| | The First Art Newspaper on the Net |   | Established in 1996 | Thursday, January 28, 2021 |
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| | Claremont Rug Company Unveils 50 Best-of-Their-Type Rugs in 2020 | |
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A Museum-Quality Laver Kirman (7' 8" x 9' 8") ca. 1800 was among one of the "50 Best of Their Type" rugs sold by Claremont Rug Company in 2020 in the Gallery's 10th annual compilation.
By Jan David Winitz
President/Founder
Claremont Rug Company
OAKLAND, CA.- For the past decade, I have undertaken, with my staff, an annual review of all the rugs that my gallery, Claremont Rug Company, has placed with our clients during the previous year. And each year, I marvel at what we have been able to present and the educated eyes that our clients have developed. The year 2020 was exceptional in this regard. While all of the rugs in The-Best-of-Their-Type trove were elite-level and distinguished, among the most outstanding were: A High Collectible 43 x 610 Ferahan Sarouk Vase Rug, from the third quarter of the 19th century ... More |
The Best Photos of the Day Kasmin is presenting a new exhibition of work by American painter Jane Freilicher (1924 - 2014). Parts of a World will go on view at 297 Tenth Avenue from January 21-February 27, 2021, comprising some 15 still lifes spanning the artistâs career from the 1950s to the early 2000s. Photo by Diego Flores.
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| Exhibition offers a glimpse of François Morellet's prolific and multi-faceted oeuvre from 1953-2013 | | Napoleon's account of legendary Battle of Austerlitz goes on sale | | Cheech Marin's Chicano Art Museum is to open this fall | 
François Morellet, Icy climbing beam 45°, 45°, 45°, 2003. Industrial white lacquer on MDF, 106 x 106 x 60 cm / 41 3/4 x 41 3/4 x 23 5/8 in. Photo: Thomas Barratt. © François Morellet/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York/ADAGP, Paris. Courtesy Estate Morellet.
NEW YORK, NY.- François Morellet (1926 2016), a prolific self-taught painter, sculptor, and installation artist, developed a radical approach to geometric abstraction during a career spanning more than six decades. The artists inaugural exhibition with Hauser & Wirth, François Morellet. In-Coherent, offers a glimpse of Morellets prolific and multi-faceted oeuvre from 1953 2013, including some rarely seen key abstract geometric paintings from the 1950s and 1960s, a major wall installation from 1977, space installations and several neon works, a medium pioneered and continuously readdressed by the artist throughout his life. The exhibition makes plain Morellets lasting influence in art through his distinctive talent for bringing Dada- infused irreverence, irony, and joyful lightness to his aspiration of dismantling traditional hierarchies and embracing elements of randomness and chance within the framew ... More | | 
Collector of French imperial memorabilia and "Arts et autographes" gallery owner Jean-Emmanuel Raux poses with his daughter Alizee Raux, as they show Napoleon Bonaparte's account of his victory during the Battle of Austerlitz and a map of the battle. Thomas COEX / AFP.
PARIS (AFP).- Napoleon Bonaparte's account of his victory at the Battle of Austerlitz, dictated during his exile on the island of Saint Helena, went on sale Wednesday in Paris for one million euros ($1.2 million). The account of the 1805 "three-emperors clash" with Russo-Austrian forces, which is considered Napoleon's greatest military triumph, takes readers through preparations for battle and the fighting itself, completed by a plan drawn by his loyal aide-de-camp General Henri-Gatien Bertrand on tracing paper. The densely packed 74-page manuscript, dictated to Bertrand, contains several corrections by the exiled emperor, who crossed out words and added remarks in the margins in tiny handwriting. Napoleon does not refer to himself in the first person, instead prefacing his remarks with "the emperor says". The sale comes at the start of a year m ... More | | 
The actor and comedian Cheech Marin, a collector of Chicano art, at home in Los Angeles, July 6, 2017. Monica Almeida/The New York Times.
