19.9.09

LOUIS VUITTON LAUNCHES NEW WORLD SERIES FOR AMERICA'S CUP CLASS YACHTS


A NEW WORLD CIRCUIT FOR AMERICA'S CUP CLASS YACHTS HAS BEEN LAUNCHED IN PARIS. THE LOUIS VUITTON WORLD SERIES OF SAILING HAS BEEN CREATED WHILE THE HISTORIC AND GENTRIFIED AMERICA'S CUP IS LOCKED IN A PROTRACTED COURT BATTLE BETWEEN ORACLE AND ALINGHI. THE EVENT WILL BE UNDERTAKEN IN ASSOCIATION WITH A NEW PROFESSIONAL SAILING GROUP CALLED THE WORLD SAILING TEAM ASSOCIATION (WSTA). BILLED AS 'DYNAMIC AND AMBITIOUS', THE RACE PROGRAM WILL BE A DEVELOPMENT OF THE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL LOUIS VUITTON PACIFIC SERIES HELD IN AUCKLAND EARLIER THIS YEAR. THE FORMAT WILL HAVE 10 TEAMS RACING ONE-ON-ONE IN A ROUND-ROBIN SERIES BEFORE THE TOP TWO GO HEAD-TO-HEAD IN A GRAND FINALE. THE CIRCUIT WILL BEGIN IN NICE IN NOVEMBER, THEN MOVE TO AUCKLAND IN MARCH BEFORE HEADING TO LA MADDALENA, ITALY, IN MAY. EIGHT ENTRIES HAVE SO FAR BEEN CONFIRMED FOR THE NICE REGATTA INCLUDING TEAM NEW ZEALAND, ORACLE, THE K-CHALLENGE AND MASCALZONE LATINO FROM THE LAST AMERICA'S CUP

CHRISTIE'S TO OFFER £25 MILLION REMBRANDT MASTERPIECE


CHRISTIE'S WILL OFFER A STUNNING MASTERPIECE BY REMBRANDT (1606-1669) AT THE OLD MASTERS AND 19th CENTURY ART EVENING SALE ON 8.DECEMBER.2009 IN LONDON. UNSEEN IN PUBLIC FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS AND OFFERED AT AUCTION FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1930, 'PORTRAIT OF A MAN, HALF LENGTH, WITH HIS ARMS AKIMBO', 1658, IS OFFERED FROM A DISTINGUISHED PRIVATE COLLECTION AND IS EXPECTED TO REALIZE £18 MILLION TO £25 MILLION.
PORTRAIT OF A MAN, HALF-LENGTH, WITH HIS ARM AKIMBO MEASURES 42¼ x 34¼ INCHES AND DEPICTS AN UNKNOWN SITTER FACING THE ARTIST WITH A DEFIANT POSE, HANDS ON HIPS IN A DISPLAY OF COMPLETE SELF-ASSURANCE. THE BRUSHSTROKES ARE PAINTED ONTO THE CANVAS WITH A LOOSE YET CONTROLLED MASTERY, AND AS WITH THE BEST OF THE ARTIST'S LATE WORKS, IT BOASTS A MESMERIZING USE OF LIGHT AND SHADE. WHILE THE SITTER IS UNKNOWN, HE IS WEARING AN UNUSUAL COSTUME, PERHAPS SUGGESTING THAT HE WAS A VISITOR TO AMSTERDAM; THE PAINTING HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY BEEN CALLED PORTRAIT OF AN ADMIRAL.

18.9.09

HIGH MUSEUM OF ART, ATLANTA, PRESENTS LEONARDO DA VINCI: HAND OF THE GENIUS


THE FIRST EXHIBITION TO EXPLORE LEONARDO DA VINCI'S PROFOUND INTEREST IN AND INFLUENCE ON SCULPTURE WILL PREMIER AT THE HIGH MUSEUM OF ART, ATLANTA, IN OCTOBER. "LEONARDO DA VINCI: HAND OF THE GENIUS" WILL FEATURE APPROXIMATELY 50 STUNNING WORKS, INCLUDING MORE THAN 20 SKETCHES AND STUDIES BY LEONARDO, SOME OF WHICH WILL BE ON VIEW IN THE UNITED STATES FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE EXHIBITION WILL ALSO FEATURE WORKS BY DONATELLO, RUBENS, VERROCCHIO, AND RUSTICI -- INCLUDING RUSTICI'S THREE MONUMENTAL BRONZES FROM THE FACADE OF THE BAPTISTERY IN FLORENCE THAT COMPRISE "JOHN THE BAPTIST PREACHING TO A LEVITE AND A PHARISEE", WHICH WAS RECENTLY RESTORED AND HAS NEVER LEFT FLORENCE. ALSO INCLUDED ARE WORKS FROM WORLD RENOWNED COLLECTIONS, INCLUDING THOSE OF HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II, THE VATICAN MUSEUMS, THE MUSEE DU LOUVRE, THE BRITISH MUSEUM AND THE MUSEO NAZIONALE DEL BARGELLO IN FLORENCE.
THE EXHIBITION WILL SHED NEW LIGHT ON LEONARDO'S SEMINAL ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF RENAISSANCE SCULPTURE AND THE WORK OF ARTIST'S WHO FOLLOWED HIM THROUGH AN EXAMINATION OF THE SCULPTURE THAT LEONARDO STUDIED, THE SKETCHES AND STUDIES HE AND HIS INTERACTIONS WITH OTHER RENAISSANCE SCULPTORS. ORGANIZED BY THE HIGH MUSEUM OF ART, "LEONARDO DA VINCI: HAND OF THE GENIUS" WILL PREMIERE IN ATLANTA 6.OCTOBER.2009 THROUGH TO 21.FEBRUARY.2010. A MODIFIED VERSION OF THE EXHIBITION WILL TRAVEL TO THE J PAUL GETTY MUSEUM IN LOS ANGELES 23.MARCH THROUGH 20.JUNE.2010.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.high.org

