31.12.09

WINDSOR CASTLE PRESENTS TOURS OF THE 'GREAT KITCHEN'


VISITORS TO WINDSOR CASTLE CAN TAKE A GUIDED TOUR 'BEHIND THE SCENES' TO TEH CASTLE'S GREAT KITCHEN, THE OLDEST WORKING KITCHEN IN ENGLAND. DATING BACK TO THE REIGN OF EDWARD III, THE GREAT KITCHEN HAS REMAINED IN CI=ONSTANT USE FOR OVER 650 YEARS AND HAS SERVED 32 BRITISH MONARCHS. THE TOUR INTRODUCES THE HISTORY OF ROYAL DINING, PAST AND PRESENT, AND GIVES A FASCINATING INSIGHT INTO WINDSOR CASTLE AS A WORKING ROYAL PALACE. TODAY, THE STAFF OF TEH ROYAL HOUSEHOLD USE THE GREAT KITCHEN TO PREPARE FOOD FOR BOTH GRAND CEREMONIAL OCCASIONS, SUCH AS STATE BANQUETS, AND MORE INFORMAL EVENTS IN THE ROYAL DIARY.
AFTER THE DEVESTATING FIRE OF 1992, RESTORATION WORK AT THE CASTLE UNCOVERED THE GREAT KITCHEN'S ORIGINAL MEDIEVAL STRUCTURE. AT THE SAME TIME, THE SPACE WAS REFITTED TO 21st CENTURY STANDARDS, AND NEW LIFTS WERE INSTALLED TO DELIVER FOOD FOR STATE BANQUETS TO ST GEORGE'S HALL ABOVE. PREVIOUSLY ALL FIVE COURSES FOR THE 161 GUESTS HAD TO BE WALKED UP THE STAIRS, SO AN EXTRA 20 PLATES WERE PREPARED IN CASE OF A DISASTER. THE TRADITIONAL COPPER POTS FROM THE REIGN OF GEORGE IV STAND ALONGSIDE MODERN HIGH-TECH EQUIPMENT, SUCH AS A HUGE WALK-IN FRIDGE AND GIANT FOOD MIXER, CAPABLE OF WHISKING HUNDREDS OF EGGS AT ONCE. THE GREAT KITCHEN TOUR IS AVAILABLE ON SELECTED DATES IN JANUARY, FEBRUARY, AUGUST, AND SEPTEMBER 2010.

"GRACELAND TOO" ELVIS MUSEUM ATTRACTS OFFBEAT TOURISM IN MISSISSIPPI


PAUL MACLEOD IS A PERPETUALLY OVERLY-CAFFEINATED ELVIS FANATIC WHO'S TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS 24-7-365 AT THE ANTEBELLUM HOME HE CALLS "GRACELAND TOO". POUND ON THE DOOR AT ANY TIME, SERIOUSLY, IT'S OK TO ARRIVE AT 4 IN THE MORNING, AND THE 67 YEAR OLD FORMER AUTO WORKER WILL ESCORT YOU THROUGH HIS DISCOMBOBULATING, FLOOR TO CEILING COLLECTION OF PHOTOS, RECORDS, FIGURINES, CARDBOARD CUTOUTS, CANDY WRAPPERS, CLOCKS AND OTHER RANDOM KITSCH FEATURING THE KING OF ROCK 'N' ROLL. 'ID GIVE MY LIFE RIGHT NOW IF I COULD BRING THIS GUY BACK', MACLEOD SAYS IN HIS AUCTIONEER'S STACCATO, HIS GRAY HAIR SLICKED BACK IN A 1950s STYLE. MACLEOD SAYS HE RARELY LEAVES GRACELAND TOO, SLEEPS ONLY SPORADICALLY AND IS FUELED BY 24 CANS OF COCA COLA A DAY, A CLAIM AT LEAST PARTIALLY VERIFIED BY THE ALUMINUM PULL-TABS HE COLLECTS AND THE STACKS OF FLATTENED RED CARDBOARD BOXES ON THE BACK PORCH. GRACELAND TOO IS IN HOLLY SPRINGS, A NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI TOWN OF ABOUT 8,000. IT'S A CONVENIENT STOP FOR FANS ON AN ELVIS PILGRIMAGE, SITTING ABOUT HALFWAY BETWEEN PRESLEY'S BIRTHPLACE IN TUPELO, MISS., AND THE KING'S FINAL HOME AND RESTING PLACE, THE UNAFFILIATED GRACELAND MANSION IN MEMPHIS, TENN. UNTIL GRACELAND TOO BECAME A MAGNET FOR OFFBEAT TOURISM, HOLLY SPRINGS WAS BEST KNOWN FOR ITS TRADITIONAL, AND TASTEFULLY KEPT, WHITE-COLUMNED ANTEBELLUM HOMES. 'HE'S OUR NUMBER ONE ATTRACTION;, SAYS SUZANN WILLIAMS, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE LOCAL TOURISM BUREAU. SHE SAYS THAT PEOPLE CALL DAILY WANTING INFORMATION ABOUT GRACELAND TOO, AND THAT THE JAPANESE AND THE BRITISH ARE THE LARGEST GROUPS OF OVERSEAS VISITORS. MACLEOD DOESN'T HAVE A TELEPHONE, BUT THE TOURISM OFFICE TAKE HIM NOTES TO LET HIM KNOW VISITORS ARE COMING.

FLOORS CREAK BENEATH VISITORS' FEET AS THEY WALK THROUGH THE 157 YEAR OLD HOME WARMED BY SPACE HEATERS THAT SIT PERILOUSLY CLOSE TO RAGGEDY SHAG CARPETS AND STACKS OF PAPERS AND MAGAZINES. FOR $5, VISITORS GET TO EXPERIENCE SENSORY OVERLOAD, HARSHLY LIT BY UNSHADED BULBS. DOORWAYS ARE DECORATED WITH SEVERAL ELVIS-PATTERNED CURTAINS IN THE '70s-ERA HUES OF TURQUOISE AND LIME. THERE ARE PHOTOGRAPHS OF A NEWSPAPER WITH MACLEOD'S ALL-TIME FAVORITE HEADLINE: 'ELVIS PRESLEY EXCITES GIRLS, SCARES CRITICS.' A POSTER-SIZED DISPLAY IN THE ENTRYWAY DECLARES 'THE UNIVERSES GALAXYS PLANETS WORLDS ULTIMATE ELVIS FANS.' MACLEOD SAYS HE HAS OWNED HIS HOME SINCE THE MID-1970s AND THAT HE'S HAD 368,000 VISITORS SINCE HE STARTED OPENING IT TO STRANGERS SINCE THE LATE 1980s OR EARLY 1990s. HEAVEN HELP THE FACT-CHECKER WHO'S HAVE TO VERIFY THE STATISTICS HE TOSSES OUT DURING THE TOURS, WHICH TYPICALLY LASTS AN HOUR AN A HALF. FANS SAY THE RANDOM, NONSTOP FLOW OF INFORMATION IS PART OF THE CAMPY APPEAL. MACLEOD SAYS THAT HE BECAME AN ELVIS FAN WHEN HE WAS 13, AND THAT HE ATTENDED OVER 120 CONCERTS. IN GRACELAND TOO, MACLEOD CLAIMS TO HAVE 35,000 RECORDS AND 25,000 CDS. HE SAYS HE HAS 185,000 SQUARE INCHES OF CARPET THAT ONCE WAS IN GRACELAND. THEN THERE'S THE SCRAPBOOK FILLED WITH TEENSY SLIVERS OF PAPER, 1 MILLION MENTIONS, HE SAYS, OF THE NAME ELVIS PRESLEY. THE CEILING OF THE TV ROOM IS COVERED WITH BASEBALL CARD-SIZE ELVIS PICTURES AND VISITOR COMMENTS PRINTED ON FLUORESCENT PINK, BLUE AND YELLOW PAPER. WROTE ONE MAN FROM PENSACOLA, FLA; 'THIS ELVIS SHRINE IS AS CLOSE TO HEAVEN AS AN ELVIS FAN CAN GET. THIS IS THE ULTIMATE.'

30.12.09

BANKSY IN GRAFFITI WAR AFTER PAINTING OVER 24 YEAR OLD MURAL





GRAFFITI STREET ARTIST BANKSY HAS BECOME EMBROILED IN A TIT-FOR-TAT ROW WITH ANOTHER STREET ARTIST AFTER DELIBERATELY SPRAYING OVER A 24 YEAR OLD ARTWORK. THE ELUSIVE AEROSOL PAINTER HAS CAUSED AN OUTRAGE BY COVERING UP A PIECE OF GRAFFITI THAT HAD REMAINED UNTOUCHED SINCE IT WAS PAINTED IN 1985. ITS CREATOR, 'ROBBO', A HUGELY RESPECTED GRAFFITI ARTIST, IMMEDIATELY RETALIATED BY SPRAYING HIS NAME OVER BANKSY'S PAINTING OF A WORKMAN ON A WALL IN NORTH LONDON. COVERING OVER SOMEONE ELSE'S GRAFFITI IS SEEN AS THE ULTIMATE MARK OF DISRESPECT WITHIN THE STREET ART COMMUNITY. THE DISPUTE BEGAN LAST WEEK WHEN BANKSY PRODUCED SEVERAL PAINTINGS ALONG THE REGENTS'S CANAL AREA IN THE RUN-UP TO CHRISTMAS. ONE FEATURED A CHARACTER IN WORKMAN'S OVERALLS PASTING GRAFFITI COVERED WALLPAPER ON A GRAY WALL, WHICH COVERED ROBO'S 1985 MURAL. ROBBO, WHOSE REAL NAME IS UNKNOWN, PROMPTLY RECLAIMED HIS SPACE AND COVERED OVER THE EXPOSED PART OF THE WALL WITH A NEW PAINTING DECLARING 'KING ROBBO' IN 3 FOOT HIGH SILVER LETTERS. THE ROW HAS SPARKED A WAR OF WORDS ON PHOTOGRAPHY WEBSITE FLIKR, WHERE ROBBO AND HIS ASSOCIATES AND ARTISTS FROM AROUND BRITAIN HAVE VOICED THEIR DISGUST AT BANKSY'S ACT OF DISRESPECT. ONE GRAFFITI WRITER, CALLING HIMSELF CITRUS TOPNOTE JR, SAID: 'IN THE WORLD OF GRAFFITI YOU DON'T USE OTHER PEOPLE'S WORK AS PART OF YOUR OWN UNLESS YOU'RE FRIENDS WITH THEM AND YOU AGREE BEFOREHAND. REGARDLESS OF THE ROBBO, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN LEFT ALONE. SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN AROUND AS LONG AS BANKSY SHOULD KNOW THE DRILL BY NOW. THAT SORT OF S*** IS ASKING FOR TROUBLE.' IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME THE INFAMOUS ARTIST HAS FALLEN FOUL OF FELLOW GRAFFITI ARTISTS. LAST MONTH A SECTION OF WALL IN A CROYDON INDUSTRIAL ESTATE FEATURING A BANKSY WORK WAS REMOVED AFTER VANDALS COVERED IT WITH TAGS.AND IN MARCH THIS YEAR, A MURAL BANKSY HAD DEDICATED TO A LATE GRAFFITI ARTIST CALLED OZONE WAS PAINTED OVER. THE ENIGMATIC ARTIST, WHOSE IDENTITY IS STILL UNCONFIRMED, IS NOW THOUGHT TO BE A MILLIONAIRE THANKS TO HIS POPULARITY AMONGST THE ART COMMUNITY AND CELEBRITIES ALIKE. IN 2005, CHRISTINA AGUILERA BOUGHT AN ORIGINAL DEPICTION OF QUEEN VICTORIA AS A LESBIAN AND TWO PRINTS FOR £25,000. THE FOLLOWING YEAR ANGELINA JOLIE PURCHASED THREE OF HIS WORKS TOTALING £250,000.

