden panel, the painting retains its original frame and has been in Britain since the early 19th century. It would constitute a major addition to a UK public collection and every effort should be made if possible to acquire it.
How did the Bassano Leave Italy? (ctd.)
January 9 2024
Picture: Getty
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Regular readers will remember the controversy in 2021 regarding questions surrounding the export from Italy of Jacopo Bassano's The Miracle of the Quails. The work, which received an export license in 2017 with a valuation of €120,000 (later reduced to €70,000), was eventually acquired by the Getty in Los Angeles where it was cleaned and upgraded to the artist in full (reports indicate that it was initially exported as 'Attributed to Bassano'). In light of the acquisition, the relevant cultural ministry in Rome decided to annul the export license, which led to a legal battle between the museum and Italian state.
The Art Lawyers Association have just published an extended article by Giuseppe Calabi on the most recent developments in the case (spotted via. @artlawalex on 'X'). Essentially, an Italian court ruled in November that the export license will not be revoked, which Calabi claims will set a major precedent for cases in the future. Click on the link to read the whole article, which is most fascinating indeed.
Rembrandt Standard Bearer Documentary on Dutch TV
January 9 2024
Picture: televizier.nl
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Lucky readers in the Netherlands will be able to watch a new documentary tomorrow on the acquisition of Rembrandt's Standard Bearer (spotted via. @RembrandtsRoom on 'X'). Regular readers will remember that Rijksmuseum agreed to pay €175m for the work back in 2021. It appears that the documentary will be probing whether the price was value for money, amongst other topics relating to this masterpiece.
The documentary will be shown on 10th January 2024 at 20.20pm on NPO 2.
Sotheby's New York Part II
January 9 2024
Picture: Sotheby's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The upcoming Sotheby's New York Master Paintings Part II sale has been posted online. This live auction will take place on 1st February 2024.
As usual, I won't spoil the fun by pointing out any lots in particular. Happy browsing!
Richard Green to Leave 33 New Bond Street
January 8 2024
Picture: The Antiques Trade Gazette
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Antiques Trade Gazette has shared news that the London dealer Richard Green will be leaving their premises on 33 New Bond Street. The firm, which has owned the freehold since 1995, will be leasing out the building to a French fashion brand. They have announced that they will keep ownership of the freehold and concentrate their efforts on the firm's existing headquarters over the road at no 147.
According to the article:
Jonathan [Green] said the firm has “always responded flexibly to changing art market conditions… and we accepted a favourable offer from a fashion house to lease 33 New Bond Street”.
He added: “We are fortunate in this respect to have two galleries in proximity in a prime location in central London. But we have decided it is better to focus our attention on the larger of our two galleries.
The article also shares news that Charles Green, Jonathan’s second son, has joined the family firm. In other related Green news, Charles' older brother Oli has been in the press a lot recently for having had a baby girl with the actress Sienna Miller. Congratulations to the couple!
The Walpole Society is Hiring!
January 8 2024
Picture: walpolesociety.org.uk
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Walpole Society is hiring a Executive Administrator to join their team.
According to the job advert:
The role spans the breadth of the Society’s projects, with the shared objective of raising the profiles of both the Society and the Prize:
Berger Prize
Liaise with publishers, organise book distribution
Coordinate judges' meetings, draft reports
Organise two annual events (venues, catering etc)
Marketing the events, podcast, nominees & winners
Walpole Society
Maintain membership records
Prepare address lists for annual mailing
Point of contact for members
Membership recruitment initiatives
Coordination with bookkeeper & treasurer
Committee minute-taking
Online
Maintain the Society & Berger Prize website
Creating email newsletters and social media promotion
Working with stakeholders on marketing
This part-time role pays £20 per hour and applications must be in by 26th January 2024.
Good luck if you're applying!
_____________
Did you know that Membership to the Society is a mere £45? It's £20 if you're a Student. A bargain!
Rare and Indispensable: Masterpieces from Flemish collections
January 8 2024
Picture: mas.be
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
I'm a little late to this very intriguing sounding exhibition which is open in Antwerp at the moment. Rare and Indispensable: Masterpieces from Flemish collections opened at the end of last year, and has been put on to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the 'Flemish Masterpiece Decree'. This law made is possible to save and keep certain works of art in the country, in case they were sold to a collector or institution abroad. The exhibition is being hosted by Museum aan de Stroom (MAS).
According to the blurb:
Magritte, Bacon, Ensor, Moore, Jordaens, Rubens … These are just some of the world-famous names on display at the MAS. The not-to-be-missed exhibition 'Rare and Indispensable' brings a unique selection of masterpieces from the Flemish masterpiece list. Works of art you normally would have to travel all over Flanders to see, or which were never even publicly accessible, can now be temporarily admired in one museum hall. All in honour of the 20th anniversary of the 'Flemish Masterpiece Decree'.
The exhibition closes on 25th February 2024.