by Sarah Bahr
NEW YORK (NYT NEWS SERVICE).- It was a stifling Sunday in 1950s South Central Los Angeles, when Cheech Marin, stuck at church, let his eyes drift to the ceiling. What he saw there would spark a lifelong love of art. There were painted guys in long sheets walking in the clouds, on a mural above his head, said Marin, 74, who is best known as half of the comedy team Cheech & Chong. And then Id look in the corner and be like, Why are these guys barbecuing that other guy? Those two things informed my aesthetic from that point on: It had to be glorious and gory at the same time. In the mid-1980s, Marin, buoyed by a burgeoning film career, made the leap from merely admiring Rembrandts and Vermeers in museums to acquiring work. A third-generation Mexican American, he focuses on Chicano artists, and has amassed one of the largest such collections in the world. Now, his more than 700 paintings, drawings, ... More |
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| "Groundbreaking" discovery of rare portrait of Henri III, King of France, made in UK | | Entire 800-year-old stained glass window from Canterbury Cathedral to be centrepiece of British Museum exhibition | | 'Beautiful' or 'kitsch'?: Massive Belgrade statue stirs controversy | 
Jean Decourt (De Court) (circa 1530 after 1585), Portrait of Henry III, King of France. Bodycolor highlighted with gold on vellum. Annotated on the back by a contemporary hand (by the artist?): FAICT·PAR·DECOVRT·1578. H. 57 mm.
LONDON.- Both the artist and the subject of this intricately detailed, jewel-like miniature painting bought unseen during lockdown in 2020 are exceptional discoveries. The 57mm tall likeness was originally described as Sir Walter Raleigh, but experts at Philip Mould & Co soon discovered it was an image of Henri III, King of France (1551-1589), whose remaining contemporary images are extremely scarce. However, a second transformative discovery was made when conservator opened the paintings delicate frame and found the signature, Decourt along with the date 1578, on the reverse. Unusually, despite Decourts high profile and status at the time, no signed portrait had been unequivocally ascribed to this highly significant court artist. Until now
Jean Decourt (c.1530-c.1585) was a remarkable painter, with an exquisite eye ... More | | 
Miracle window, Canterbury Cathedral, early 1200s. © The Chapter, Canterbury Cathedral.
LONDON.- In April 2021, the British Museum will host the first ever major UK exhibition on the life, death and legacy of Thomas Becket, whose brutal murder inside Canterbury Cathedral in 1170 shook the Middle Ages. Thomas Becket: murder and the making of a saint (22 April 22 August 2021) will chart over 500 years of history, from Thomas Beckets remarkable rise from ordinary beginnings to one of the most powerful figures in England, through to his enduring but divisive legacy in the centuries after his death. The story will be told through an array of over 100 stunning objects brought together for the first time, including rare loans from across the UK and Europe. Originally due to open in October 2020 but delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, the exhibition marks 850 years since the former Archbishop of Canterbury was killed on 29 December 1170 in his own cathedral. The murder was possibly on the orders of his bitter rival a ... More | | 
This picture shows a 23-metre tall statue, erected in honour of the 12th-century Serbian prince Stefan Nemanja, during the unveiling ceremony in front of Belgrade's former main railway station on January 27, 2021. Andrej ISAKOVIC / AFP.
BELGRADE (AFP).- A gargantuan statue of a medieval Serbian prince unveiled in Belgrade on Wednesday has sparked a fierce debate: is it a "beautiful" tribute to a historical icon or "monstrous" kitsch spoiling a public square? The brightly-lit bronze state of Prince Stefan Nemanja, a 12th-century prince considered the founder of the Serbian state, stands more than 23 metres (75 feet) tall in a riverside Belgrade neighbourhood. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has praised it as "the most beautiful thing" he has ever seen. "This monument is big, because our story is big. It's heavy because our history often was," Vucic said at the unveiling ceremony, which was attended by hundreds. Yet many critics think quite the opposite, with historians, artists and architects slamming the monument as so gaudy that it "trivialises" the history it is meant ... More |
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| Morphy's to auction stellar Bob and Judy Brady antique mechanical bank collection | | Palmer Museum of Art will reopen its doors on February 10, 2021 | | A populist leader kicks off a culture war, starting in museums | 
Rex Mikado bank. Illusionist makes coin appear under one hat then disappear, only to reappear under a second hat. Blue-base variation. Comes with English coins. Near-mint. Estimate: $80,000-$120,000.