QUEEN ELIZABETH II CHEERS UP DOG OWNER WITH SYMPATHY LETTER


STAN LEE, 95, RECEIVED A REPLY WITH A WEEK AFTER HIS LETTER EXPLAINING HOW TEDDY, HIS 13 YEAR OLD JAPANESE CHIN, HAD FALLEN FROM A BED AT LEE'S HOME IN TIVERTON, DEVON. IN THE LETTER, PENNED BY LADY IN WAITING JENNIFER GORDON-LENNOX, THE QUEEN SAID SHE WAS 'SO SORRY' TO HEAR ABOUT THE DEATH. 'HER MAJESTY WAS SO SORRY TO LEARN OF THE DEATH OF YOUR LITTLE DOG, TEDDY, AND CAN UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH YOU WILL MISS HIS FAITHFUL COMPANIONSHIP', SAID GORDON-LENNOX. 'THE QUEEN WAS VERY SORRY TOO, TO HEAR OF THE OTHER DIFFICULTIES YOU HAVE HAD TO FACE, BUT GLAD TO KNOW YOU HAVE RECEIVED SO MUCH SUPPORT FROM YOUR FRIENDS. HER MAJESTY WAS TOUCHED BY YOUR LETTER, AND I AM TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR WRITING TO THE QUEEN AT THIS TIME.' LEE REGULARLY WRITES TO THE QUEEN ASKING ABOUT THE HEALTH OF HER CORGIS AND FAMILY MEMBERS AND LAST YEAR HE SENT THE PALACE A PHOTOGRAPH OF HIMSELF AND TEDDY. 'I WRITE TO THE QUEEN EVERY YEAR AND SHE UNDERSTANDS DOGS AND WHAT IT MEANS TO LOSE THEM', HE SAID.

HENNESSY PARADIS HORUS COGNAC



HENNESSY HAVE TEAMED UP WITH ITALIAN DESIGNER FERRUCCIO LAVIANI TO CREATE A UNIQUE AND STUNNING BOTTLE FOR THEIR PARADIS COGNAC. THE PARADIS COGNAC IS A MELANGE OF OVER A HUNDRED VARIOUS RARE EAUX-DE-VIES, AGED BETWEEN 25-130 YEARS, FROM COGNAC'S FINEST GROWING REGIONS AND THEN AGED TOGETHER IN OAK CASKS. THE RICH COGNAC IS PRESENTED IN AN 18 CARAT GOLD PLATED DECANTER WHICH IS SHAPED LIKE A FLAME, INSPIRED BY THE EGYPTIAN GOD OF THE MOON AND SUN, HORUS. THE BOTTLE HAS AN OVER-SIZED STOPPER WHICH LOOKS LIKE LIQUID OVERFLOWING FROM THE BOTTLE AND INCORPORATES A NEW METALLIC FINISHING TECHNIQUE. THE HENNESSY PARADIS HORUS COGNAC IS AVAILABLE IN EXTREMELY LIMITED QUANTITIES.

29.12.09

FAUCHON CREATES THE BRIGITTE BARDOT ECLAIR



AFTER LAUNCHING THE FAMOUS ECLAIR MONA LISA, FAUCHON RECENTLY INTRODUCED ITS NEWEST GOURMANDISE CREATION FROM ITS TRIBUTE COLLECTION FEATURING FRENCH ACTRESS BRIDGITTE BARDOT. THE PATISSERIE IS DELICATELY FLAVORED WITH ROSE AND ALMOND AND DECORATED WITH A PHOTO OF BARDOT FROM 1959 BY SAM LEVIN. IN 2008 FAUCHON CREATED A NEW CHOCOLATE PRINTING TECHNIQUE THAT ENABLE TO DISPLAY IMAGES. THE “BB” ECLAIR IS AVAILABLE IN PARIS AT THE FAUCHON STORE LOCATED AT 26 PLACE DE LA MADELAEINE UNTIL 31.JANUARY AND COSTS 6€.

MARITIME ENTHUSIAST TURNS GARDEN SHED INTO A MUSEUM




A MARITIME ENTHUSIAST HAS TURNED HIS GARDEN SHED INTO ONE OF BRITAIN'S SMALLEST MUSEUMS. DEDICATED ROBERT CARTER FROM PLYMOUTH HAS TRANSFORMED HIS SMALL SHED INTO AN AMAZING WONDERLAND OF MARITIME HISTORY. THE MUSEUM, WHICH MEASURES 12ft BY 6ft, FEATURES HUNDREDS OF HISTORICAL PIECES ON DISPLAY, PERFECTLY CURATED TO GIVE A STUNNING EFFECT. CARTER DOESN'T CHARGE FOR ENTRY TO THE MUSEUM, BUT ENCOURAGES ANYONE WITH AN INTEREST VISIT AND HAVE A LOOK AROUND. HE SAID: 'IT MUST BE THE SMALLEST MUSEUM. IF THERE WAS A SMALLER ONE I WOULD KNOW IT FOR SURE. I GET A FEW HUNDRED OR SO PEOPLE VISIT EVERY YEAR JUST THROUGH WORD OF MOUTH. IT IS GREAT TO SEE PEOPLE'S REACTIONS WHEN THEY COME IN. IT IS LIKE THEY CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT THEY'RE SEEING. MOST PEOPLE WHO VISIT ARE GENUINE ENTHUSIASTS SO THEY REALLY APPRECIATE THE PIECES I HAVE AND HOW RARE THEY ARE. MY AMBITION WOULD BE TO GET A DECOMMISSIONED LIGHT SHIP PUT IT IN THE GARDEN SO I COULD TURN IT INTO A FULL SIZE MUSEUM.' ON SHOW ARE HISTORIC UNIFORMS FROM NAVAL CAPTAINS, LIEUTENANTS, DOCTORS AND A MID-SHIPMAN'S UNIFORM WORN BY A 12 YEAR OLD BOY. HE ALSO BOASTS A POWDER KEG AND A SAILORS HAT USED DURING THE BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR AND COAL SHOVELS FROM HMS BULLDOG. OTHER ITEMS INCLUDE, A SHIP'S COMPASS, DIVER'S TORCH, CUTLASSES, PIECES OF EIGHT, A RUM BARREL, A SILVER ADMIRAL'S WHISTLE DATED 1820. CARTER SAID HE HAD CONSIDERED SELLING THE COLLECTION TO AN AMERICAN FRIEND NINE YEARS AGO BUT COULDN'T GO THROUGH WITH IT. HE SAID: 'A FRIEND OF MINE DID WANT TO BUY IT AND I WAS CONSIDERING IT. YOU COULD BUY A HOUSE WITH MONEY IT IS WORTH. BUT IN THE END I COULDN'T GO THROUGH WITH IT. I'VE BEEN BUILDING THE COLLECTION FOR 42 YEARS. MY GRANDFATHER HAD COLLECTED QUITE A FEW PIECES AND I JUST CARRIED IT ON. YOU CAN'T PULL A VALUE ON THESE THINGS, TO ME THEY ARE PRICELESS.'

28.12.09

POCKET WATCH GIVEN TO EDWARD VIIII BY WALLIS SIMPSON TO BE AUCTIONED


A POCKET WATCH GIVEN TO EDWARD VIII BY WALLIS SIMPSON IS EXPECTED TO FETCH £60,000 AT AN UPCOMING AUCTION. THE ONYX CARTIER POCKET WATCH IS INSCRIBED "EASTER 12/4/36" AND IS ONE OF FOUR ITEMS BEING AUCTIONED OFF IN THE SALE. OTHER ITEMS BELONGING TO THE DUCHESS OF WINDSOR INCLUDE A SILVER-GILT SEAL BOX, WHICH HAS A GUIDE PRICE OF £50,000, AN 18 CARAT PENCIL HOLDER WHICH ESTIMATED TO SELL FOR £12,000 AND A 14 CARAT POCKET MAGNIFYING GLASS ESTIMATED AT £8,000. KING EDWARD VIII ABDICATED THE THRONE ON 11.DECEMBER.1936 SO THAT HE COULD MARRY THE TWICE DIVORCED AMERICAN. THE ITEMS BELONGING TO A BUSINESSMAN FROM CORSHAM, NEAR CHIPPENHAM, WILTS, ARE TO BE AUCTIONED BY GARDINER HOULGATE AUCTIONEERS ON 25.MARCH.2010. DAVE HARE, DIRECTOR AND AUCTIONEER AT GARDINER HOULGATE, SAID: 'MY PERSONAL FAVORITE IS THE SILVER GILT BOX BECAUSE I THINK IT LOOKS BEAUTIFUL."

