Drawing the Italian Renaissance at the King's Gallery in November 2024
April 26 2024
Picture: RCT
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
I've spotted on the Royal Collection Trust's website that they'll be opening a new exhibition on Drawing the Italian Renaissance in November 2024.
According to the website:
The Renaissance period saw a dramatic transformation in the way that artists worked, with a new-found appreciation for creativity pushing artistic boundaries. Drawing became central to this development, evolving from an essential tool of workshop practice to an exciting art form in its own right.
The Royal Collection holds one of the world’s greatest groups of Italian drawings. Through around 160 works on paper by artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael and Titian alongside lesser-known artists, this exhibition will reveal the diversity and accomplishment of drawing across Italy during this revolutionary period.
The show will run from 1st November 2024 until 9th March 2025.
18th Century Watermelon Regatta Conserved in Florida
April 26 2024
Video: fox13news.com
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
New from the The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Florida that an 18th century painting known as The Watermelon Regatta has been conserved. The work had been gifted to the gallery by the museum's first Director but had never been in display due to its poor condition. It will be on display in the galleries until later in May.
The Mona Lisa to be Moved?
April 26 2024
Video: Firstpost
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
News broke yesterday that the Louvre in Paris are considering moving Leonardo's Mona Lisa into a new room. The plans are part of an acknowledgement that the current visitor experience in its current position is poor, a fact accepted by the museum's Director Laurence des Cars.
The article quoted above explains more about the overhaul plans:
A new underground chamber for painting would be part of a future “Grand Louvre” renovation, with a new entrance to the museum. Visitors would bypass the glass pyramid entry and be lead directly to underground rooms: one for the Mona Lisa and the other for temporary exhibitions.
“The mood in the museum is now ripe,” said des Cars. “We have to embrace the painting’s status as a global icon, which is beyond our control.”
The budget for the Louvre’s overhaul is estimated at €500 million, according to Le Figaro. But the French economy has yielded worse-than-expected debt and deficit forecasts, resulting in President Emmanuel Macron’s government trying to reduce state spending by €25 billion in its next annual budget.
Here's a video above of the story published by the Indian news channel Firstpost.
Compare Tintorettos at the Palazzo Grimani
April 26 2024
Picture: Palazzo Grimani
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
A new exhibition has opened recently at the Museum of Palazzo Grimani in Venice, dedicated to Jacopo and Domenico Tintorettos' members of the Grimani family. The display has been made possible by several loans, including works from a private collection, organised by Colnaghi, and others lent from the Schorr Collection and the Rijksmuseum.
The show will run until 8th September 2024.
We've Conquered Raphael, and now onto Constable - says the University of Bradford
April 26 2024
Picture: BBC
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Researchers at The University of Bradford have been hard at work trying to use technology to crack the code of various artists throughout history. Last year, the university's Centre for Visual Computing and Intelligent Systems famously came up with the result that a late copy was in fact by Raphael's hand, a system which is said to be 98% accurate but has since been refuted by several art historians in The Art Newspaper.
Today, the BBC have published news that another researcher at the University is now using technology to crack the code of John Constable (pictured). Equipment such as a CT scanner and 3D microscopy equipment will be used to do so, including 'tests include assessing the painter's technique'.
According to the BBC article:
Dr Alex Surtees, a lecturer in forensic science at the university, said it would ultimately be down to art experts to give the final say - but science could offer helpful clues.
"It’s certainly very exciting," he said.
"If I can be involved in the actual verification on work being a Constable, then I would be very proud."
He added: "This is me helping the art world make a decision."
The Arts in France during the reign of Charles VII
April 26 2024
Video: Pixelucis
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
I missed the news last month that a new exhibition opened at the Musée de Cluny dedicated to the Arts in France during the reign of Charles VII. The show focuses on works produced during the end of the 15th century, troubled by the last outbreaks of the Hundred Years' War and prone to influences from Flanders and Italy.
The show will run until 16th June 2024.