DENVER, PA.- Although the cast-iron mechanical bank-collecting world is a very active one spanning several continents, only a few bank collections can be accurately described as highly important or being of premier quality. As any serious collector will attest, reaching that level of excellence takes dedication, constant upgrading and a long-term commitment to the hobby. The special camaraderie connecting bank aficionados worldwide is how Bob and Judy Brady managed to build a collection that is both admired and recognized throughout the hobby as being one of the very finest. On Saturday, February 27, 2021, Morphys in Denver, Pa., will auction the Bradys incredible 40-year collection, which boasts some of the most elusive, high-condition banks in existence. Most mechanical banks have complicated inner workings, ... More | | 
The Palmer Museum of Art in fall 2020.
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA.- After an extended closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Palmer Museum of Art at Penn State announced that it will reopen its doors on Wednesday, February 10, 2021. The freeadmission museum has instituted a new timed-ticketing system and updated health protocols to ensure the safety of all visitors. We are thrilled to finally reopen our doors to the public and to do so by placing the welfare and safety of our visitors as our top priority, said Erin M. Coe, Director of the Palmer Museum of Art. Even with the COVID-19 restrictions in place, we are confident visitors will enjoy a self-guided tour of our permanent collection and special exhibitions. Starting on February 10, visitors to the Palmer Museum must reserve a free timed entry ticket online via the museums website (palmermuseum.psu.edu) prior to arriving at the museum. Once inside, museum-goers will be assisted by new Visitor Services as ... More | | 
The National Museum of Slovenia in Ljubljana, the capital. Slovenias government has replaced the directors of major institutions but it says run-of-the-mill artists really have nothing to complain about. National Museum of Slovenia via The New York Times.
by Alex Marshall
NEW YORK (NYT NEWS SERVICE).- Last March, Janez Jansa, a nationalist politician who has been compared to President Donald Trump, became Slovenias leader for a third time. He was previously prime minister from 2004 to 2008, and, briefly, from 2012, until a corruption scandal brought his government down. Jansa has long been known for attacking opponents online, including news media he considers biased, as well as for opposing immigration. But since his return to power, another issue beloved of populists has become a focus: culture. Over the past 10 months, Jansas government has replaced the directors of some of Slovenias most important museums, including the National ... More |
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| Diana hits her mark in Keno Auctions $930,470 curated sale | | 20th Century modern masters from a private French collection to span 20th century evening sales | | Fairfield University Art Museum opens an exhibition exploring environmental issues through avian art | 
Augustus Saint Gaudens (American, 1848-1907), Diana of the Tower Bronze. H. 38 ⅞ in.
NEW YORK, NY.- Among the various auctions of fine and decorative arts in New York held during Americana Week, Keno Auctions attained the highest price for any lot sold. On January 23rd, an iconic bronze sculpture of Diana by Augustus Saint-Gaudens (1848-1907) soared past its estimate of $200-400,000, selling for $506,000 (including BP). Purchased by a young New York couple, it is the fifth highest price at auction for any work by Saint-Gaudens. Recently discovered by Keno, the sculpture was on display at the Glascow Arms Restaurant in Delaware since its purchase by restaurant owner and collector, Constantine Sclavos in 1959. Saint-Gaudens produced the original 18-foot tall Diana of the Tower as a weathervane for Madison Square Garden. The figure was so popular that the artist wisely secured a copyright of the design in 1895 and immediately began making smaller versions. Leigh Keno, President of Keno Auctions, noted: I am th ... More | | 
Joan Miró, Le piège, 1924. Oil, charcoal and graphite on canvas, 36⅜ x 29 in. Estimate: £3,000,000 5,000,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2021.
