Samedi 19 avril 2014
Last update on 10/04/2014
Last update on 10/04/2014
The latest news in the History of Western Art from the Middle Ages to the 1930's
Drawing Exhibitions in Paris (3) 07/04/2014
The number of exhibitions during the Semaine du Dessin in Paris has grown so much that we were not able to see them all. Thus, on the left bank, the Galerie Ladrière, as well as the Galerie Fabienne Fiacre are showing drawings for the occasion (...)
A Canvas by Adolphe Willette Acquired by the Musée de l’Isle-Adam 05/04/2014
"I seek my fortune / All round the Chat noir / In the moonlight / At Montmartre at night." Echoing Aristide Bruant’s ballad, Willette painted Fortune, with the traits of a young woman dressed simply in black stockings, emphasizing her nudity and (...)
The Louvre Makes Two Purchases at the Salon du Dessin 04/04/2014
Definitely active at the auctions held during the Semaine du Dessin, the Département des Arts Graphiques at the Louvre also made two purchases at the Salon du Dessin. The first drawing was acquired at Jean-Luc Baroni’s. It is by Jacob Matham, a (...)
A Self-Portrait with Lute by Artemisia Gentilischi Acquired by Hartford 03/04/2014
The Atheneum Museum recently purchased, with the intervention of Christie’s New York, a Self-Portrait with Lute by Artemisia Gentileschi. While the paintings attributed to this artist often come under debate among specialists, this one, (...)
A Sargent Painting for the Smithsonian 03/04/2014
Best known for his society portraits, a manner he learned from Carolus-Duran, and in which he displayed an undisputable virtuosity, John Singer Sargent did not just paint elegant women posing in refined interiors ; he also treated more prosaic (...)
A Crucifixon by Adrien Sacquespée Pre-empted by the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Rouen 01/04/2014
This is the sort of pre-emption we like to hear about. The auction was a sale of old masters and 19th century works which took place today at Christie’s Paris and the acquirer was the Musée de Beaux-Arts of Rouen. We were indeed hoping it would (...)
A Painting Withdrawn from Auction Thanks to the French Ministry of Culture 01/04/2014
The Conseil Général de Côte-d’Or was about to sell a 19th century painting for a modest estimate between 2 to 3,000€ on 6 April in Dijon at Sadde auctioneers. The work used to hang on the wall of the courtroom at Semur-en-Auxois until it closed and (...)
The Delaware Art Museum Sells Works to Repay its Debts 31/03/2014
Even American museums which practice deaccessioning follow a golden rule : the revenue from the sale must go toward new acquisitions. This rule, already broken recently by the Maier Museum of Art at Randolph College in Lynchburg, Virginia, (...)
Drawing Exhibitions in Paris (2) 31/03/2014
Alexis Bordes’ new location on rue de la Paix reflects the growing trend initiated with the opening of the Galerie Marty de Cambiaire at Place Vendôme : this very elegant neighborhood in the first arrondissement is becoming a vital stopover when (...)
A 17th century Ceiling Drawing Pre-empted by the Louvre 28/03/2014
In the now established tradition of events held during the Semaine du Dessin, the département des Arts Graphiques at the Louvre was active this week during the auctions organized in the capital, reflecting also the current art scene by (...)
Drawing Exhibitions in Paris (1) 27/03/2014
The Salon du Dessin also results in specialized auctions as well as a large number of exhibitions in many Parisian galleries, both large and small. We have not yet seen them all but we will try to evoke them in several articles, beginning with (...)
A Painting by Pajou the Younger Acquired by the Louvre 27/03/2014
A mother is playing with her child showing it his reflection in the mirror held by a young woman while her father-in-law smiles down at the them and the husband looks affectionately at his father with yet another woman bending over the child. (...)