Klesch Collection Scholarship
April 25 2024
Picture: Klesch Collection
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Klesch Collection, a private collection of art assembled by A. Gary and Dr. Anita Klesch, are accepting applications for the 2024–2025 Klesch Collection Scholarship, which is available for graduate studies in Baroque and Renaissance painting.
According to the website:
These scholarships have supported the global studies of graduate students (MA, MPhil, or PhD level), with the aim of contributing to their academic and professional development. Scholarship recipients are chosen based on merit and quality of their application.
Who can apply?
Any graduate student who has been accepted into a full-time Art History MA, MPhil or PhD course of study worldwide, beginning the next academic year. PhD students are welcome to apply for any year in their programme. Applications will be considered from students who will focus/are focusing their studies on European and British painting of the Renaissance and Baroque periods (c. 1400–1700).
What does the Klesch Collection Scholarship offer?
- A grant towards the yearly cost of the university fees.
- A paid internship opportunity at the collection for a minimum of 1 month.
Applications must be submitted by 20th June 2024.
Good luck if you're applying!
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Whilst looking for a photo to add to this post, I stumbled across this outstanding Van Dyck of Charles II when Prince of Wales (pictured), a painting which was presumably acquired by the collection when it appeared at Sotheby's back in 2018. In 2018 the work had come straight from a private collection and was covered in a very thick yellowed varnish which made the surface rather hard to read. Click the link above to see the work in its present restored state, the transformation has been magnificent by the looks of it. Although Van Dyck's brush was very smooth in this late period, these paintings have a distinctive magic and aura about them which is wonderful in their own right I think.
Liverpool Allotted Monet and Degas Accepted in Lieu
April 25 2024
Picture: liverpoolmuseums.org.uk
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool has been allocated two paintings by Monet and Degas as part of the Acceptance in Lieu scheme. The Epte in Giverny (1884), by Claude Monet (pictured), and Modiste Decorating a Hat (1891-1895), a pastel by Edgar Degas, will be on display in the gallery from this weekend onwards.
According to the museum's press release:
Kate O’Donoghue, Curator of International Fine Art at National Museums Liverpool, said: “Claude Monet’s landscapes and Edgar Degas’ scenes of everyday life epitomise the Impressionist movement and it’s difficult to overstate quite how special it is to obtain these new works by two of Europe’s most famous artists.
“The artworks will sit alongside works by artists such as Paul Cézanne and Henri Matisse, helping us to tell the story of Impressionism and Post-Impressionism in a way that will no doubt inspire visitors for many years to come.”
The new acquisitions come from the collection of Mary Elliot-Blake (1904-1996) and have been owned by the Montagu family by descent. Due to the family's connection to the city of Liverpool, the paintings were allocated to the Walker.
Turner in Newcastle
April 25 2024
Picture: Laing Art Gallery
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle will be opening an exhibition next month on the subject of Turner: Art, Industry & Nostalgia. The key picture in the show will be the artist's famous The Fighting Temeraire, on loan from The National Gallery in London.
According to the gallery's website:
Turner: Art, Industry & Nostalgia will include over 20 works by Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775-1851), one of Britain’s greatest and most prolific painters. The Fighting Temeraire, one of the artist’s best-known works, is a tribute to the ship HMS Temeraire, which played a distinguished role in The Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The painting shows the final journey of the ship as it is towed along the river Thames by a modern paddle-wheel steam tug in 1838, towards its final berth in Rotherhithe to be broken up for scrap.
It is significant for the North East and its industrial heritage that the two steam tugboats that pulled the Temeraire in reality – the Samson and the London – were manufactured on Tyneside.
Dorotheum Pictures
April 25 2024
Picture: Dorotheum
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
A few lots in yesterday's Old Master Paintings auction at the Dorotheum in Vienna did rather well against their estimates. The following corridor portrait of Sultan Süleyman I made €274,000 over its €8,000 - 12,000 estimate, Marco d’Oggiono's Head of Christ made €226,00 over its €50,000 - 75,000 estimate, a tondo given to an assistant of Botticelli made €663,875 over its €200,000 - 300,000 estimate, a portrait by Sofonisba Anguissola made €169,000 over its 60,000 - 80,000 estimate, a religious work by Barbara Longhi made €91,000 over its €8,000 - 12,000 estimate.
