Previous Posts: May 2024
Christie's Paris Sale
May 24 2024
Picture: Christie's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Christie's Paris have uploaded their Maîtres Anciens : Peintures - Sculptures sale online. The auction will take place on 12th June 2024.
Among the top lots are Chardin's Le Melon entamé at €8m - €12m, a Watteau allegory of the alliance of music and comedy at €250k - €350k, an Abraham Mignon Still Life at €100k - €200k and a Head Study by Anne-Louis Girodet-Trioson at €80k - €120k.
Sorolla Museum acquire artist's copy of Velázquez
May 24 2024
Picture: @MuseoSorolla
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Sorolla Museum in Madrid have announced their acquisition of Sorolla's copy of Velázquez's Christ Crucified. Sorolla had started making copies of famous old masters after his first trip to the Prado in 1881. This painting had appeared at auction back in March where it made €70,000.
Uffizi Sends Medici Portraits to the Palazzo dei Vicari
May 24 2024
Video: Uffizi
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Uffizi in Florence has sent a group of Medici Portraits to the Palazzo dei Vicari in Mugello for a special exhibition which opened last week.
According to the gallery's website:
Lands of the Uffizi brings the Medici family portraits to the noble halls of Scarperia’s Palazzo dei Vicari to evoke the lengthy and widespread presence of the Medici in the country and towns of the Mugello, the family’s legendary homeland. From 19 May to 5 November the Museo dei Ferri Taglienti in Scarperia and San Piero will be hosting "The Medici: Mugello Folk. Family portraits from the Gallerie degli Uffizi", an exhibition devised and produced by the Fondazione CR Firenze and the Gallerie degli Uffizi in the context of their respective Piccoli Grandi Musei and Uffizi Diffusi schemes.
The portraits of the Dukes and their consorts in this exhibition are by leading Florentine artists who populated the art scene in the city in the 1530s and ‘40s, following in the footsteps of such great early 16th century masters as Fra Bartolomeo, Raphael, Michelangelo and Andrea del Sarto.
The display will run until 5th November 2024.
Sculptural Portrait of Brunelleschi Discovered
May 24 2024
Picture: ansa.it
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
News from Italy that a terracotta bust of the famous architect Filippo Brunelleschi has been discovered. The work by Andrea di Lazzaro Cavalcanti called il Buggiano (1412-1462) was discovered in a Florentine residence and has been purchased by the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore for €300,000. Click on the link to see a photograph of the bust.
Rembrandt and Children at The British Museum
May 24 2024
Picture: The British Museum
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The British Museum have recently opened a small exhibition dedicated to the subject of Rembrandt and Children. The display is focused around their recent acquisition of a Rembrandt drawing showing a sleeping baby.
According to the museum's website:
Children appear in many guises in Dutch and Flemish art: studies for formal portraits, with examples by Anthony van Dyck, tender domestic scenes, best represented by Rembrandt and his pupils, and in playful depictions of daily life, such as Adriaen van Ostade's interiors populated by children, who play, sleep, cry and perform domestic duties. In this context, the drawings of children by Rembrandt and his circle appear seemingly timeless – observed from life, not embellished or idealised, they connect with us, almost 400 years later.
The show will run until 6th October 2024.
Louvre Acquires Rosso Fiorentino Drawing
May 24 2024
Picture: @MuseeLouvre
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Louvre has announced on 'X' their acquisition of a rare drawing by Rosso Fiorentino (1495–1540). The work on paper is a design for a cantorial staff of Notre-Dame in Paris and had been included in last year's exhibition on The treasury of Notre-Dame Cathedral.
Stolen Francis Bacon Portrait Recovered in Spain
May 24 2024
Picture: BBC
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
News from Spain that a stolen painting by Francis Bacon has been recovered by the authorities. A group of pictures from the same collection had been stolen a number of years ago, with three begin recovered in 2017. This example, depicting the banker José Capelo had purportedly been valued at €5m.
Katherine Parr Cleaned
May 23 2024
Picture: Left - Sotheby's / Right - @NPGLondon via 'X'
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The National Portrait Gallery in London have shared a photo on 'X' showing the recently restored portrait of Katherine Parr (right), the last wife of King Henry VIII. The painting, attributed to Master John, had been sold from the collection of the Earls of Jersey at Sotheby's in 2023 (left) and is now in a private collection. The conservation of this portrait has been very successful by the looks of it. Those bold blocks of colour in the background, set against Katherine's face and intricate dress, gives the portrait a remarkably modern feel I think.
It appears that the painting will be included in the NPG's upcoming Six Wives exhibition which opens in June.