LONDON.- Christies will present 20th Century Modern Masters from a Private French Collection in the 20th Century Art Evening Sale and The Art of the Surreal Evening Sale, to be held on 23 March. The collection is comprised of eight works by Alexander Calder, Jean Dubuffet, Max Ernst, Jean Fautrier, Fernand Léger and Joan Miró. This exceptional group offers an insightful view into the crucial dialogues that connected avant-garde artists working in Europe and America throughout the 20th Century, highlighting the friendships, artistic innovations and the exchange of ideas that shaped the century, both before and after the Second World War. Dating from 1913, Légers Deux femmes couchées illustrates his bold, graphic style of cubism (estimate: £1,200,000-1,800,000), which resonates with the formal structures of Dubuffets post-war Paris Circus and Hourloupe styles, both hybridised in Paysage du Pas-de-Cala ... More | | 
Alexander Wilson, W.H. Lizars, engraver, Whittaker, Treacher & Arnot, publisher, American Ornithology; or The Natural History of the Birds of the United States, published 1832, London Wild Turkey, Male and Female (Meleagris gallopavo), engraving with original hand coloring. Lent by the Pequot Library, Southport, CT accession no. 2054, Gift of Mrs. Elbert B. Monroe. Image courtesy of Special Collections, Pequot Library.
FAIRFIELD, CONN.- Birds of the Northeast: Gulls to Great Auks features paintings, sculpture, prints, drawings, photographs, and natural history specimens from the early 19th century through the present day. Beyond merely connecting us to the natural world, the artworks in this exhibition remind us of the toll taken on bird habitats since the beginning of European colonialism in North America; the delicate ecosystems that allow birds of all species to thrive came under attack, as birds were hunted for food and ornamentation and their habitats were destroyed. Curated by Museum Director Carey Weber and Fairfield University Biology professors Brian Walker, PhD, Jim Biardi, PhD, and Tod ... More |
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Break for Art | Helmet Mask (Komo) } #DMAatHome
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| More News |
 Covid closes Machu Picchu -- again LIMA (AFP).- The Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, which had partially reopened after months of coronavirus closures, will shut again for two weeks amid a deadly second pandemic wave in Peru, the government said. A decree published in the official gazette said all archaeological sites in 17 regions of Peru "will receive zero visits" from January 31 to February 14. Sixteen million Peruvians will be in lockdown during these two weeks in an area covering a third of the country in a bid to beat back the viral resurgence. The South American nation's health care system has been overwhelmed by the Covid-19 pandemic. It has only 500 intensive care beds for a population of 32 million. Machu Picchu, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1983, reopened to visitors in November after having been shuttered for almost eight months. Machu Picchu mayor Darwin Baca ... More  Galerie Gmurzynska opens "Drawing Inspiration: A Century of Works on Paper"NEW YORK, NY.- Galerie Gmurzynska is presenting a new exhibition at its flagship NYC location. Drawing Inspiration: A Century of Works on Paper, puts famed works spanning 100 years on display from such luminaries as Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, Marcel Duchamp, Zaha Hadid, Ed Ruscha, Robert Delaunay and Jean Arp. Among the many highlights is a large drawing by Joan Miró from 1930. Executed with a single, uninterrupted line, this work highlights the artists tremendous ability as a draughtsman and his affinity for the line. This drawing is a magnificent example of the importance of drawing for Miro, who understood it as autonomous practice not as mere preparatory work that allowed him to experiment with technique and expression. Examples of this series of drawings from 1930 are in numerous museums, including the Metropolitan Museum ... More  The Musée d'Orsay and Stanley Kubrick: What 'Lupin' is made ofNEW YORK (NYT NEWS SERVICE).- Named after a character who does not even appear in it, the French show Lupin has seduced audiences with a stylish, light-footed combination of family drama, romance and high-stakes capers. At the center is the star Omar Sy (The Intouchables) as the affable trickster and heistmeister Assane Diop, whose role model is the fictional gentleman-thief Arsène Lupin an iconic figure in France invented by mystery writer Maurice Leblanc in 1905. As it turns out, one of the essential forces behind this very Gallic creation is British: the screenwriter George Kay (also one of the masterminds of Criminal, a Netflix series with four versions, each in a different country). When Kay joined the team, he had limited information. He knew that Sy was attached to the project and that the plot had to somehow incorporate ... More  Museum of the City of New York hires James C. Horton as Vice President, Education and EngagementNEW YORK, NY.