Klimt makes €30m
April 24 2024
Video: Europa Press
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Gustav Klimt's Portrait of Fraulein Lieser hammered down at €30m this afternoon at Kinsky in Vienna.
An article by the BBC has drawn attention to the unanswered questions about its wartime history. In contrast, a very fine painting by the artist made £85.3m last year. It is well worth reading the FAQs section regarding the sale of the painting on the auction house's website.
Update - A reader has been in touch with the following article from The New York Times, which delves a little deeper into questions regarding the painting and its provenance.
Restored Paintings from Notre-Dame on Display
April 24 2024
Picture: mobiliernational.culture.gouv.fr
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
A major exhibition has opened today at the Mobilier National in Paris, focusing on restored works from the fire-damaged Cathedral of Notre-Dame. The show features 21 large-scale paintings which have been conserved and presented to the public. This includes 10 of the 'great Mays' which were commissioned by the city's goldsmiths in the 17th and 18th centuries and later donated to the cathedral. Artists represented include Laurent de La Hyre, Aubin Vouet, Charles Le Brun and Eustache Le Sueur.
The display will continue until 21st July 2024.
Getty Museum acquires Manfredi
April 24 2024
Picture: Getty Museum
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Getty Museum in Los Angeles has announced their acquisition of Manfredi's A Drinking and Musical Party. Regular auction watchers will remember that the painting was offered at Christie's New York from the Alana Collection back in 2022 carrying an estimate of $4m - $6m but failed to find a bidder.
A quote from the museum's website:
“Although Manfredi was not properly a pupil of Caravaggio, his strikingly realistic depictions of genre scenes crucially contributed to the European success of the Caravaggesque movement,” says Davide Gasparotto, senior curator of paintings at the Getty Museum. “Since its reappearance in 1976, A Drinking and Musical Party has been considered one of Manfredi’s greatest paintings. Its addition to our collection represents a major coup that will allow us to display a picture that attained enormous success among collectors and amateurs in 17th-century Europe.”
Musée Massey Exhibit Stolen Works Prior to Restitution
April 24 2024
Picture: francetv.info
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
News from France that the Musée Massey in Tarbes will be exhibiting a group of works from their collections which were stolen during WWII. The paintings, which will be on display until 26th May 2024, will then be returned to the descendants of the painting's owners following a new law which was passed last summer. The display will include this rather beautiful later work by Cornelius Johnson (pictured) of an unknown sitter.
Free London Art Week Talks
April 24 2024
Picture: LAW
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
London Art Week are hosting two free online talks today and tomorrow as part of their Art History in Focus series.
Tonight's talk focuses on Framing Impressionism, featuring guests Lynn Roberts, Paul & Mark Mitchell and Matthew Reeves.
Tomorrow's talk focuses on Philip Mould & Co.'s upcoming Mary Beale exhibition, featuring guests Christopher Baker (The Burlington Magazine), Lucy West (Dulwich Picture Gallery) and Ellie Smith (Philip Mould & Co.).
The talks will be available on Zoom and registration is required.
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The fellow in the fur hat above might be recognisable to some readers from a post on AHN back in September.
AI Recreates Destroyed Velázquez
April 23 2024
Picture: El Pais
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Here's an interesting story which I failed to spot earlier on this month. A project, undertaken by the artist Fernando Sánchez Castillo, has recreated Velázquez's Expulsion of the Moriscos which was destroyed by a fire in 1734. Essentially, detailed descriptions were used, alongside a rediscovered sketch, to build up the image produced on the right.
According to the article linked above:
Armed with Palomino’s text and the preliminary sketch that Velázquez would use as a starting point for his larger painting, Sánchez turned next to Paula García, a student at the Complutense University of Madrid who wrote her thesis on AI applied to contemporary sculpture. Using a blend of history and technology, the two spent over 100 hours reconstructing Velázquez’s Expulsion of the Moriscos. They say 80% of the result is derived from artistic creations and 20% is due to AI. “People always have this natural suspicion about artificial intelligence,” said Sánchez.