The Louvre Pre-empts Two Drawings by Romanelli 26/03/2014
The Musée du Louvre made a very fine purchase today at Drouot by pre-empting for 60,000€ (before charges) at Auction Art two drawings by Romanelli, representing respectively The Abudction of the Sabine Women and The Continence of Scipion, (...)
The Musée Rodin Acquires Another Drawing 26/03/2014
We all know his female nudes sketched sur le vif, freely depicting varying attitudes, charged with eroticism - some sheets recently resurfaced at the Musée Clemenceau - but here the Musée Rodin has acquired a representation of an old woman, her (...)
The Heart of Anne de Bretagne Exhibited in Blois 25/03/2014
"In this small vessel of fine gold, pure and monde / Rests the biggest heart of any lady in the world ; / Anne was her name, in France twice queen, / Duchess of the Bretons, royal and sovereign.". These lines are engraved in the heart of Anne (...)
A Hammershoi for the Boijmans van Beuningen Museum 25/03/2014
The Boijmans van Beuningen Museum in Rotterdam recently acquired at TEFAF, an oil on canvas by Vilhelm Hammershoi, a major Danish painter of the second half of the 19th century, from the Daxer & Marschall gallery. After remaining in the (...)
Two Pastels by Vigée Le Brun Pre-empted by the Louvre 23/03/2014
The Département des Arts Graphiques at the Musée du Louvre this afternoon pre-empted two pastel portraits by Elisabeth Vigée Le Brun representing respectively Louis-Philippe d’Orléans and Madame de Montesson for 52,000€ (before charges) at (...)
Acquisition, Exhibition, Patronage : All the News from the Musée de Picardie 22/03/2014
The Musée de Picardie is very active as concerns its 19th century collection. A few days ago, it inaugurated its new hang in the Grand Salon and last 15 November, the museum pre-empted at the Hôtel Drouot, Thierry de Maigret auctioneers, a (...)
Rinaldo’s Farewell to Armida by Lanfranco Acquired by Zurich 22/03/2014
Rinaldo’s Farewell to Armida at the Canesso Gallery was one of the most beautiful paintings presented at TEFAF in Maastricht and has now been acquired by the Kunsthaus in Zurich. Armida unconscious, presented in the same position as the Ariadne (...)
A Bust of Dumas the Younger by Carpeaux Acquired by the Sterling & Francine Clark Art Institute 21/03/2014
The sculpture stand occupied at TEFAF by David and Constance Yates in association with Trebosc & van Lelyveld always offers the highest quality. The Sterling & Francine Clark Institute made no mistake in choosing them to purchase a (...)
A Painting Stolen in Draguignan Recovered, but It Is not a Rembrandt ! 19/03/2014
Contrary to the information found generally in the media these past few days, the painting which was recovered by the OCBC after being stolen fifteen years ago at the Musée in Draguignan in the Var, is not a Rembrandt. Only Vincent Noce, in (...)
A Drawing by Antoine Caron Acquired by the Musée Le Vergeur in Reims 18/03/2014
A drawing by Antoine Caron illustrating the coronation of Henri III at the cathedral in Reims was sold for $25,000, at the Christie’s auction in New York on 30 January 2014 to the Musée Le Vergeur in Reims, the highest (...)
TEFAF : a Work by Matthijs Maris for The Hague 18/03/2014
Museums are continuing their purchases at TEFAF. The Gemeente Museum acquired a work by Matthijs Maris (1839-1917), a member of The Hague School along with his brothers Jacob and Willem, from the Douwes Fine Art gallery of Amsterdam. Maris was (...)
A Bust of Canova by Adamo Tadolini Acquired by the Rijksmuseum 16/03/2014
The Rijksmuseum added yet another work to its collections at the Maastricht Fair by acquiring a bust of Canova sculpted by Adamo Tadolini from the Perrin Gallery. The manner in which the transaction took place will no doubt set many French (...)
