Previous Posts: November 2023
Rubens and Sculpture in Rome
November 14 2023
Picture: galleriaborghese.beniculturali.it
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Galleria Borghese in Rome have today opened their last exhibition entitled The touch of Pygmalion. Rubens and sculpture in Rome.
According to the museum's rather winding blurb:
During the seventeenth century Pieter Paul Rubens was considered by his contemporaries, including the French scholar Claude Fabri de Peiresc and some other leading thinkers of the République de Lettres, to be one of the greatest connoisseurs of Roman antiquities.
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Nothing seems to escape his powers of observation and his desire to learn from and interpret the old masters: his drawings make the works he studies vibrant, adding movement and feeling to the gestures and expressions of the characters. Rubens enacts the same process of enlivening the subject in stories that he uses in portraiture: the members of the Gonzaga family emerge enlivened from his brush as their gazes are directed toward the viewer, but the same thing happens with marbles and reliefs and celebrated examples of Renaissance painting. In Rome, with the vestiges of the ancient world, the same thing happens: Rubens draws, in sanguine, then with a red charcoal that returns his color, the famous statue of the Spinario. The drawing, which takes the pose from two different points of view, really seems to be executed by a living model, rather than a statue, so much so that some scholars imagine that the painter used a boy posed in the same way as the statue.
This process of animating the antique, although performed in the first decade of the century, seems to anticipate the moves of the artists who, in the decades following its Roman passage, would come to be called Baroque.
How Rubens’ formal and iconographic insights filter into the rich and varied Roman world of the 1920s is an issue that has not yet been addressed systematically by studies. The presence in the city of painters and sculptors who had had the opportunity to train with him in Antwerp (such as Van Dyck and Georg Petel) or who had already come into contact with his works in the course of their training (such as Duquesnoy and Sandrart) certainly guaranteed the accessibility of his models to a generation of Italian artists, who, no less than the Flemish, had by then become accustomed to confronting the Antique in the light of contemporary pictorial examples and on the basis of a renewed study of Nature. Among them all was Bernini: his Borghese group, made in the 1920s, reread famous ancient statues (the Apollo of Belvedere) to give them movement and translated marble into flesh, as happens in the Rape of Proserpine.
The exhibition will thus measure how much these masterpieces are indebted to Rubensian naturalism, as were certainly other youthful sculptures by the artist, such as the Vatican Charity in the Tomb of Urban VIII, already judged by European travelers of the late eighteenth century to be ‘a Flemish Governess.’
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The exhibition planned for the Galleria Borghese, recovering some of these lines of research, aims to highlight the extraordinary contribution made by Rubens to a new conception of the antique, of the concepts of natural and imitation, on the threshold of the Baroque, focusing on what the disruptive novelty of his style in the first decade in Rome consisted of and how the study of models could be understood as a further possibility of momentum toward a new world of images.
The show will run until 18th February 2024.
Caroline Campbell on 'The Power of Art'
November 13 2023
Picture: The Bridge Street Press
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Caroline Campbell, the Director of the National Gallery of Ireland, wrote an extended piece this weekend for the Belfast Telegraph. The article explains her reasons for writing her new book The Power of Art: A World History in Fifteen Cities, a publication which was released last month. Amongst the paragraphs that struck me was the following:
Art undeniably gains its power from its ability to fuel and drive our feelings. Because it is able to appeal to our inner beings, it can give solace and connection, linking us to lives and experiences far removed from us by time or distance. Just as potently, it can foment difference and dissent, intensifying our sense of dislocation, rage, or violence. Growing up in Belfast during the Troubles particularly sensitised me to this issue. Art is dangerous, and it can influence us in eloquent and sometimes uncontrollable ways. But it is also uniquely able to connect us to the peoples and worlds of the past.
The publication is out and available now.
Venice's Sala Quattro Porte to be Conserved
November 13 2023
Picture: savevenice.org
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
News from Venice that the Palazzo Ducale's famous Sala Quattro Porte will undergoing a year-long restoration project which begins this month. This incredible space, which was designed by Palladio, contains famous works by Jacopo Tintoretto, Titian and Giambattista Tiepolo. The news report above explains that €710,000 has been set aside for the task, which seems suspiciously low to me for some reason.