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Well, from what I can see the image does look a bit stiff and odd! However, I suppose it's a good start of sorts.
Holkham are Hiring!
April 23 2024
Picture: Holkham
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Holkham Hall in Norfolk, which houses a very fine historic collection of artworks, are hiring a Collections Co-ordinator.
According to the job description the roles include:
• Have primary responsibility for day-to-day management of the collections, to be the first point of call within the hall and respond to any needs as required and seeking guidance from the wider Collections Team where necessary.
• To have a good working knowledge of Qi, the bespoke collections management system, creation of manuals as appropriate, and using the system to record the comprehensive management of the collection and associated activities.
• To respond in a timely fashion to requests from the family and senior management regarding the collections.
• To be the contact for conservators and other collection specialists requiring or requesting access to the collection; supervising visits and responding to questions.
• To answer enquiries and supervise researchers while using the collection as required.
• (Represent the Holkham Estate in meetings and discussions of the Treasure House Housekeeping Forum, Private Houses Curators Group and other such organisations as requested.)
• Assist the Head of Collections with loan requests as required.
The job comes with a salary between £26,000 - £27,000 and applications must be in by 13th May 2024.
Good luck if you're applying!
Christie's New York May Sale
April 23 2024
Picture: Christie's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Christie's New York have published their upcoming May Old Master Paintings sale.
Top lots in the sale include a Workshop of Hans Memling Virgin and Child, an unpublished St Jerome by Van Dyck, a Guardi View of the Piazzetta in Venice, and a Moretto da Brescia of a Virgin and Child. There are also a good group of English pictures, including works by Sir Thomas Lawrence, George Stubbs, John Constable and Sir Peter Lely.
Alongside this sale is also a private collection of Old Master and European Paintings which are being offered without reserve (many bargains to be had I'm sure!).
Both sales will take place on 23rd May 2024.
Upcoming Release: Gesina ter Borch
April 22 2024
Picture: lundhumphries.com
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Lund Humphries will be publishing a new book by MET curator Adam Eaker on the seventeenth century artist Gesina ter Borch in October 2024. The publication claims to be the first major biography, in any language, on the artist.
According to the blurb:
Gesina ter Borch (1631-1690) was a Dutch watercolourist and draughtswoman whose work survives primarily in the form of three albums of watercolours and calligraphy, now held at the Rijksmuseum. Despite the fact that her oeuvre is securely attributed and thoroughly catalogued, Ter Borch has surprisingly never been the subject of a dedicated monograph, until now. For the first time, this book highlights Ter Borch’s watercolours and calligraphy in their own right, as well as her work as an art teacher, an archivist, and an artist’s model, and questions a historiography of women’s art that frequently values oil painting over other media, and work for the market over 'amateur' production.
Adam Eaker revisits Gesina ter Borch’s role in the genesis of Dutch 'high-life' genre painting and its construction of gender and social class, comparing her art with that of her brother Gerard, and in so doing allows for a more nuanced understanding of the ideologies and achievements of Dutch genre painting.
The book will be released on 15th October 2024 and is available for pre-order.
Kelmscott Manor Raising last £40,000 to Conserve Tapestries
April 22 2024
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Kelmscott Manor, the former Oxfordshire country house of William Morris, is raising the last £40,000 to conserve and reinstate their set of 17th century tapestries. They have already raised £306,000, which is quite an effort, but are asking the public for help to complete the full amount.
According to the website linked above:
One of the Manor’s most important spaces is the Tapestry Room, with its 17th-century Dutch tapestries, a rare survival of its Manor’s pre-Morris interiors. Originally a bedroom, the Tapestry Room acquired an added significance when William Morris and Dante Gabriel Rossetti took on the joint tenancy of Kelmscott Manor in 1871.
Morris loved these rare wall-hangings mellowed by age, declaring that they gave the Tapestry Room ‘an air of romance which nothing else would quite do’. He gravitated there, using it as both workspace and sitting room. It was tapestries such as these that inspired him to learn the technique himself and set about reinventing it.
Click on the link above if you'd like to help and made a donation.