The Met Acquires another Ewer from the Kugel Gallery at TEFAF 15/03/2014
The evening of the inauguration for TEFAF (the Maastricht Fair), the Metropolitan, which had recently acquired a ewer from the Kugel gallery, again made a purchase from the same dealers, a second ewer with its (...)
Theft of a Painting by Emil Nolde 14/03/2014
The theft was discovered last 11 March : Christ at Emmaüs by Emil Nolde - a native of both Germany and Denmark - disappeared from the church of Olstrup where it hung and for which it had been produced in (...)
An Unpublished Drawing by Guercino Discovered on the Parisian Art Market 12/03/2014
The number of auctioneers opening in Paris, which continues to grow, and the corresponding drop in sales held at the Hôtel Drouot as well as their quality lead us to fear the worst for this institution which is over one hundred years old. (...)
The Musée d’Orsay Acquires a Watercolor by Schwabe 12/03/2014
French museums, unfortunately, were not very pro-active at the Félix Marcilhac auction which in fact broke all records. However, three establishments saved the day by coming away with acquisitions.
Restoration of the Saint Martial Chapel at the Palais des Papes in Avignon 11/03/2014
For the last ten years the Chapel of Saint Martial painted by Matteo Giovanetti at the Palais des Papes in Avignon has remained closed to the public due to restoration plans which took longer than expected to get underway, for obscure (...)
Free Online Access to 250 Publications at the Getty 09/03/2014
Recently, the Metropolitan Museum offered its out of print publications free of charge for downloading. Now, the Getty is doing the same with its publications, also at no cost, whether out of print or still available on paper. For the moment, (...)
A Landscape by Jacob Ruysdael Sold to the Kimbell by an Oxford College 09/03/2014
The Kimbell Museum in Fort Worth which makes few purchases but always masterpieces, recently announced the acquisition of a landscape by Jacob Ruisdael, Edge of a Forest with a Grainfield, to join a large seascape by the same artist already in (...)
A Bronze Bust by Antoine Benoist Acquired by the Louvre 06/03/2014
Antoine Benoist (1632-1717) Bust of Suzanne Phélypeaux, 1690 Bronze - 61.8 x 26.5 x 24.8 cm Paris, Musée du Louvre Photo : Galerie Kugel 6/3/14 - Acquisition - Paris, Musée du Louvre - The Musée du Louvre acquired a bust of Suzanne (...)
Le Silence by Auguste Préault for the Dallas Museum of Art 05/03/2014
"The horror of the fatal enigma, the seal closing the mouth at the moment we learn the word, all of this was captured once in a sublime work which I discovered in an enclosed part of the Père Lachaise, at the Jewish cemetery." This is the way (...)
A Gleizes Painting for the McNay Art Museum 05/03/2014
The portrait of Mrs. Barzun painted by Albert Gleizes in 1911 recently joined the collections at the McNay Art Museum in San Antonio, bequeathed by the model’s son, Jacques Barzun (1907-2012). Stylistically, it is very close to another Cubist (...)
Free Internet Access for Much of the Corpus Rubenianum 05/03/2014
Le Corpus Rubenianum Ludwig Burchard, known as the Corpus Rubenianum or even simply the Rubenianum was launched in 1963 after the acquisition of the archives and library belonging to the art historian Jacob Burchard. This monumental editorial (...)
The François-André Vincent Exhibition at the Musée Fabre 04/03/2014
"He grasps the character of the subjects ; the figures are well drawn, the draperies well laid, beautiful folds show finesse and sentiment." But Diderot’s pen then starts to drip acid, writing the following lines, stating that Vincent’s painting (...)
Pont des Arts : the Danger of the Padlocks 04/03/2014
The trend of placing padlocks on Parisian bridges, notably on the Pont des Arts, which we have repeatedly criticized for the way in which it mars one of the French capital’s most beautiful spots, listed as a Unesco world heritage site, is not (...)