Cornelis van der Geest's Quentin Metsys Discovered
May 23 2024
Picture: Christie's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Christie's London have released news that the prime version of Quentin Metsys' Madonna of the Cherries has been discovered. The work had actually appeared as 'Studio of' back in 2015 (pictured left), however, the recent cleaning of the picture has shown it to be a painting of high quality. Furthermore, it appears that this picture is the same that was once owned by Cornelis van der Geest and appears in a famous painting of his gallery by Willem van Haecht.
The painting will be offered in the upcoming Christie's London Old Masters Part I sale carrying an estimate of £8m - £12m.
Compton Verney are Hiring!
May 23 2024
Picture: Compton Verney
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Compton Verney are hiring a Folk Art Curator.
The main purpose of the role is the following:
To lead a two-year research and engagement project to reimagine and redefine Compton Verney’s historic Folk Art Collection. This will involve working to propose new definitions for an inclusive, living collection, which reflects modern British society and also explores the social context within which historic objects in the collection were made. It will include developing relationships with regional communities to develop a new acquisitions and loans strategy to broaden the scope of the Folk Art collection to include a broader representation of objects, customs, cultures and beliefs that is representative of UK demographics and cultures in the 21st century but with a specific focus on the Midlands regions. The role will also review and develop a new interpretation framework which is accessible to a broad audience and reflects the social histories that generated the collections objects.
Special Exhibition for Restored Carracci Fireplaces
May 21 2024
Picture: lemusenews.it
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
A special exhibition has just opened at the Palazzo d'Accursio in Bologna. The show is dedicated to two recently restored fireplaces by Ludovico and Annibale Carracci. The frescos, which were removed from their original settings and placed onto canvas in 1911, were purchased at auction in 2022 by Michelangelo Poletti. The works have since been restored and will now be on display until 22nd September 2024. Click on the link above to read the full story.
Zoom into Signorelli's Deposition
May 21 2024
Picture: haltadefinizione.com
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Italian cultural website Haltadefinizione has just uploaded incredibly high-resolution scans of Luca Signorelli's Deposition from the Cross. The painting, which is not currently accessible due to a vast renovation project, usually hangs in the Museum of Santa Croce (Holy Cross) in the town of Umbertide, Perugia.
Work for the Government Art Collection
May 21 2024
Picture: civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The UK Government are hiring an Assistant Curator (Interpretation) for their art collection.
Here's the job description for this part-time role:
The Government Art Collection is seeking an Assistant Curator: Interpretation, with experience of working ideally in a museum or visual arts context, and an appetite for producing rich interpretation content about works of art in the Collection, for various platforms and a wide range of audiences.
This is an exciting time to join the Government Art Collection, which is about to celebrate its 125th Anniversary. This role will play a key part in the development of dynamic and engaging content for this anniversary campaign, alongside contributing to the Government Art Collection’s Interpretation Strategy and Representation of the People Project.
The job comes with a FTE salary of £29,135 - £29,901 and applications must be in by 27th May 2024.
Good luck if you're applying!
Kauffmann and Restored Reynolds on Display at Saltram House
May 21 2024
Picture: art9000.com
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Saltram House in Devon, a property run by The National Trust, have been lent Angelica Kauffmann's portrait of its previous owner Theresa Parker from a private collection. The painting is on display alongside the property's recently restored full-length portrait of Theresa by Sir Joshua Reynolds. According to the article linked above:
Kauffman’s portrait of Theresa Parker was commissioned by Parker herself as a gift for her friend Lady Pelham. The portrait is on loan from a private collection and is being shown in public for the first time in this country.
The small full-length depiction of Theresa is intimate in scale and shows her in fashionable Turkish dress. The portrait representing Theresa’s love for her friend contrasts the portrait by Reynolds, which was commissioned for public display at the Royal Academy in 1773, and as a companion for another large historical family portrait in the Saloon. [...]
The two portraits of Theresa Parker have added poignance as Theresa sadly died in 1775 at the age of only 35. Reynolds was the one to write her obituary, again, a testament to their friendship and his respect of her artistic knowledge and sensibility.
The paintings will be on display in the house until the end of June.
Catalogue Raisonné of the Louvre's Van Dycks
May 20 2024
Picture: Louvre
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
I don't believe AHN spotted this story last year, however, the Louvre in Paris published a fascinating catalogue raisonné of Van Dyck's paintings in the museum. The volume was written by the museum's curator Blaise Ducos. Amazingly, the catalogue also has an free online version which is filled with interesting catalogue notes (in French). Well recommended browsing, if you don't mind being lost for a few hours in such a splendid Van Dyck vortex!