Artemisia Exhibition in Genoa
November 13 2023
Picture: palazzoducale.genova.it
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Palazzo Ducale in Genoa will be opening their latest exhibition this week. Artemisia Coraggio e Passione will examine the painter's life, artistic relationships, and female triumphs. In all, the exhibition will contain 50 works by the master, sourced from collections across Europe.
The show will run until 1st April 2024.
The Cooper Hewitt Museum are Hiring!
November 13 2023
Picture: si.edu
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in New York are looking for an Assistant Curator, Drawings, Prints and Graphic Design.
According to the job description:
ABOUT THE POSITION:
Serves as the Assistant Curator in the department of Drawings, Prints and Graphic Design in the Curatorial Division. Ideally, he/she/they will have a demonstrated expertise in a core strength of the collection, for example, 18th-century French design and decorative arts, 18th-century Italian architectural drawing, or European ornament prints. Given Cooper Hewitt’s emphasis on the historic and contemporary continuum, it is essential that the incumbent have interest in modern and contemporary design and a solid knowledge of art and design history. The purpose of the position is to fulfill a full range of curatorial responsibilities within the department, including collections management, facilitating access to the collection, scholarly research, exhibition planning/production, publishing, and administration. The incumbent serves on museum and Smithsonian Institution (SI) committees as appropriate and as assigned. This position reports to the Head of the department and works closely and collaboratively with colleagues across Curatorial (including Conservation, Exhibitions and Registrar), as well as with those in Learning and Audience Engagement, Cross-Platform Publishing, and Digital and Emerging Media.
The job comes with a salary between $80,769 - $83,461 and applications must be in by 10th December 2023.
Good luck if you're applying!
200 Works of Art Still Missing from UK Parliament
November 13 2023
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Daily Mail published a story last week explaining that the UK's Parliament is still missing 200 works of art from its collection. This story first broke back in 2018, but a recent freedom of information request by the newspaper has shown that a large number of works are still unaccounted for.
According to a spokesperson quoted in the paper:
'Parliament is continuing to address collection objects historically identified as missing or not located through ongoing audits and regular reviews across the estate,' they said.
'The number of objects catalogued as missing or not located is only true at the time of request and may differ over time.
'Parliament has an ongoing programme to address the matter, through comprehensive and regular audits, recently resulting in a 5 per cent reduction in objects identified as missing since 2021.'
Christie's London Old Masters Part I Sale
November 13 2023
Picture: Christie's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Christie's London have uploaded their upcoming Old Master Paintings Part I Sale online.
The auction is headlined by the two aforementioned Canalettos, estimated at £8m - £12m. Other highlights include works by Pieter Brueghel II, Nicholas Poussin, a frightful last judgement by Jan Brueghel the Elder, and a curious Michael Sweerts.
The sale will be held on 7th December at 2.30pm.*
* - Regular auction watchers will know that Christie's have in the last year and a bit moved their headline Old Master 'Evening Sales' to the afternoon, hence the change of name too, perhaps.
Documentary: The Story of the Foundling Hospital
November 10 2023
Picture: heritagecalling.com
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Foundling Hospital in London have produced a short documentary on their history entitled No Place Like Home: The Story of the Foundling Hospital. Considering the prominent role that artists played in its early years, the previous and continued efforts of this institution's survival is likely to be of great interest to the community of art lovers for a long time to come. The film was produced with generous support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Sleeper Alert!
November 10 2023
Picture: Nagel Auktionen
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
News via @AuctionRadar on 'X' that the following painting catalogued as 'Manner of JMW Turner' realised €300,000 over its €2,000 - €3,000 estimate the other day at Nagel Auktionen in Stuttgart.
Regular followers of auctions will know how often pastiches of Turners turn up for sale. Whoever was bidding on this one must have (we hope) felt quite sure it was something important!