ASPREY HOLIDAY CRACKERS 2009


ASPREY HAVE A LONG TRADITION OF MAKING HOLIDAY CRACKERS EVERY YEAR WHICH ARE TRADITIONALLY PULLED APART BY TWO PEOPLE RESULTING IN A POP AND A SURPRISE INSIDE. THE CRACKERS CONTAIN A CUSTOMARY PAPER CROWN, A FORTUNE MESSAGE AND A SMALL GIFT. ASPREY CHANGES THE GIFTS EACH YEAR AND THIS YEAR'S CRACKERS CONTAIN; A THIRST AID COLLAPSIBLE CUP, A STERLING SILVER AND MOTHER OF PEARL FRAME, A TEA LIGHT HOLDER, A HANDBAG MIRROR, AN OCTOPUS PLACE CARD HOLDER, A LILY CHAIN BRACELET, A LILY PENDANT, SNAKE CUFF LINKS, RESOLUTION DIE, LADIES AND GENTS PEN, A CARD CASE, A TORCH KEYRING, A WHISTLE AND A CRACKER SHELL. THIS YEARS HOLIDAY CRACKER IS IN ASPREY'S SIGNATURE PURPLE AND SILVER WITH A CROCODILE SKIN DESIGN, THE STUNNING LUXURIOUS CRACKERS ARE AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY FROM ASPREY BOUTIQUES.

GUERNSEY'S AUCTION HOUSE TO SELL TAVERN ON THE GREEN ASSETS


NEW YORK'S HISTORIC FAMED RESTAURANT AND CELEBRATION SPOT TAVERN ON THE GREEN HAS ASKED A BANKRUPTCY COURT TO APPROVE THE SALE OF ITS TABLEWARE AND ART, INCLUDING TIFFANY STAINED GLASS, MURALS AND ETCHED MIRRORS, AT A MID-JANUARY AUCTION. THE AUCTION, RUN BY GUERNSEY'S AND SCHEDULED FOR 13-14.JANUARY, WILL OFFER SOME 900 LOTS OF ITEMS INCLUDING BACCARAT CHANDELIERS, OUTDOOR TOPIARIES AND COPPER WEATHER VANES TO RESTAURATEURS, DECORATORS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. 'THE PLACE SETTINGS THAT WERE PART OF SO MANY WONDERFUL DINNERS WILL BE SOLD', SAID GUERNSEY'S IN AN AUCTION NOTICE ON ITS WEBSITE. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ASSETS SUCH AS THE COMPANY'S WELL-KNOWN NAME, RECIPES AND RESERVATION DATA, ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE SALE. 'BECAUSE OF THE UNCERTAINTY CREATED BY CLOSING ITS DOORS AS A RESTAURANT ON OR ABOUT 31.DECEMBER, AND BECAUSE THE DEBTORS NEED TO VACATE ITS CENTRAL PARK PREMISES BY 14.FEBRUARY, THE INSTANT SALE NOTION WILL ESSENTIALLY PRESERVE THE VALUE OF THE DEBTORS' ASSETS BY CONVERTING THEM IMMEDIATELY TO CASH', SAID THE COMPANY IN A COURT DOCUMENT. TAVERN ON THE GREEN, LOCATED IN NEW YORK'S CENTRAL PARK, HAS LONG BEEN KNOWN AS A PLACE TO CELEBRATE SPECIAL OCCASIONS. IT IS PLANNING A NEW YEAR'S EVE 2009 FAREWELL PARTY. THE RESTAURANT FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY PROTECTION IN SEPTEMBER AFTER THE CITY GRANTED A NEW LEASE FOR THE PROPERTY TO ANOTHER RESTAURANT. DEAN POLL, WHO OPERATES THE BOATHOUSE RESTAURANT IN CENTRAL PARK, WON THE LICENSE FOR THE LOCATION AND HAS PROPOSED A $25 MILLION RENOVATION BEFORE THE OPENING AGAIN. IT'S NOT CLEAR WHETHER THE NEW VENUE WILL BE ALLOWED TO USE THE TAVERN ON THE GREEN NAME.
MORE INFORMATION ON THE AUCTION CAN BE FOUND AT guernseys.com

CENTER FOR FINE ARTS, BRUSSELS, TO PRESENT EL GRECO EXHIBITION


REGARDED TODAY AS ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE SPANISH SCHOOL OF PAINTING, EL GRECO HAS NOT, HOWEVER, ALWAYS ENJOYED THE LOFTY STATUS. AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH IN TOLEDO IN 1614, EUROPE WAS WILDLY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE THEN FASHIONABLE NATURALISM OF THE CARAVAGGESQUE STYLE, POLES APART FROM HIS OWN BRILLIANT MANNERISM. EL GRECO'S WORK SOON WENT OUT OF FASHION AND REMAINED RELATIVELY NEGLECTED DOWN THE CENTURIES, UNTIL 1908, WHEN THE ART HISTORIAN MANUEL BARTOLEME COSSIO DEVOTED A KEY MONOGRAPH ON HIM. THE EL GRECO CRAZE TOOK OFF IMMEDIATELY. IN 1910 A DISCERNING ART COLLECTOR, THE MARQUES DE LA VEGA-INCLAN, EVEN ESTABLISHED A MUSEUM IN HIS HONOR IN TOLEDO. THE PAINTER'S FAME, ACCORDINGLY, FLOURISHED ANEW, AS RAPIDLY AS IT HAD BEEN EXTINGUISHED. I ADDITION TO OUTLINING THE KEY ROLE PLAYED BY THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS SPECTACULAR REDISCOVERY, THE EXHIBITION PRESENTS A FASCINATING OVERVIEW OF THE PAINTER'S ARTISTIC DEVELOPMENT VIA A UNIQUE SELECTION OF OUTSTANDING WORKS, INCLUDING THE STUNNING 'THE DISROBING OF CHRIST' AND THE STRIKING 'ST PETER IN TEARS', THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE EXHIBITION IS EL GRECO'S FINAL SERIES OF 'APOSTLES', HIS ARTISTIC TESTAMENT: A COMPLETE, ASTONISHINGLY MODERN SERIES, REMARKABLE FOR ITS TOTALLY FREE FORMS AND ITS EXTRAORDINARILY BRIGHT COLOURS. AFTER THE EXHIBITION TO THE CENTER OF FINE ARTS, BRUSSELS, THE AMAZING SERIES WILL RETURN TO THE MUSEO DE EL GRECO IN TOLEDO.

27.12.09

DIOCESAN MUSEUM DISPLAYS 15th CENTURY CRUCIFIX


THE CRUCIFIX ATTRIBUTED TO ITALIAN SCULPTOR MICHELANGELO FOUR YEARS AGO, MEASURES 16.52 INCHES AND WAS BOUGHT BY THE ITALIAN STATE FOR AN ESTIMATED $4,347,997. THE CRUCIFIX WAS DISPLAYED AT THE ITALIAN LOWER CHAMBER BEFORE IT BEING DISPLAYED AT THE DIOCESAN MUSEUM. THE CRUCIFIX IS A POLYCHROME WOOD SCULPTURE THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN FINISHED IN 1492. THE WORK IS ESPECIALLY NOTABLE FOR THE FACT THAT THE CHRIST FIGURE IS PORTRAYED NUDE. A NUDE CHRIST ON THE CROSS IS NONETHELESS KEEPING TRUE TO SCRIPTURE. HIS CLOTHING BEING REMOVED BY ROMAN SOLDIERS WAS THE FULFILLMENT OF PSALM 22:18, 'THEY PART MY GARMENTS AMONG THEM, AND CAST LOTS UPON MY VESTURE.' ALL OF THE GOSPEL WRITERS SUGGEST THE NAKEDNESS WHILE JOHN SUPPLIES THE DETAILS: 'THEN THE SOLDIERS, WHEN THEY HAD CRUCIFIED JESUS, TOOK HIS GARMENTS, AND MADE FOURPARTS, TO EVERY SOLDIER A PART; AND ALSO HIS COAT: NOW THE COAT WAS WITHOUT SEAM, WOVEN FROM THE TOP THROUGHOUT. THEY SAID THEREFORE AMONG THEMSELVES, LET US NOT REND IT, BUT CST LOTS FOR IT, WHOSE SHALL IT BE: THAT THE SCRIPTURE MIGHT BE FULFILLED, WHICH SAITH, 'THEY PARTED MY RAIMENT AMONG THEM, AND FOR MY VESTURE THEY DID CAST LOTS.' THESE THINGS THEREFORE THE SOLDIERS DID.' UNIQUE TO THE CRUCIFIX IS THE SIGN ATTACHED TO THE CROSS. IT INCLUDES JESUS' ACCUSATION INSCRIBED IN HEBREW, GREEK AND LATIN. THE WORDING IS 'JESUS OF NAZARETH KING OF THE JEWS'. ALL OF THE EVANGELISTS RECORD THIS INSCRIPTION WHICH VARIES SLIGHTLY AMONG THEM. HERE THE ARTIST FAVORED THE RENDERING FROM JOHN'S GOSPEL. ALSO PRESENT IS THE SPEAR WOUND INFLICTED INTO JESUS' SIDE BY A ROMAN SOLDIER. THE FULFILLMENT OF ANOTHER SCRIPTURE WHICH SAITH, 'THEY SHALL LOOK ON HIM WHOM THEY PIERCED'. HIS BLOOD IS SEEN DRIPPING FROM THE WOUND. A WOUND INFLICTED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS SOON AFTER JESUS DECLARED 'IT IS FINISHED', BOWED HIS HEAD AND GAVE UP THE GHOST. IF THE CRUCIFIX IS TRULY BY HIGH RENAISSANCE MASTER, MICHELANGELO, HIS PORTRAYAL OF THE NUDE JESUS, ALONG WITH THE ACCURACY OF OTHER DETAILS IS CONSISTENT WITH THE BIBLICAL RECORD.

ARTISANS CREATE A STUNNING HOMAGE TO THE HISTORIC PALACE OF VERSAILLES IN MINIATURE


WITH EXACTING AND PRECISE ATTENTION TO DETAILS, THE EXQUISITELY CRAFTED MINIATURE DOLLHOUSE OF A FRENCH 18th CENTURY HOTEL PARTICULAR IS A HOMAGE TO THE HISTORIC PALACE OF VERSAILLES AND WOULD PLEASE EVEN MARIE ANTOINETTE. THE STUNNING CREATION WAS CREATED BY HUSBAND AND WIFE TEAM KEVIN MULVANY AND SUSIE RODGERS, WHO SPECIALIZE IN ARCHITECTURAL MINIATURES, IT WAS COMMISSIONED FOR ABOUT £70,000 BY AN AMERICAN WOMAN WITH A PASSION FOR FRENCH CULTURE AND STYLE. MULVANY AND RODGERS, OF HOLT, WILTSHIRE, SPENT SIX MONTHS CRAFTING THE FIVE-ROOM MANSION.