- Museum of the City of New York welcomes James C. Horton as its new Vice President of Education and Engagement, a newly-created role made possible through the philanthropy of the Museums dedicated supporters. Horton joins the Museum in February to lead the Museums educational offerings, public programs, and FAO Schwarz Education Center, which serves more than 50,000 students annually. He will also focus on deepening the Museums connections to the varied communities of New York, while providing innovative programming that explores New York Citys historic and contemporary issues. Horton begins his tenure at the Museum on February 1, 2021. James is a dynamic, experienced leader who has had great success and shown tremendous passion for building and growing transformative programs and ... More  Neue Auctions announces highlights included in the Valentine Jewelry AuctionBEACHWOOD, OHIO .- Guys who messed up at Christmas will get a chance to right the ship in an online-only Valentine Jewelry Auction slated for Saturday, February 6th, at 12 noon Eastern time. This sale is a tasty offering of fine jewelry priced just right for your special sweethearts Valentines Day gift, said Cynthia Maciejewski of Neue Auctions, located outside of Cleveland. Internet bidding for this timed auction is being provided by LiveAuctioneers.com. Absentee bids will be accepted. Gallery previews are by appointment only. For an appointment, call 216-245-6707. Masks are required of everyone. There are no walk-ins allowed, due to a spike in cases of COVID-19. The Neue Auctions gallery is located at 23533 Mercantile Road, Beachwood, Ohio. An expected top achiever in the 142-lot auction is a beautiful marked Art Deco period diamond ... More  Heritage Auctions' world record numismatic events achieve $90.68 millionDALLAS, TX.- Longtime collectors said goodbye to their treasures and new clients set world record-prices in Heritage Auctions' Jan. 21-25 numismatic events totaling more than $90.68 million. Total sales of U.S. coins and currency and World coins and paper money reached $90,687,367 during auctions scheduled in lieu of the Florida United Numismatists and the New York International Numismatic conventions. Both live events were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic; instead, their auctions took place in Dallas. "Six coins broke the million-dollar mark and five world records were set some by new clients who had never before purchased a coin before joining Heritage," said James Halperin, Co-Founder of Heritage Auctions. "We are truly honored to be chosen to bring these collections to auction, as well as to serve our clients during ... More  National treasures from UK's greatest collections loaned to local museums in 2021LONDON.- From the glittering Galloway Hoard of treasure to an exceptional portrait of Richard III and works by leading artists Antony Gormley and Lucian Freud, world-class art and objects from national collections will be shared with smaller museums nationwide this year through the Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund. Highlights include: The Galloway Hoard the richest collection of rare Viking-age objects ever found in the UK will be exhibited near the site of its discovery at Kirkcudbright Galleries, from National Museums Scotland The National Portrait Gallerys iconic portrait of Richard III will go on display at Yorkshire Museum Towner Eastbourne will display one of the most highly regarded paintings of the Great War, Over the Top (1918) by John Nash, loaned from the Imperial War Museum Field for the British Isles (1993) by Antony ... More  Donna Ferrato's magnus opus HOLY embraces the power of womenNEW YORK, NY.- If you know Donna, she lives her art. She is angry. She is empathic. She is loving. She is committed. This book, Holy, is an encapsulation of her anger; a compendium of her empathy; a 176-page vessel of her love; a lifetime of her commitment. Holy is forged from one woman's outrage against a woman-hating world. May it anger you. Ferrato's radical photographs show what women are capable of surviving. More than survive, Holy depicts women who prevail. It is an invitation to understand how it feels being held down by the patriarchywhat women are fighting for, what they are up against, and how against all odds they manage to break free from the chains of oppression. Fighting for equality in the bedroom and the boardroom, Ferrato's journey in this ground-breaking book follows the sexual revolution of the '60s through the #metoo ... More  On Saturday, February 13, fine art, Russian silver, and jewelry go up for bid at Turner Auctions + AppraisalsSAN FRANCISCO, CA.