Bargello Museum acquires Donatello
November 10 2023
Picture: Bargello Museum
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Bargello Museum in Florence have acquired Donatello's famous terracotta known as the Madonna of Via Pietrapiana. According to press reports the work was purchased by the Minstry of Culture for a mere €1,200,000,* after the owners of the work had sought authorisation to sell the terracotta on national territory. Dated to around 1450-55, the sculpture will be displayed alongside the museum's existing collection of the master's works.
* - This is a very low price for such a rare and significant work of art. Although its value would have always been limited due to the potential export conditions encountered in Italy, it is curious to know how this particular figure was reached.
Lucas Achtschellinck (1626-1699) Online Catalogue
November 8 2023
Picture: lucasachtschellinck.net
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
CODART (International network for curators of art from the Low Countries) has shared news that a new online catalogue project has been published dedicated to the Brussels landscape painter Lucas Achtschellink (1629-1699). AHN applauds all attempts for such projects, no matter how well-known or obscure the artist!
According to the CODART article:
About 300 works (paintings, drawings and tapestries) are included on lucasachtschellinck.net, along with a biography of the artist, as well as lists of public and private collections, related auctions, art dealers, exhibitions and a bibliography. The site is produced by Emmanuel de Cannart d’Hamale in collaboration with art historian Philippe Dellis and historian Erik Wauters.
The website seems very straightforward and easy to use. Congratulations to all involved!
Tiepolo Drawings at The Morgan Library & Museum
November 8 2023
Picture: The Morgan Library & Museum
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Morgan Library & Museum in New York have just opened their latest Old Master Drawings exhibition. Spirit and Invention: Drawings by Giambattista and Domenico Tiepolo will be an opportunity to open up one the world's largest collections of drawings by both masters, and their events schedule includes lectures, online talks and a concert.
According to the exhibition's blurb:
The Morgan is home to one of the world’s largest and most important collections of drawings by Giambattista Tiepolo (1696–1770) and his eldest son Domenico (1727–1804), with more than 300 representative examples of their lively invention and masterful techniques. Combining highlights from the Morgan’s collection with carefully selected loans, this exhibition will provide a comprehensive look at the Tiepolos’ work as draftsmen, focusing on the role of drawing in their creative process and the distinct physical and stylistic properties of their graphic work. At the core of the collection and exhibition are substantial groups of Giambattista’s drawings that relate to major ceiling fresco projects of the 1740s and 1750s. A fresh look at the style, function, and material properties of these working drawings has yielded new insights into their purposes.
The show will run until 28th January 2024.
The National Trust are Hiring!
November 8 2023
Picture: The National Trust
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The National Trust are hiring a Cultural Heritage Curator with a focus on Wiltshire and Devon.
According to the job description:
Working with the property teams across all aspects of curatorship, you'll act as an agent of innovation and change. You'll shift perspectives and open new horizons, building our capacity and confidence to research, understand, care for, and engage people meaningfully with our places. You'll be confident in finding different ways to communicate the unique history and significance of our collections, buildings, gardens, parklands, and wider cultural landscapes.
The job comes with a salary of around £43,407 per annum and applications must be in by 19th November 2023.
Good luck if you're applying!
Uffizi sends 50 Venetian Masterpieces to Hong Kong
November 7 2023
Picture: hkcd.com
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Uffizi Gallery have sent 50 Venetian Masterpieces for a special loan exhibition to the Hong Kong Museum of Art. This special show, which opened last week, features important works by Titian, Giorgione, Tintoretto and Veronese, in a celebration of Venetian art of the sixteenth century.
However, one of my favourite aspects of the exhibition is a multimedia experience (or 'game') organised by the gallery called AI Titian. Using a rather fun-looking set of interactive screens and cameras, visitors are able to transform themselves into a Titian painting, which is then transferred into a screen-image amongst a small-gallery of Venetian works.
In fact, here is the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services Liu Ming-kwong's AI generated portrait:
It seems that AI is finally getting to grips with the complexities of Old Master Paintings.
The show will run until 28th February 2024.