THEY RECREATED THE REALISTIC LOOKING MARBLE, STONE AND BRICK-WORK BY USING CLASSIC TROMPE-L'OEIL PAINT TECHNIQUES, GILDING AND FRENCH POLISHING. ONE UNIQUE CONCEPT ABOUT THE HOUSE IS THAT THE ROOMS CAN BE TAKEN OUT AND REARRANGED. COLUMNS AND CHIMNEY-PIECES ARE ADDED SEPARATELY AND ARE CARVED IN LIMESTONE, PLASTER AND RESINS. THE VERSAILLES-STYLE PARQUET FLOORING CONTAINS OVER 5,000 INDIVIDUAL PIECES OF WOOD. RODGERS SAYS: 'OUR PIECES AREN'T LIFELESS MODELS. WE AIM TO RECREATE A REAL SENSE OF ATMOSPHERE; TO GIVE THE FEELING THAT SOMEONE HAS ONLY JUST LEFT THE ROOM. WE RESEARCH THE BUILDING FROM BOOKS AND OLD PLANS, MAKE SITE VISITS TO PHOTOGRAPH AND SKETCH, THEN BUILD THE STRUCTURAL MODEL. THE TOP FLOOR IS LARGELY INCOMPLETE. 'IT'S AS IF A FAMILY HAS JUST MOVED IN AND THE FURNITURE IS STILL IN THE WRONG PLACE', SAYS RODGERS. ON THE LEFT IS A STUDY WITH A CHAIR AND MIRROR. THE MIDDLE ROOM IS THE BOUDOIR AND INCLUDES A MID-18th CENTURY COMMODE MADE FROM SATIN WOOD AND IS BASED ON A ROCOCO ORIGINAL COST £700 ALONE. A METAL CAT IS DRAPED OVER THE HAND-INLAID LIME-WOOD PARQUET FLOORING, THE DIMINUTIVE CHAIRS ARE COVERED WITH SILK AND THE PORCELAIN TEACUPS WERE MADE AND HAND-PAINTED BU RODGERS. THE THIRD ROOM IS THE MAIN BEDROOM, WITH A FOUR-POSTER BED MADE OF INTRICATELY CARVED LIME-WOOD PAINTED CREAM AND COVERED WITH SHIMMERING BLUE SILK HANGINGS.THE BALUSTRADE IS MADE OF GILDED METAL, WITH A WOODEN STAIRCASE PAINTED TO RESEMBLE STONE AND A PLASTER FLOOR PAINTED TO LOOK LIKE MARBLE. THE MIDDLE ROOM IS A GRAND 18th CENTURY SALON, COMPLETE WITH A HARP MADE OF WOOD, CARVED WITH ROSES ON TOP AND STRINGS MADE OF SILK THREADS. AN ELABORATE METAL TABLE WITH A TROMPE-L'OEIL MARBLE TOP IS AGAINST THE SIDE WALL AND TWO PORCELAIN VASES, COPIES OF SERVES ORIGINALS ARE ON TOP. AND A STUNNING PORTRAIT OF A LADY OVERSEES THE ROOM. THE FIREPLACE IS A COPY OF ONE IN VERSAILLES, WITH CHERUBS CARVED ON ITS SIDE PANELS. THE CLOCK IS A WORKING WATCH AND SEVERAL SEVRES-STYLE FIGURINES SIT ABOVE THE FIREPLACE. THE CHAIRS AND LOVE SEAT ARE GILDED WOOD COVERED WITH FROM 18th CENTURY ANTIQUE TAPESTRY AND THE NEOCLASSICAL TABLE IS MADE OF WOOD WITH A CENTRAL PEDESTAL THAT LOOKS LIKE A QUIVER OF ARROWS. THE DINING ROOM ON THE IS BASED ON VERSAILLES'S HALL OF MIRRORS. ALL THE POLISHED MIRRORS ARE OF POLISHED STEEL.

AMGUEDDFA CYMRU - NATIONAL MUSEUM WALES ACQUIRES NEW ART WORK BY ALAN DAVIE


JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON, AMGUEDDFA CYMRU - NATIONAL MUSEUM WALES RECENTLY ANNOUNCED ITS ACQUISITION OF 'CRAZY GONDOLIER (1960), A BRIGHT, JUBILANT PAINTING BY SCOTTISH ARTIST ALAN DAVIE. THE WORK WAS ACQUIRED WITH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE DEREK WILLIAMS TRUST (£30,000) AND THE ART FUND, THE UK's LEADING INDEPENDENT ART CHARITY (£20,000). 'CRAZY GONDOLIER IS ON DISPLAY AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM CARDIFF'S POPULAR 'THE SIGHT OF SOUND' EXHIBITION. THE EXHIBITION FEATURES WORKS OF ART INFLUENCED BY MUSIC AND MUSIC INSPIRED BY ART. MUSIC IS A THEME WHICH IS OFTEN REFLECTED IN DAVIE'S WORK. HE WAS A JAZZ MUSICIAN AND HIS SPONTANEOUS, ENERGETIC ABSTRACT PAINTINGS SUCH AS 'CRAZY GONDOLIER' ARE OFTEN COMPARED TO FREE FORM MUSIC. DAVIE WAS BORN IN SCOTLAND IN 1919 AND TRAINED AT EDINBURGH COLLEGE OF ART. AWARDED A TRAVEL SCHOLARSHIP IN 1941, HE TOOK INSPIRATION FROM THE WORKS OF PICASSO, HENRY MOORE AND MARC CHAGALL DURING HIS TIME IN EUROPE AND WENT ON TO DEVELOP HIS OWN SIGNATURE STYLE. AMGUEDDFA CYMRU - NATIONAL MUSEUM WALES HAS A NUMBER OF WORKS ON PAPER BY DAVIE, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST PAINTING BY THE ARTIST TO ENTER ITS COLLECTIONS, AND IS FROM A PARTICULARLY VIBRANT PERIOD OF THE ARTIST'S CAREER. THE CHRISTMAS SEASON IS THE LAST CHANCE TO ENJOY THE SIGHT OF SOUND EXHIBITION WHICH WILL CLOSE IN THE NEW YEAR. THE MUSEUM WILL THEN DISPLAY MORE CONTEMPORARY ART THROUGH 'ARTES MUNDI 4' WHICH WILL OPEN IN MARCH 2010.

25.12.09

ROYAL FAMILY ATTENDS CHRISTMAS SERVICE AT SANDRINGHAM


AROUND 500 ONLOOKERS WATCHED MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY ATTEND A CHRISTMAS DAY CHURCH SERVICE ON ONE OF THE QUEEN'S ESTATES. SECURITY WAS TIGHT AS THE QUEEN AND DUKE OF EDINBURGH ARRIVED FOR THE SERVICE AT ST MARY MAGDALENE CHURCH ON THE SANDRINGHAM ESTATE NEAR KING LYNN, NORFOLK. THE ROYALS GATHERED EARLIER THIS WEEK TO SPEND CHRISTMAS AT SANDRINGHAM. THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL; PRINCES WILLIAM AND HARRY; THE PRINCESS ROYAL AND HER HUSBAND, VICE ADMIRAL TIMOTHY LAURENCE; THE DUKE OF YORK AND HIS DAUGHTERS PRINCESSES BEATRICE AND EUGENIE; THE EARL AND COUNTESS OF WESSEX;PETER PHILIPS AND HIS WIFE AUTUMN; AND ZARA PHILIPS WERE AMONG FAMILY MEMBERS WHO JOINED THE QUEEN AT THE SERVICE, LED BY SANDRINGHAM RECTOR JONATHAN RIVIERE. MOST OF THE ROYAL PARTY, INCLUDING THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH, WALKED THE QUARTER MILE FROM SANDRINGHAM HOUSE TO THE CHURCH ALONG AN ICY PATH. ZARA PHILIPS WALKED IN SIX-INCH STILETTO HEELS AS SHE MADE HER WAY TO CHURCH. THE COUNTESS OF WESSEX ALSO STOOD OUT IN A PAIR OF BLACK FOUR-INCH STILETTOS WITH RED SOLE, ALTHOUGH SHE OPTED TO TRAVEL BY CAR WITH THE QUEEN. POLICE SEARCHED VISITORS AS THEY ARRIVED AND MORE THAN A DOZEN OFFICERS ALSO KEPT A CLOSE EYE ON THE CROWDS LINING THE PATH ALONG WHICH THE ROYALS WALKED.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM ARIA


THE LOVE OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS, A RENEWAL OF FAITH AND HOPE, HAPPINESS THAT LASTS THROUGH THE NEW YEAR. . . MAY THESE BE YOUR AT CHRISTMAS. ARIA WISHES YOU A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A NEW YEAR FILLED WITH PEACE, PROSPERITY AND JOY.

24.12.09

}{ "WHITE CHRISTMAS" }{

QUEEN ELIZABETH II PRAISES BRAVERY OF BRITISH TROOPS DURING HER CHRISTMAS 2009 BROADCAST


QUEEN ELIZABETH II USED HER ANNUAL CHRISTMAS BROADCAST TO PRAISE THE BRAVERY AND COMMITMENT OF THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE BRITISH ARMED FORCES SERVING IN AFGHANISTAN. IN A YEAR IN WHICH THE DEATH TOLL HAS RISEN BY 106, THE QUEEN'S HEARTFELT COMMENTS WILL HAVE PARTICULAR RESONANCE. IN THE BROADCAST, WHICH WAS RECORDED IN THE WHITE DRAWING ROOM AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE, THE QUEEN DEVOTED A LARGE SECTION OF THE SPEECH TO THE SACRIFICE OF THE 10,000 SERVICE PERSONAL ON ACTIVE DUTY. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS IS 243 SINCE OPERATIONS BEGAN ON 2001. THE QUEEN, WHO IS HEAD OF THE ARMED FORCES, HAS PRIVATELY URGED MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY TO SHOW PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THE MILITARY SERVING IN AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ. BUT HER COMMENTS WILL ALSO BE DIRECTED AT THOSE SERVING AT HOME. IN THE SUMMER THE QUEEN UNDERLINED HER OWN BACKING WITH THE CREATION OF THE ELIZABETH CROSS WHICH WILL BE GIVEN TO THE NEXT OF KIN OF ARMED FORCES PERSONAL KILLED ON OPERATIONS OR AS A RESULT OF TERRORISM. IT IS THE FIRST TIME THE NAME OF A REIGNING MONARCH HAS BEEN GIVEN TO A NEW AWARD SINCE KING GEORGE VI, THE QUEEN'S FATHER, INSTITUTED THE GEORGE CROSS IN 1940. THE QUEEN, DRESS IN A TURQUOISE SILK WOOL DRESS AND WEARING A BROOCH FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE LATE QUEEN ELIZABETH, THE QUEEN MOTHER, ALSO URGED THE SEASONAL MESSAGE TO URGE THE COMMONWEALTH, ESPECIALLY ITS YOUNG PEOPLE, TO KEEP ON TALKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANT THINGS THAT MATTER TO THE INSTITUTION'S 54 MEMBER STATES. SHE WILL SAY: 'IT IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP DISCUSSING ISSUES THAT CONCERN US ALL, THERE CAN BE NO MORE VALUABLE ROLE FOR OUR FAMILY OF NATIONS.' THE ADDRESS IS ONE OF THE RARE OCCASIONS WHEN THE QUEEN DOES NOT TURN TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR ADVISE AND VOICES HER OWN PERSONAL VIEWS. THE MESSAGE WILL BE TRANSMITTED ON BOTH TELEVISION AND RADIO AT 3pm ON CHRISTMAS DAY. THE BROADCAST, PRODUCED BY ITN, WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE ROYAL CHANNEL AND ON YOUTUBE.CON FROM THE SAME TIME.