- Turner Auctions + Appraisals is pleased to present Fine Art, Russian Silver, and Jewelry on Saturday, February 13, 2021, at 10:30 am PST. Among the many artworks are paintings, etchings, lithographs and mixed media by noted artists from the 18th to 21st centuries, including Charles Paul Gruppé, Alson Skinner Clark, William Keith, Mary DeNeale Morgan, David Alfaro Siqueiros, and Charles L. A. Smith plus several religious and colonial paintings from the 18th century. A selection of bronzes is also on offer, after Frederick Remington, Auguste Rodin, and Dimitri Haralamb Chiparus. A highlight among the artworks is a bas-relief sculpture by Pierre Auguste Renoir, posthumously cast from the original terra-cotta piece. The sale also features an inviting array of Russian enamel silver, including a desk set, tea service, beakers, ... More  Two WW2 staff cars for sale with H&H ClassicsLONDON.- For sale by auction with H&H Classics at Duxford Imperial War Museum on Apruk 14th these two historically important WW2 staff cars both deserve a place in a military museum or a military collection. A hands on director of Lincoln Cars Ltd, Sir Malcolm Campbell MBE kept Blue Bird K4 (his World Water Speed Record achieving boat) at the companys Brentford premises on Londons Great West Road. Well known to the senior Ford hierarchy on both sides of the Atlantic, he was able to secure a brand new, overseas market example of the Mercury Eight Series 99A upon its 1939 launch (Lincoln and Mercury were both Ford subsidiaries). Intending it to serve as a Crew Bus for his Blue Bird escapades, Campbell despatched the Mercury to Windovers of The Hyde, Hendon. As well as fitting a voluminous Estate Car body, the famous ... More  Hope and despair in locked down European hospitality sectorVIENNA (AFP).- As coronavirus lockdowns are extended across Europe, protests have flared in its hard-hit hospitality sector, along with warnings that many businesses are on the verge of extinction. Four voices from around the continent detail the impact of the crisis on struggling firms. In Vienna, a recent protest dubbed "five minutes to twelve" was organised to highlight how close many such businesses are to collapse. One who took part was Christina Hummel, 44, and the third generation of her family to run the Cafe Hummel in Vienna's Josefstadt district. Many in the sector feel "fobbed off from week to week" by changes to government policy and are finding it impossible to plan, she says. As to whether she would consider opening in defiance of the law, Hummel says that's out of the question. "First and foremost I'm a mother of a six-year-old son ... More  Mellon Foundation to fund diversity programs at Library of CongressWASHINGTON (NYT NEWS SERVICE).- The Library of Congress is starting an initiative to expand its collection, encourage diversity among future librarians and archivists and make it easier for members of minority groups to explore the librarys digital archives. The program will be instituted over the next four years and is funded with a $15 million grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, part of a shift by the foundation toward issuing art and humanities grants through what it has called a social justice lens. The library also described the move, called Of the People: Widening the Path, as part of a larger plan to help the institution by building on a commitment to collect and preserve more underrepresented perspectives and experiences, according to a news release, and inviting new generations to participate in creating and sharing ... More |
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PhotoGalleries 
Mental Escapology, St. Moritz 
TIM VAN LAERE GALLERY 
Madelynn Green 
Patrick Angus
Flashback On a day like today, American painter Alice Neel was born January 28, 1900. Alice Neel (January 28, 1900 - October 13, 1984) was an American visual artist, who was known for her portraits depicting friends, family, lovers, poets, artists and strangers. Her paintings have an expressionistic use of line and color, psychological acumen, and emotional intensity. Neel was called "one of the greatest portrait artists of the 20th century" by Barry Walker, curator of modern and contemporary art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, which organized a retrospective of her work in 2010. In this image: Ballet Dancer, 1950. Hall Collection. © The Estate of Alice Neel. Courtesy David Zwirner, New York/London and Victoria Miro, London.
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