Ingenious Women. Women Artists and their Companions
November 7 2023
Picture: buceriuskunstforum.de
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
A new exhibition opened in Germany last month dedicated to Ingenious Women. Women Artists and their Companions. The show, which is being housed at the Bucerius Kunst Forum in Hamburg until 28th January 2024, will then travel to the Kunstmuseum in Basel in the spring.
According to the blurb on the website:
The exhibition presents around 30 women artists and 150 works, by artists including works by Sofonisba Anguissola, Judith Leyster, Marietta Robusti (Tintoretto's daughter) and Angelika Kauffmann. Masterful portraits, still lifes and historical scenes in painting, drawing and prints from all over Europe, ranging from the Renaissance and Baroque periods to early Neoclassicism will be brought together in Hamburg. For the first time, works by women artists will be juxtaposed with those of their male colleagues in such a pointed way that both formal and stylistic similarities and differences will come to the fore.
Help the Louvre Acquire Chardin's Strawberries!
November 7 2023
Video: The Louvre
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Louvre in Paris is making a public appeal to raise the final €1,300,000 to acquire Jean-Siméon Chardin's The Basket of Wild Strawberries. Regular readers will remember that the work sold for a staggering €24,381,000 at Artcurial a few years ago, and its export was stopped so that a French institution could step in to save it.
The museum has until 28th February 2024 to raise the funds to keep the work in France.
Velázquez's Rokeby Venus Attacked
November 7 2023
Video: The Guardian
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The art world was shocked yesterday at the sight of two youths dressed in slogans attacking Diego Velázquez's Rokeby Venus at the National Gallery in London. It appears the couple managed to smuggle in emergency break glass implements, which did terrible damage to the glass which protected the painting. It is not yet known whether the work itself has sustained any permanent hurt. The videos of the incident are rather telling too, as it appears that no staff intervene despite the horrifically loud noises produced by the glass being pierced by these tools.
Although this painting as a history of being involved in iconoclasm for political causes, I am yet to hear of any instance where the destruction of an old master painting directly led to the success of any political movement. All it will lead to is the anger of legions of art lovers across the globe, who won't be so kind if one of these childish stunts actually does more harm to these irreplaceable treasures than has luckily already been the case.
Andrew Graham-Dixon on Sotheby's Rembrandt
November 7 2023
Video: Sotheby's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Sotheby's London have produced the following video with Andrew Graham-Dixon exploring their upcoming Rembrandt Adoration of the Kings which features in the December Old Master Paintings sale season.
Stowe's State Dining Room Restored
November 6 2023
Picture: Purcell Architects
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Some news I missed from the summer is that the magnificent State Dining Room at Stowe has recently been restored to its former glory (with added H&S paraphernalia too I see...). It seems that technology has been at the heart of the project, with original tapestries printed on 'wipeable' wallpaper, and original chimney pieces and door mantles being 3D scanned and printed for the room.* Over £26m has been spent since the year 2000 in restoring the principle state rooms of this important house. Click on the link above to read more.
* - Is it time to reprint Stowe's magnificent lost art collection? Or perhaps the organisation of a blockbuster exhibition perhaps? All comments / ideas / dreams welcome.
Canaletto in Hull
November 6 2023
Picture: Ferens Art Gallery
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Ferens Art Gallery in Hull have recently opened a small show dedicated to two Canalettos, one from the gallery's collection and another on loan from the Royal Collection Trust. Canaletto: Two paintings, one perspective invites visitors to compare the works.
According to the gallery's blurb:
From the Royal Collection and the Ferens’ own collection, these works show Venice’s Grand Canal in all its splendour. Created 10 years apart, when seen together they show the development of an artist’s technique and reveal much about Venetian life in the 1700s.
A newly commissioned work by the Ferens’ latest artist in residence will be shown alongside the paintings, connecting the past to the present through the theme of climate change. Canaletto’s A Regatta on the Grand Canal marks the fifth and final loan of exceptional works of art from the Royal Collection to go on display at Ferens Art Gallery as part of the Masterpieces in Focus from the Royal Collection series.
The free show will run until 28th January 2023.