CADBURY CREATES SPECIAL CHOCOLATE BARS FOR QUEEN ELIZABETH II


DETAILS OF THE RECIPE HAVE BEEN KEPT A SECRET, BUT IT IS BELIEVED TO BE A DARK CHOCOLATE BAR WITH A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF COCOA SOLIDS. CADBURY MAKES THREE TO FOUR BATCHES A YEAR AND JUST BEFORE CHRISTMAS SENDS A SERIES OF BARS TO BUCKINGHAM PALACE, WINDSOR PALACE AND SANDRINGHAM, ACCORDING TO A RECENT ARTICLE IN THE DAILY MAIL. THE CHOCOLATE IS WRAPPED IN GOLD FOIL WITH A RED WRAPPER BEARING THE ROYAL CREST AND 'BY APPOINTMENT TO HM THE QUEEN'. BENEATH THE CREST, THE WORDS 'CADBURY'S SUPERIOR CULINARY PLAIN CHOCOLATE' ARE WRITTEN. TONY BILSBOROUGH, A SPOKESMAN FOR CADBURY, TOLD THE NEWSPAPER: 'WE DO MAKE THE QUEEN A BAR OF DARK CHOCOLATE. IT'S NOT FOR SALE TO THE PUBLIC. WE MAKE THIS FOR HER UNDER THE TERMS OF THE ROYAL MARK. WE'VE BEEN PROVIDING CHOCOLATE TO THE ROYAL FAMILY SINCE VICTORIAN TIMES BUT I CANNOT DISCUSS THE RECIPE.' KNOWN AS 'ROYAL HOUSEHOLD CHOCOLATE' BY STAFF AT CADBURY, IT IS BELIEVED TO BE SUITABLE FOR COOKING AS WELL AS EATING ON ITS OWN.

23.12.09

DIJON'S MEDIEVAL MOURNERS TO BE EXHIBITED IN THE US


THE WHITE ALABASTER FIGURES DRAPED IN CLOAKS SHOW THEIR GRIEF IN DIFFERENT WAYS: FROM A BENT HEAD, THE FACE SHROUDED BY A HOOD, TO A HAND SWATHED IN CLOTH REACHING UP TO WIPE A TEAR. THE NEARLY 40 'MOURNERS' COMMISSIONED IN THE 15th CENTURY TO ADORN THE TOMB OF JOHN THE FEARLESS, THE SECOND DUKE OF BURGUNDY, WILL BE SEEN TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME OUTSIDE FRANCE WHEN THEY BEGIN A TOUR OF SEVEN US CITIES THIS SPRING. THE 16 INCH TALL SCULPTURES, COMPLETED IN 1457 FOR THE TOMB OF THE ASSASSINATED DUKE, ARE TRAVELING WHILE THE DIJON MUSEUM WHERE THEY RESIDE IS RENOVATED. FOLLOWING THEIR US TOUR, THE SCULPTURES THAT DEPICT CLERGY, FAMILY AND OTHERS WILL BE DISPLAYED AT PARIS' MEDIEVAL CLUNY MUSEUM BEFORE RETURNING HOME. RICK BRETTELL, THE MUSEUM EXCHANGE'S US DIRECTOR, SAID THE BURGUNDY COURT WAS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL IN EUROPE IN THE 14th AND 15th CENTURIES. HE SAID PEOPLE TRAVEL TO DIJON SPECIFICALLY TO SEE THE SCULPTURES. 'THE MOURNING FIGURES ARE UNIVERSALLY ADMIRED', HE SAID. FOR THE FIRST FOUR VENUES OF THE US TOUR, A JOHN THE FEARLESS MOURNER THAT THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART OWNS WILL JOIN THE OTHER 39. THERE WERE ONCE 41 MOURNERS FOR THE AMAZING TOMB, BUT ONE WAS LOST DURING THE FRENCH REVOLUTION. THE DIJON MUSEUM, WHICH IS THE FORMER DUCAL PALACE, WON'T BE WITHOUT MOURNERS DURING THE TOUR. THOSE ADORNING THE TOMB OF JOHN'S FATHER, PHILIP THE BOLD, WILL BE ON DISPLAY OUTSIDE THE TOMB DURING THE RENOVATION. THE TOMBS OF THE DUKES WERE COMMISSIONED FOR THE FAMILY'S MONASTIC COMPLEX OUTSIDE DIJON, BUT WERE MOVED AFTER THE FRENCH REVOLUTION AND PLACED IN THE MUSEUM, WHILE THE DUKES' ACTUAL REMAINS ARE IN DIJON'S SAINT BENIGNE CATHEDRAL. THE MOURNERS FOR BOTH DUKES ARE THE WORK OF THE DUCAL SCULPTURE WORKSHOP, WHICH SHOWED INNOVATION WITH THE THREE-DIMENSIONAL, NATURAL FIGURES. IN DIJON, THE MOURNERS FOR JOHN THE FEARLESS ARE LINED UP IN ARCADES BENEATH EFFIGIES OF THE DUKE AND HIS WIFE RESTING ON A BLACK MARBLE SLAB, SO THE TOUR WILL BE A CHANCE TO SEE THEM 'IN THE ROUND'. THE MOURNERS' FIRST TOUR STOP WILL BE IN NEW YORK CITY AT THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART.

PRINCE WILLIAM SPENDS A NIGHT SLEEPING ROUGH TO UNDERSTAND HOMELESSNESS


PRINCE WILLIAM RECENTLY SPENT A NIGHT SLEEPING ROUGH TO EXPERIENCE AND UNDERSTAND THE PLIGHT OF THE HOMELESS DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON. HE STAYED OUT IN TEMPERATURES AS LOW AS MINUS 4c, LYING IN A CENTRAL LONDON ALLEYWAY SURROUNDED BY TRASH AND WHEELIE BINS. THE PRINCE, PATRON OF THE CHARITY CENTREPOINT, SAID HE WAS TRYING TO 'DO HIS BIT' TO HELP THE VULNERABLE. HE WAS SLIGHTLY BETTER OFF THAN THE AVERAGE TRANSIENT ROUGH SLEEPER, AS HE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY HIS ARMED PERSONAL PROTECTION OFFICER, HIS PRIVATE SECRETARY, A FORMER SAS OFFICER, AND THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE HOMELESS CHARITY. EVEN THE VENUE, A SECLUDED SPOT CLOSE TO BLACKFRIARS BRIDGE IN THE CITY, WAS CAREFULLY CHOSEN FOR SAFETY CONCERNS. BUT THE PRINCE SAID AFTERWARDS THAT THE EXPERIENCE HAD HELPED TO DEEPEN HIS UNDERSTANDING OF LIFE ON THE STREETS. IN A STATEMENT, WILLIAM SAID: 'I CANNOT, AFTER ONE NIGHT, EVEN BEGIN TO IMAGINE WHAT IT MUST BE LIKE TO SLEEP ROUGH ON LONDON'S STREETS NIGHT AFTER NIGHT.' HIS BRIEF BRUSH WITH HOMELESSNESS CAME ON TUESDAY LAST WHEN, SHORTLY BEFORE MIDNIGHT, HE WALKED WITH HIS SLEEPING BAG TO THE SPOT. DRESSED IN JEANS, TRAINERS, A HOODED SWEATSHIRT AND BEANIE HAT, HE WENT UNRECOGNIZED AS HE LAID A PIECE OF CARDBOARD DOWN ON THE GROUND AND CLIMBED INTO HIS SLEEPING BAG. IT WASN'T AN ALTOGETHER NEW EXPERIENCE FOR FORMER ARMY OFFICER WILLIAM. WHO HAS OFTEN LIVED ROUGH ON EXERCISES. BUT IT CERTAINLY WASN'T A PLEASANT ONE, AS TEMPERATURES PLUNGED, MAKING SLEEP ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. AFTER SLEEPING FITFULLY, THE PRINCE ROLLED UP HIS SLEEPING BAG AT 6am AND WALKED THROUGH THE STREETS FRO 45 MINUTES, STOPPING TO TALK TO SEVERAL HOMELESS PEOPLE ON THE WAY. HE WENT TO CENTREPOINT'S HOSTEL IN GREEK STREET, SOHO, WHERE HE SHOWERED BEFORE COOKING BREAKFAST FOR SOME OF THE RESIDENTS AND CUTTING CAKE TO CELEBRATE THE CHARITY'S 40th ANNIVERSARY. LATER THAT DAY HE JOINED THE QUEEN FOR HER TRADITIONAL FAMILY CHRISTMAS LUNCH AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE.