Update - Bendor here. The images are excellent, and I congratulate the Louvre for putting so much useful information online. For what it is worth, I think the 'Joueur de Flute', catalogued as '(?)After Van Dyck' is most likely by Van Dyck; an early work, and unfinished (or just a sketch). I see in the note that the late Sir Oliver Millar was tempted to regard it favourably, and I daresay if he had seen it cleaned, he might have been even more favourable. I also see Prof. Erik Larsen dismissed it as a fake, which to be honest is also in its favour, as a Van Dyck.
Tour the Portraits of the Royal College of Physicians
May 20 2024
Picture: The Royal College of Physicians
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Royal College of Physicians in London are putting on a special afterhours tour of their collecting of historic portraits in a few days' time.
According to the blurb on the website:
The RCP Museum holds a fascinating collection of hundreds of fine art portraits, featuring great British and European artists. In 1596 the RCP announced that any member or 'noble person' could display his portrait or coat of arms in our headquarters on payment of £10. After sadly losing many of our early paintings in the Great Fire of London in 1666, we began a deliberate policy of rebuilding our portrait collection in the 18th century. Today we continue to collect and commission contemporary artworks and portraiture of notable medical figures past and present.
The tour will take place on 22nd May 2024 and will cost a mere £15 to attend.
£4m - £6m Frans Hals coming up at Christie's
May 20 2024
Picture: Christie's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Christie's website is finally back up and running after the very worrying aforementioned 'technology security issue'. Browsing the list of upcoming Old Masters auctions, the website shows that Christie's London will be offering this Frans Hals Portrait in July. The painting, believed to be a likeness of Joost de Wolf, will carry an estimate of £4m - £6m.
Upcoming Release: The German Paintings before 1800 - National Gallery Catalogues
May 17 2024
Picture: yalebooks.co.uk
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Yale Books have announced their upcoming Autumn / Winter 2024 season of new publications. Included within the highlights is the National Gallery in London's upcoming catalogue of The German Paintings before 1800 by Susan Foister.
According to the publisher's blurb:
This fully illustrated catalogue presents the most up-to-date research on the seventy-five paintings in the National Gallery created in the German-speaking lands before 1800. Among them are important groups of works by artists such as Hans Holbein the Younger—including his famous double portrait The Ambassadors of 1533—Lucas Cranach the Elder, Albrecht Dürer, Adam Elsheimer, the fifteenth-century Cologne painter known as the Master of the Saint Bartholomew Altarpiece and his Westphalian contemporary, the Master of Liesborn.
This is the first catalogue of the National Gallery’s German paintings since 1959 and includes revelatory entries on a number of important new acquisitions, among them significant works by Albrecht Altdorfer, Wolf Huber, Franz Anton Maulbertsch, Hans Rottenhammer and Hans Wertinger. The German Paintings before 1800 also includes two essays, the first discussing the history of the paintings’ acquisition by the National Gallery and the taste for German painting in Britain, and the second addressing the ways in which these German artists produced their work.
The book is due to be published in January 2025.
Filippo e Filippino Lippi in Rome
May 16 2024
Video: askanews
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
A new exhibition opened at the Musei Capitolini in Rome yesterday. As the title suggests, the show will examine the careers of father and son Fra' Filippo Lippi (1406-1469) and Filippino (1457-1504). Both works on paper and paintings will be on display drawing on loans from collections across Italy.
The exhibition will run until 25th August 2024.
Mary Cassatt at Work in Philadelphia
May 16 2024
Picture: Yale University Press
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Philadelphia Museum of Art will be opening an exhibition dedicated to Mary Cassatt (1844-1926) in two days' time. The show is being shared with The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and already has a rather nicely produced catalogue to go alongside it.
According to the museum's website:
A celebrated member of the French Impressionists, Pennsylvania-born Mary Cassatt challenged the conventional expectations of Philadelphia’s elite. In Paris, Cassatt committed herself to a career as a professional artist and made the social, intellectual, and working lives of modern women a core subject of her prints, paintings, and pastels. Though recognized in her lifetime for her intimate depictions of women and children, Cassatt has yet to be appreciated for her serious engagement with the realities of gender and labor in her portrayal of other traditionally feminine activities, such as embroidery, reading, or making social appearances.
These depictions lie at the heart of Mary Cassatt at Work, which will present over 130 diverse works that follow the artist’s evolving practice and demonstrate her interest in the “serious work” of artmaking. The exhibition will present new findings about the materials she used and her processes—which were advanced for her era—as it coincides with a detailed technical study of the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s significant Cassatt holdings.
The exhibition will run until 8th September 2024.