Aix-la-Chapelle Buys a Last Judgement by Nicolas Pickenoy 04/03/2014
In 2008, the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Pau acquired a beautiful painting by Nicolas Pickenoy representing The Last Judgement. At the time we wrote that there were only three known history paintings by this Dutch artist born in Antwerp, a portrait (...)
Death Comes to the Table by Giovanni Martinelli Acquired by Raleigh 03/03/2014
We had already pointed out the acquisition of two paintings presented at the Sarti art gallery in a Caravaggesque exhibition last year : a Daniele Crespi purchased by LACMA and an Andrea Vaccaro by the Musée Fabre in Montpellier. A third canvas (...)
A Statuette of Ferdinand d’Orléans Acquired by the Musée de la Vie Romantique 27/02/2014
The descendants of Louis Philippe have been slowly selling off the furniture over the past few years... Last 2 December, the auctioneers Delorme & Collin du Bocage organized yet another sale at the Hôtel Drouot of "royal souvenirs from the (...)
A Louis XV Commode Donated to Versailles 25/02/2014
A royal commode recently joined the collections at the Château de Versailles, donated by the Fondation Edmond J. Safra. Intended for Louis XV’s bedroom at the Château de Choisy, it was completed in 1744 by Antoine Robert Gaudreaus, cabinet maker (...)
A Small Portrait by François Gérard Stolen at Versailles 25/02/2014
A painting by François Gérard representing the portrait of Comte Regnault de Saint-Jean d’Angély standing has disappeared from the château’s storage rooms as announced in Le Parisien and confirmed by the museum. The theft was noticed on 14 February (...)
"Orphée et Eurydice" by Nicolas de Bar Acquired by the Musée Barrois 24/02/2014
Last July, Bar-le-Duc launched a fundraiser for the acquisition of a painting by Nicolas de Bar, signed and dated 1654, representing Orpheus and Eurydice to be purchased from the F. Baulme Fine Art gallery in Paris. We refer our readers to the (...)
The Samaritaine and the Serres d’Auteuil : An Update from the Courtrooms 24/02/2014
Judges and demolishers do not share the time frame. Readers might remember the title of our article concerning the surprising (to use a euphemism) decision delivered by the "juge des référés" at the Tribunal administratif of Paris who concluded, (...)
A Landscape by Rockwell Kent for the Orlando Museum of Art 20/02/2014
He simply wanted to "paint the rhythm of eternity", seize the "infinite thing". Rockwell Kent studied painting in New York under William Merritt Chase, then Robert Henri before setting out for broader horizons, following the advice of Robert (...)
Passing of Pierre Gaubert 20/02/2014
Although he retired professionally many years ago, Pierre Gaubert, who passed away last Sunday 16 February, will be remembered by amateurs and collectors of French 19th century drawings and paintings as a dealer who rediscovered so-called (...)
A Painting by Nils Forsberg for the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm 18/02/2014
Seated calmly on the paragon of antique sculpture, the Venus de Milo (or at least a plaster replica) lying on the floor, a young man in a studio is pointing his brush towards a blank canvas resting on an easel. He seems to be looking at a skull (...)
Restoration and Rediscovery of a Bartolomeo Manfredi in Le Mans 18/02/2014
The Musée Tessé in Le Mans holds a painting representing The Crowning of Thorns after a composition by Bartolomeo Manfredi, sent by the State in 1799, that is two years before the Chaptal decree which created fifteen museums in the provinces. It (...)
A Rosso Work on View in Paris 18/02/2014
Currently in France for an exceptional visit, the Marriage of the Virgin by Rosso Fiorentino is on view at the Italian Embassy until next 28 February. A recent restoration has fully revealed once again this Mannerist masterpiece. Directed by (...)
An Early Drawing by Seurat Acquired by the Getty 17/02/2014
The auction of the Jan Krugier drawing collection at Sotheby’s London on 6 February set new records, bad news for French museums with their increasingly lower budgets. True, the provenance was undoubtedly a strong factor and there is no way of (...)