THE CRUMBLING STATE OF BUCKINGHAM PALACE


BUCKINGHAM PALACE AND WINDSOR PALACE, TWO OF THE MOST POPULAR STATE-OWNED TOURIST ATTRACTIONS, REQUIRE AT LEAST £20 MILLION TO BE SPENT ON NEW ROOFS AND UPDATED HEATING SYSTEMS. THE STATE ROOMS HAVE NOT BEEN REDECORATED SINCE THE CORONATION IN 1953. THE REWIRING WAS OVERHAULED AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE IN 1948, PROMPTING CONCERN OVER SAFETY. LEAKS IN THE ROOF OF THE PALACE'S PICTURE GALLERY HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A THREAT TO WORKS BY MASTERS SUCH AS REMBRANDT. THE CRUMBLING FACADES ON ALL SIDES OF THE QUADRANGLE AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE ARE IN NEED OF MAINTENANCE. THE WORK, WHICH IS CLASSED AS URGENT BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL DANGER TO THOSE WALKING UNDERNEATH, WILL COST AN ESTIMATED £3 MILLION OVER FIVE YEARS. THE GOVERNMENT HAS CONSISTENTLY REFUSED TO HELP MEET THE COST OF REFURBISHMENT DESPITE REPORTS THAT A LUMP OF MASONRY NARROWLY MISSED THE PRINCESS ROYAL LAST YEAR AS SHE WAS GETTING INTO HER CAR. A SIMILAR INCIDENT TOOK PLACE FOUR MONTHS EARLIER ON THE DAY THAT ALMOST 1,000 PUPILS AND TEACHERS WERE DUE TO VISIT THE PALACE FOR A SCIENCE FAIR. LAST WEEK IT WAS REPORTED ANOTHER PIECE OF MASONRY FELL NARROWLY MISSING A PATROLLING POLICE OFFICER. THE ROYAL MAUSOLEUM AT FROGMORE, NEAR WINDSOR CASTLE, WHICH HOUSES THE TOMB OF QUEEN VICTORIA, HAS BEEN DESIGNATED BY ENGLISH HERITAGE AS 'AT RISK' AFTER PART OF THE CEILING FELL IN. A LARGE STRETCH OF ROOF AT WINDSOR CASTLE ALSO NEEDS REPLACING

22.12.09

AHLEN ART MUSEUM PRESENTS 'INTIMACY! BATHING IN ART'


THE AHLEN ART MUSEUM, BERLIN, WILL BE PRESENTING A SPECIAL EXHIBITION ENTITLED 'INTIMACY! BATHING IN ART'. IN THE UNIQUE EXHIBIT THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENTS, CONTEXTUAL SIGNIFICANCE, AND ESPECIALLY THE ARTISTIC REFLECTIONS OF THE TOPIC OF BATHING. IN THE EXHIBIT, 140 WORKS BY 90 ARTISTS WILL BE PRESENTED, INCLUDING PIERRE BONNARD, LOUISE BOURGEOIS, WILLIAM N COPLEY, EDGAR DEGAS, DAVID HOCKNEY AMONG OTHERS. THE ARTWORKS SPAN FROM THE LATE MIDDLE AGES TO CONTEMPORARY ART AND COME FROM VARIOUS COUNTRIES SUCH AS GERMANY, GREAT BRITAIN, FINLAND, AND THE US. THE EXHIBITION WILL INCLUDE OIL PAINTINGS, DRAWINGS, PRINTS, SCULPTURES, PHOTOGRAPHY, VIDEOS AND INSTALLATIONS.
FAMOUS STORIES FROM THE BIBLE AND ANCIENT MYTHOLOGY ARE ENTWINED WITH THE MOTIF OF BATHING, SUCH AS SUSANNA IN THE BATH THE BIBLICAL BATHSHEBA, OR THE ROMAN GODDESS OF THE HUNT, DIANA. MOMENTS OF FORBIDDEN VIEWING AND OF SECRETIVE DISCOVERY PLAY A CENTRAL ROLE. SINCE DURER, PROFANE BATHING SCENES OFFERED THE ARTIST THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTEMPLATE AND DEPICT THE OTHERWISE CONCEALED FEMALE BODY. IN MODERN ART, ARTISTS CHALLENGE THE PRESENT CONCEPTIONS OF BEAUTY AND MORALITY. THE INTIMACY OF THE ABSENTMINDED PREOCCUPATION WITH THE BATHING BODY LEADS ONE TO TURN INWARD AND ALLOWS ONE TO REFLECT ABOUT ONE'S OWN TRANSIENCE AND MORTALITY. NUDITY'S ABSENCE OF PROTECTION HAS ALSO FOUND ITS WAY INTO ARTWORK, WHICH VISUALIZE THE CROSSING OF BORDERS AND BREAKING TABOOS.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.kunstmuseum-ahlen.de

GUERLAIN'S $9,000 LIMITED EDITION MON PRECIOUS NECTAR FOUNTAIN IMPERIALE


GUERLAIN HAS RECENTLY CREATED ONE OF THE MOST EXTRAVAGANT PERFUME BOTTLES AVAILABLE IN ITS NEW LIMITED EDITION MON PRECIOUS NECTAR FOUNTAIN IMPERIALE. PRICED AT $9,000, THE FOUNTAIN CONTAINS ONE FULL LITER OF 'PRECIEUX NECTAR', A NEW PERFUME THAT IS A SUBTLE FRUITY, MUSKY AND FLORAL SCENT WHICH LINGERS LIKE A WHISPERING DREAM. THE BOTTLE IS MADE OF HEAVY CRYSTAL AND IS SHAPED LIKE A COLUMN AND A HONEYBEE WITH THE EMBLEM OF GUERLAIN ENGRAVED IN THE MIDDLE OF ITS STOPPER. THE NEW SCENT BY GUERLAIN IS AVAILABLE AT FINER BOUTIQUES WORLDWIDE.

MINIATURE MOSCOW BRINGS BACK THE SOVIET CITY


TO CELEBRATE THE 60th ANNIVERSARY OF THE BOLSHEVIK REVOLUTION, A 400 SQUARE FOOT MODEL WAS DESIGNED TO REMIND US HOW MAGNIFICENT MOSCOW WAS, IN CASE YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN. THE RARE AND UNIQUE ARTISTIC MASTERPIECE OF UNPARALLELED CRAFTSMANSHIP WAS CREATED BY 300 WORKERS WITH PAINSTAKING ATTENTION BEING PAID TO THE DETAIL AND BEAUTY OF THE FINISHED WORK. PRICED AT $3 MILLION, THE MINIATURE MOSCOW HAS AN ELABORATE LIGHTING SYSTEM THAT MAKES THE MODEL LOOK VERY REALISTIC.

21.12.09

$750 DECADENCE D'OR CUPCAKE


IF YOU HAVE A STRONGER SWEET TOOTH THAN ANYBODY AROUND, THEN THIS AMAZING $750 CUPCAKE IS THE THING FOR YOU. THE STUNNING CREATION IS AVAILABLE IN LAS VEGAS AND IT'S CALLED THE 'DECADENCE D'OR'. A PASTRY TREAT ONLY AVAILABLE AT THE JUST OPENED SWEET SURRENDERS, A CUPCAKE AND CANDY SHOP LOCATED IN THE PALAZZO RESORT ON THE LAS VEGAS STRIP. THE CUPCAKE IS MADE FROM 100 YEAR OLD LOUIS XIII DE REMY MARTIN COGNAC, PALMIRA SINGLE ESTATE CHOCOLATE, EDIBLE GOLD FLAKES AND TAHITA GOLD VANILLA CAVIAR, BELIEVED TO BE TEH MOST LABOR INTENSIVE AGRICULTURAL CROP IN THE WORLD. BAKED AND ASSEMBLED BY THE EXECUTIVE PASTRY CHEF OF THE PALAZZO, CHEF LONG NGUYEN. OF COURSE, THERE ARE TRADITIONAL CUPCAKES, RED VELVET, LEMON STRAWBERRY, CHOCOLATE GANACHE, CARROT, BLACK FOREST, STRAWBERRY, COCONUT AND CHOCOLATE FUDGE CUPCAKES. LOCATED ON THE CASINO FLOOR NEXT TO THE GUEST ELEVATORS, SWEET SURRENDER IS OPEN SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY 10am-10pm AND CLOSES AT MIDNIGHT ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.

MORRIS MUSEUM OF ART EMBARKS ON HISTORIC RE-INSTALLATION OF ITS COLLECTIONS


THE MORRIS MUSEUM OF ART, AUGUSTA, GA, HAS BEGUN CLOSING GALLERIES IN PREPARATION FOR PHASE I OF THE RE-INSTALLATION OF THE MUSEUM'S PERMANENT COLLECTION. THIS IS A THREE-PHASE PLAN, WHICH HIGHLIGHTS WORKS OF ART THAT HAVE NOT BEEN EXHIBITED FOR SOME TIME OR HAVE NEVER BEEN EXHIBITED AT ALL. THE GALLERIES WILL BE OPENED ON, 5.MARCH.2010, FOR THE MORRIS MUSEUM'S SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL GALA. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE MUSEUM OPENED ITS DOORS IN SEPTEMBER 1992, THAT A COMPLETE RE-INSTALLATION OF ITS PERMANENT COLLECTION HAS BEEN UNDERTAKEN. PHASE I BEGAN 14.DECEMBER, WHEN THE MUSEUM CLOSED GALLERIES DEVOTED TO 19th AND 20th CENTURY LANDSCAPE PAINTINGS AND CONTEMPORARY PAINTINGS. PHASE II BEGINS ON 24.JANUARY.2010, WITH THE CLOSING OF GALLERIES DEVOTED TO ANTEBELLUM PORTRAITURE, IMAGES OF THE CIVIL WAR, GENRE PAINTING, 19th AND 20th CENTURY STILL LIFE PAINTINGS, IMPRESSIONISM IN THE SOUTH, REGIONALISM AND ABSTRACTION IN THE SOUTH. PHASE III INVOLVES THE CLOSING OF THE MUSEUM'S TEMPORARY EXHIBITION GALLERIES ON 1.FEBRUARY.2010, WHEN THE SPECIAL EXHIBITION 'RESPONSE AND MEMORY: THE ART OF BEVERLY BUCHANAN' COMES TO AN END. THROUGH THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, THE MUSEUM'S COGGIN'S GALLERY, WHICH CURRENTLY FEATURES 'DEEP SEA: DRAWINGS BY WILLIAM GOLDING', AND ITS FIRST FLOOR EDUCATION GALLERY WILL BE OPEN, AND THERE WILL BE A FULL AND ACTIVE ROSTER OF PUBLIC PROGRAMS TAKING PLACE. IN ADDITION TO THE REOPENING OF THE PERMANENT COLLECTION GALLERIES ON THE NIGHT OF THE ANNUAL GALA, THE MUSEUM WILL ALSO OPEN A SPECIAL EXHIBITION THAT NIGHT ENTITLED, DIALECT: AMERICAN SCENE PAINTINGS FROM THE JOHN AND SUSAN HORSEMAN COLLECTION', WHICH FEATURES A SELECTION OF FIFTY-SEVEN IMPORTANT WORKS OF ART BY 43 OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL ARTISTS WHO WORKED OUTSIDE THE MAJOR ART CENTERS BETWEEN THE WORLD WARS.

PRINCE CHARLES CONSIDERS SOLAR PANELS FOR 180 YEAR OLD CLARENCE HOUSE


THE PRINCE OF WALES IS ACTIVELY CONSIDERING INSTALLING SOLAR PANELS ON THE ROOF OF HIS GRADE II-LISTED LONDON RESIDENCE, CLARENCE HOUSE. EXPERT GUIDANCE HAS BEEN SOUGHT ON HOW THE PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS CAN BE PUT ON THE 180 YEAR OLD MANSION WITHOUT DAMAGING ITS HISTORIC APPEARANCE. THERE WAS SPECULATION THAT THE PRINCE AND HIS AIDES MAY CHOOSE TO PLACE THE PANELS ON THE INWARD-FACING ROOFS AROUND THE CENTRAL COURTYARD OF THE BUILDING. PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS TYPICALLY GIVE AN ANNUAL RETURN ON THE INVESTMENT OF ABOUT 8%, WHICH WOULD MEAN PRINCE CHARLES WOULD START MAKING A PROFIT BY 2021. THERE WAS SPECULATION THAT THE COST OF SOLAR ENERGY FOR SUCH A BUILDING COULD COST AS MUCH AS £150,000. JERRY STOKES, THE BRITISH PRESIDENT OF SUNTECH EUROPE, WHICH SUPPLIES SOLAR PANELS, SAID HE HAD VISITED CLARENCE HOUSE TO DISCUSS THE PROJECT WITH THE PRINCE. 'THE PRINCE IS VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS TECHNOLOGY. I HAVE BEEN ON THE ROOF OF CLARENCE HOUSE', HE SAID. 'THE KEY THING IS NOT TO RUSH GOING SUPER-GREEN AND BE DISRESPECTFUL OF THE VISUAL IMPACT.' A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE PRINCE SAID: 'WE ARE ACTIVELY CONSIDERING INSTALLING SOLAR PANELS AT CLARENCE HOUSE, BUT THERE ARE TECHNICAL AND PLANNING ISSUES TO CONSIDER FIRST. IT'S STILL AT THE FAIRLY EARLY STAGES, BUT WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT ALL THE OPTIONS.'

20.12.09

BRITTANY MURPHY 'DIES FROM A HEART ATTACK' AGE 32


AMERICAN ACTRESS BRITTANY MURPHY HAS REPORTEDLY DIED FROM A MASSIVE HEART ATTACK AT THE AGE OF 32. THE ACTRESS, WHO APPEARED IN SUCH FILMS AS 'CLUELESS'. '8 MILE', 'JUST MARRIED', WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT A HOSPITAL IN LOS ANGELES, AFTER GOING INTO CARDIAC ARREST AT HER HOME IN LOS ANGELES, ACCORDING TO CELEBRITY WEBSITE TMZ.COM. A 911 EMERGENCY CALL WAS MADE AT 8am LOCAL TIME AT A HOME LISTED AS BELONGING TO HER HUSBAND, SIMON MONJACK, THE LOS ANGELES CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT TOLD THE WEBSITE. A SPOKESPERSON FOR CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER SAID MURPHY DIED AT 10:04am ON SUNDAY. SHE WOULD NOT PROVIDE A CAUSE OF DEATH, NOR ANY OTHER INFORMATION. MURPHY'S LAST BIG ROLE CAME IN 2005 WITH 'SIN CITY' ALTHOUGH SHE HAD APPEARED IN A NUMBER OF TV SHOWS SINCE, PROVIDING VOICES FOR CARTONS SUCH AS 'KING OF THE HILL' AND 'FUTURAMA'. IN 2006, SHE RELEASED THE SINGLE 'FASTER KILL PUSSYCAT' WHICH BECAME A DANCE CLUB HIT. SHE MARRIED MONJACK, A BRITISH WRITER AND DIRECTOR, AT THEIR HOME IN LOS ANGELES, IN 2007 IN A SMALL JEWISH CEREMONY. HE CO-WROTE AND CO-PRODUCED 'FACTORY GIRL', WHICH STARRED SIENNA MILLER. MURPHY BECAME A HOUSEHOLD NAME FOLLOWING HER ROLE IN 'CLUELESS', WHERE SHE PLAYED THE ROLE TIA, THE GIRL ALICIA SILVERSTONE'S CHARACTER TAKES UNDER HER WING. ASHTON KUTCHER, WHO CO-STARRED WITH HER IN 'JUST MARRIED', WROTE ON HIS TWITTER FEED: '2DAY THE WORLD LOST A LITTLE PIECE OF SUNSHINE. MY DEEPEST CONDOLENCES GO OUT 2 BRITTANY'S FAMILY, HER HUSBAND, & HER AMAZING MOTHER SHARON. SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE.' A SPOKESPERSON FOR MURPHY TOLD TMZ.COM: 'IN THIS TIME OF SADNESS, THE FAMILY THANKS YOU FOR YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT. IT IS THEIR WISH THAT YOU RESPECT THEIR PRIVACY.'

$33.2 MILLION REMBRANDT PAINTING REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN BOUGHT BY STEVE WYNN


A REMBRANDT PAINTING THAT SOLD FOR A RECORD $33.2 MILLION LAST WEEK AT CHRISTIE'S IN LONDON WAS BOUGHT BY AMERICAN CASINO MOGUL STEVE WYNN, THE NEW YORK TIMES REPORTED FRIDAY, CITING SOURCES FAMILIAR WITH THE TRANSACTION. CHRISTIE'S IS NOT DISCLOSING THE IDENTITY OF THE WINNING TELEPHONE BIDDER FOR THE 1658 'PORTRAIT OF A MAN, HALF-LENGTH, WITH HIS ARMS AKIMBO', A SPOKESPERSON SAID. THE PRICE SET AN AUCTION RECORD FOR A WORK BY REMBRANDT, CHRISTIE'S SAID. WYNN, CHIEF EXECUTIVE AT WYNN RESORTS LTD, COLLECTS FINE ART, AND ONCE ACCIDENTALLY POKED A HOLE IN PICASSO'S 'DREAM', A MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR PIECE HE OWNED. THE LAS VEGAS CASINO MAGNATE DEVELOPED THE MIRAGE AND BELLAGIO RESORTS IN LAS VEGAS IN THE 1990s. BEFORE THE PRE-AUCTION EXHIBITION AT CHRISTIE'S, THE REMBRANDT HAD NOT BEEN SEEN IN PUBLIC FOR NEARLY 40 YEARS.

19.12.09

NATIONAL GALLERY OF SCOTLAND TO DISPLAY RECOVERED DA VINCI PAINTING 'THE MADONNA OF THE YARNWINDER'


THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF SCOTLAND ANNOUNCED THAT THE PAINTING, 'THE MADONNA OF THE YARNWINDER' BY LEONARDO DA VINCI WILL GO ON DISPLAY IN THE GALLERY. IN 2003 IT WAS STOLEN FROM DRUMLANRIG CASTLE, THE DRUMFRIESSHIRE HOME OF THE DUKE OF BUCCLEUCH AND QUEENSBERRY. THE PAINTING WAS RECOVERED IN 2007. 'THE MADONNA OF THE YARNWINDER' IS THE ONLY PAINTING BY DA VINCI IN SCOTLAND AND IS ON LOAN TO THE GALLERY FROM THE DUKE AND THE TRUSTEES OF THE BUCCHLEUCH HERITAGE TRUST. IN THIS PIONEERING AND INFLUENTIAL COMPOSITION, AN UNUSUALLY LARGE CHRIST CHILD IS SHOWN PERCHED ON A ROCKY OUTCROP BESIDE HIS MOTHER. HE GAZES INTENTLY AT THE CROSS-SHAPED FORM OF A WOODEN YARNWINDER, PRECOCIOUSLY AWARE OF HIS FUTURE CRUCIFIXION. THE VIRGIN'S TENDER, SORROWFUL EXPRESSION AND HESITANT GESTURE REINFORCE THE POIGNANCY OF THE ACTION. THERE HAS BEEN MUCH DEBATE REGARDING THE EXTENT OF DA VINCI'S DIRECT INVOLVEMENT IN THE PAINTING, BUT IT SEEMS LIKELY THAT THE OVERALL DESIGN, AND THE EXECUTION OF THE FIGURES AND THE FOREGROUND ROCKS, ARE ENTIRELY HIS. THE BACKGROUND LANDSCAPE, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS NOT CHARACTERISTIC OF DA VINCI, AND WAS PROBABLY ADDED OR COMPLETED BY ANOTHER ARTIST, POSSIBLY QUITE A BIT LATER. TECHNICAL EXAMINATION HAS REVEALED LANDSCAPE FEATURES AND FIGURES IN THE BACKGROUND THAT ARE NO LONGER VISIBLE ON THE SURFACE. THAT SOME OF THESE REAPPEAR IN EARLY COPIES AND VARIANTS OF THE COMPOSITION SUPPORTS THE IDEA THAT THE BACKGROUND MAY HAVE BEEN LEFT UNFINISHED BY DA VINCI AND COMPLETED ONLY LATER. THE PAINTING WAS THE FOCUS OF AN EXHIBITION, 'LEONARDO DA VINCI: THE MYSTERY OF THE MADONNA OF THE YARNWINDER', ORGANIZED AT THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF SCOTLAND IN 1992.

LOUIS VUITTON 'CASINO TRUNK'


FOR THE OPENING OF ITS NEWEST FLAGSHIP BOUTIQUE IN MACAU, WHICH IS ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE WORLD, LOUIS VUITTON HAS UNVEILED AN EXCLUSIVE NEW COLLECTION HEADLINED BY A BESPOKE CASINO TRUNK. AVAILABLE BY SPECIAL ORDER ONLY, THE STUNNING CASINO TRUNK CONTAINS SPECIAL DRAWERS AND COMPARTMENTS HOUSING A ROULETTE WHEEL, GREEN BAIZE GAME CLOTHS, PLAYING CARDS, POKER CHIPS, GAMBLING DICE AND A BANKER'S BRIEFCASE. 'THE OPENING OF THIS STORE AND THE INVESTMENT IT REPRESENTS REFLECTS LOUIS VUITON'S CONFIDENCE IN THIS MARKET AND THE APPRECIATION BY THE LOCAL CUSTOMER OF THE QUALITY AND CRAFTSMANSHIP OF LOUIS VUITTON'S PRODUCT RANGE', DECLARED VUITTON CEO YVES CARCELLE.

AUSCHWITZ 'ARBEIT MACHT FREI' SIGN STOLEN


THE INFAMOUS IRON SIGN BEARING THE NAZIS' CYNICAL SLOGAN 'ARBEIT MACHT FREI' THAT SPANNED THE MAIN ENTRANCE TO THE FORMER AUSCHWITZ DEATH CAMP, IN SOUTHERN POLAND WHERE MORE THAN 1 MILLION PEOPLE DIED, WAS STOLEN BEFORE DAWN FRIDAY, POLISH POLICE SAID. THE HEAVY 16 FOOT LONG, 90 POUND SIGN WAS UNSCREWED ON ONE SIDE AND TORN OFF ON THE OTHER SIDE, POLICE SPOKESPERSON KATARZYNA PADLO SAID. THE THEFT OF THE SIGN BEARING THE GERMAN WORDS FOR 'WORK SETS YOU FREE' BROUGHT IMMEDIATE CONDEMNATION FROM JEWISH LEADERS IN POLAND AND INTERNATIONALLY. THE SIGN DISAPPEARED FROM THE AUSCHWITZ MEMORIAL BETWEEN 3:30am AND 5am, PADLO SAID. THE THIEVES APPEAR TO HAVE KNOWN THE AREA WELL, SHE ADDED. POLICE HAVE LAUNCHED AN INTENSIVE HUNT, WITH SOME TWO DOZEN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATORS AND A SEARCH DOG SENT TO THE GROUNDS OF THE VAST COMPLEX, WHOSE BARRACKS, WATCHTOWERS AND RUINS OF GAS CHAMBERS STILL STAND AS TESTAMENT TO THE ATROCITIES INFLICTED BY NAZI GERMANY DURING WORLD WAR II. AN EXACT REPLICA OF THE SIGN, MADE BY THE MUSEUM AFTER WORLD WAR II, WAS IMMEDIATELY HUNG IN PLACE OF THE MISSING ORIGINAL TO FILL THE EMPTY SPACE, BUT ALL VISITORS WERE BEING INFORMED ABOUT THE THEFT, A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE MUSEUM SAID IN A STATEMENT. THE MUSEUM HAD THE REPLICA MADE TO HANG WHEN RESTORATION WORK HAS BEEN REQUIRED ON THE ORIGINAL. THE SLOGAN 'ARBEIT MACHT FREI' WAS ALSO USED AT THE ENTRANCES TO OTHER CAMPS, INCLUDING DACHAU AND SACHSENHAUSEN. THE LONG CURVING SIGN AT AUSCHWITZ, IS, HOWEVER, IS THE BEST KNOWN. BETWEEN 1940 AND 1945, MORE THAN 1 MILLION PEOPLE WERE KILLED OR DIED OF STARVATION AND DISEASE WHILE CARRYING OUT FORCES LABOR AT THE CAMP, WHICH THE NAZIS BUILT IN OCCUPIED POLAND. TODAY THE SITE IS ONE OF THE MAIN DRAWS IN THE REGION FOR VISITORS FROM ABROAD AND POLISH STUDENTS, WITH MORE THAN 1 MILLION VISITORS PER YEAR.

THE ART FUND SAVES TO HISTORIC OBJECTS FROM SEATON DELAVAL HALL


LEADING INDEPENDENT ART CHARITY THE ART FUND RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THAT IT HAD HELPED SAVE TWO IMPORTANT OBJECTS HOUSED AT SEATON DELAVAL HALL, THE VANBRUGH MANSION WHICH HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF MAJOR FUND RAISING CAMPAIGN BY THE NATIONAL TRUST. THE ART FUND HAS PLEDGED £100,000, ENABLING THE HALL TO ACQUIRE THE 'FAIRFAX JEWEL' WHICH CONSISTS OF THREE ENAMELED ROUNDELS SET IN AN ENGRAVED, RECTANGULAR GILT-METAL PLAQUE, AND THE 'MARBLE BUST OF CHARLES II' BY BUSHNELL. NEWS OF THE CHARITY GRANT CAME ON THE SAME DAY THAT THE NATIONAL TRUST ANNOUNCED THAT SEATON DELAVAL HALL, CLOSE TO BLYTH IN SOUTH EAST NORTHUMBERLAND, HAD BEEN SAVED FOR THE NATION. BOTH PIECES REFLECT THE ROYAL CONNECTIONS OF THE DELAVAL AND ASTLEY FAMILIES, WHO HAVE OWNED THE ESTATE SINCE THE TIME OF THE NORMAN CONQUEST. THE ROUNDELS ON THE 'FAIRFAX JEWEL' WERE MADE BY PIERRE BORDIER, A WELL KNOWN MINIATURIST AT THE TIME. ANDREW MACDONALD OF THE ART FUND SAID: 'THE PIECE 'FAIRFAX JEWEL' OFFERS A FASCINATING GLIMPSE AT THE POLITICAL WORLD OF THE 17th CENTURY, WHILST THE CHARLES II BUST IS AN IMPORTANT REMINDER OF THE ASTLEY FAMILY'S LOYALTY TO THE CROWN. WE ARE PLEASED TO HAVE PLAYED A PART IN SAVING THESE TWO ITEMS FOR THE NATION, TO GO ON DISPLAY FOR ALL TO ENJOY NOW THE HALL HAS BEEN SAVED FOR POSTERITY.' THE TWO ITEMS WILL GO ON DISPLAY IN SPRING 2010, WHEN SEATON DELAVAL HALL OPENS TO THE PUBLIC.

18.12.09

QUEEN ELIZABETH II JOINS COMMUTERS ON STANDARD TRAIN TO NORFOLK




RAIL PASSENGERS RECEIVED A SURPRISE RECENTLY WHEN QUEEN ELIZABETH II BOARDED AN ORDINARY TRAIN SERVICE ALONGSIDE COMMUTERS AS SHE TRAVELED TO NORFOLK FOR HER CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY BREAK. THE QUEEN SHUNNED TAKING THE ROYAL TRAIN AND INSTEAD OPTED FOR A FIRST CLASS SEAT ON THE 10.45am FIRST CAPITAL CONNECT SERVICE FROM LONDON'S KING'S CROSS TO KING'S LYNN ON THURSDAY. SHE WAS MAKING THE JOURNEY TO REACH HER PRIVATE SANDRINGHAM ESTATE, WHERE SHE IS DUE TO SPEND THE FESTIVE HOLIDAYS WITH THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY. THE QUEEN ARRIVED WITH LITTLE FUSS 10 MINUTES BEFORE THE SCHEDULED TRAIN DEPARTED AND WALKED DOWN THE PLATFORM TO REACH HER CARRIAGE. BEFORE BOARDING THE TRAIN SHE WAS PRESENTED WITH A POSY TO WELCOME HER TO THE SERVICE. SHE THEN TOOK A WINDOW SEAT IN A FIRST CLASS COMPARTMENT, ACCOMPANIED BY A ROYAL PROTECTION OFFICER, BEFORE THE TRAIN PULLED OUT OF THE STATION ON TIME. THE ROYAL TRAIN IS AVAILABLE TO THE QUEEN BUT SHE HAS USED SCHEDULED SERVICES OVER THE YEARS. LAST MONTH SHE BOARDED AN EVERYDAY TRAIN TO TRAVEL TO ELY CATHEDRAL IN CAMBRIDGESHIRE AND IN 2007 TOOK ANOTHER REGULAR SERVICE TO MILTON KEYNES FOR AN ENGAGEMENT. FOR HER JOURNEY ON THURSDAY, THE QUEEN WAS DRESSES CONSERVATIVELY IN A COLOURED HEADSCARF AND A LARGE WINTER COAT. SHE SAT IN THE LAST CARRIAGE FACING THE ENGINE FOR THE 95 MINUTE JOURNEY WHICH COSTS £44.40 FOR A FIRST CLASS TICKET AND £27.70 FOR A STANDARD SEAT. THE DUKE IS ALREADY AT SANDRINGHAM HOUSE WHICH HAS BEEN THE PRIVATE HOME OF THE BRITISH MONARCH SINCE 1862. THE QUEEN AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY REGULARLY SPEND CHRISTMAS AT THE LARGE HOME AND MAKE IT THEIR OFFICIAL BASE UNTIL FEBRUARY EACH YEAR.

MICHELANGELO'S 'CHRIST ON THE CROSS' MAY BE A FAKE


AN INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN LAUNCHED INTO WHETHER THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT PAID £2.9 MILLION FOR A FAKED FIGURE OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS, SAID TO HAVE BEEN CREATED BY MICHELANGELO. THE WOODEN CARVING WAS BOUGHT A YEAR AGO FROM AN ART DEALER BASED IN TURIN, WHO INSISTED IT WAS GENUINE AND HAD BEEN ACQUIRED FROM A FLORENTINE FAMILY. HE INITIALLY ASKED FOR £13 MILLION FOR THE HISTORIC ARTIFACT BUT EVENTUALLY AGREED TO ACCEPT JUST UNDER £3 MILLION PROSECUTORS IN ROME WHO SPECIALIZE IN ART FRAUD OPENED AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE DEAL THIS WEEK. THEY WILL SCRUTINIZE DOCUMENT FROM A COURT IN LAZIO, WHICH FIRST STARTED INVESTIGATING THE MYSTERY IN THE SUMMER AFTER SUSPICIONS WERE RAISED THAT THE STATE HAD WASTED ITS MONEY ON A WRONGLY ATTRIBUTED WORK. GREAT FANFARE SURROUNDED THE PURCHASE OF THE WOODEN FIGURE LAST DECEMBER. IT WAS PRESENTED TO POPE BENEDICT XVI, EXHIBITED AT THE ITALIAN PARLIAMENT AND THEN SENT ON TOUR OF THE COUNTRY IN AN EXHIBITION WHICH ATTRACTED THOUSANDS OF VISITORS. THERE WERE EVEN PLANS TO LEND IT TO THE NATIONAL GALLERY IN WASHINGTON AS A WAY OF HONORING PRESIDENT OBAMA. BUT SEVERAL PROMINENT ART EXPERTS HAVE SAID THEY BELIEVE THE CHRIST FIGURE WAS MADE BY AN ARTIST OTHER THAN MICHELANGELO. IT WAS FIRST ATTRIBUTED TO MICHELANGELO, AFTER YEARS OF SCRUTINY, BY EXPERTS FROM THE UNIVERSITIES OF FLORENCE, SIENA AND PERUGIA IN 204. THE DIRECTOR OF THE VATICAN MUSEUMS SAID THAT WHILE THERE WAS NO CAST-IRON GUARANTEE THAT MICHELANGELO CARVED THE STATUE, THE ATTRIBUTION TO THE RENAISSANCE GENIUS WAS BASED ON 'VERY REASONABLE GROUNDS'.