$14 MILLION ART COLLECTION DESTROYED IN LOS ANGELES FIRE


A PRICELESS ART COLLECTION WAS DESTROYED IN A MASSIVE FIRE THAT RIPPED THROUGH A 5-STORY, MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR MANSION IN THE HOLLYWOOD HILLS OF LOS ANGELES. THE FIRE WAS REPORTED AROUND 6:30am WEDNESDAY, IN THE EXCLUSIVE 2000 BLOCK OF SUNSET PLAZA DRIVE. FIREFIGHTERS HAD TO NAVIGATE THEIR TRUCKS THROUGH, STEEP, NARROW, WINDING ROADS TO GET TO THE BLAZE WHICH QUICKLY CONSUMED THE PROPERTY. THE HOME'S OWNER, LAWYER BRIAN WITZER, SAYS THE FLAMES DESTROYED A PRICELESS ART COLLECTION, INCLUDING SEVERAL ART WORKS THAT WERE SPECIALLY COMMISSIONED BY NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, A FABERGE EGG AND A STRADIVARIUS VIOLIN. WITZER'S MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR FERRARI COLLECTION WAS SAVED FROM THE FLAMES. WITZER SAYS THE DAMAGE IS ESTIMATED AT OVER $14 MILLION. WITZER WAS HOME WHEN THE FIRE BROKE OUT AND INITIALLY FOUGHT THE BLAZE WITH A GARDEN HOSE UNTIL THE FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVED, HE BELIEVES THAT THE FIRE MAY HAVE STARTED WITH AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN HIS 600 GALLON WATER AQUARIUM. THE FIRE WAS KNOCKED DOWN WITHIN A HALF HOUR AND IT WAS REPORTED THAT TEN FIRE COMPANIES RESPONDED TO THE BLAZE.

17.9.09

'TUTANKHAMUN AND THE GOLDEN AGE OF THE PHARAOHS' TO BE PRESENTED IN NEW YORK IN 2010


'TUTANKHAMUN AND THE GOLDEN AGE OF THE PHARAOHS' WILL ARRIVE IN NEW YORK CITY IN APRIL 2010, MARKING THE FIRST TIME A COLLECTION OF TREASURES FROM KING TUT'S TOMB HAS BEEN VISITED THE CITY SINCE THE GROUNDBREAKING 1979 EXHIBITION AT THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART LAUNCHED 'TUTMANIA' AND ATTRACTED 1.8 MILLION VISITORS. FOLLOWING THE NEW YORK SHOWING OF THIS NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION, THE TREASURES ARE SCHEDULED TO RETURN TO EGYPT TO EVENTUALLY BE HOUSED IN A NEW GRAND MUSEUM IN CAIRO, WHICH IS PART BEING FUNDED WITH PROCEEDS FROM THIS EXHIBITION, ALONG WITH OTHER ANTIQUITIES PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION EFFORTS.
THE EXHIBITION WILL BE ON DISPLAY FROM LATE APRIL THROUGH TO DECEMBER 2010 AT THE NEW DISCOVERY TIMES SQUARE EXPOSITION FACILITY, WHICH OPENED THIS SPRING IN THE FORMER LOCATION OF THE NEW YORK TIMES PRINTING PRESSES IN THE HEART OF TIMES SQUARE. BEGINNING TODAY, TICKET PRE-REGISTRATION IS OPEN AT www.kingtutnyc.com. ANYONE WHO SIGNS UP BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE TICKETS BEFORE THEY GO ON SALE PUBLICLY NEXT YEAR, GIVING PRE-REGISTRANTS PRIORITY ACCESS TO CHOICE DATES AND TIMES. TICKETS WILL BE DESIGNATED FOR A SPECIFIC DATE AND TIME TO AVOID LONG ENTRANCE WAIT TIME.
'TUTANKHAMUN AND THE GOLDEN AGE OF THE PHARAOHS' IS MORE THAN DOUBLE THE SIZE OF THE 1979 EXHIBITION, AND ONLY AN HANDFUL OF THOSE ARTIFACTS ARE RETURNING WITH THIS EXHIBITION. WITH MORE THAN 130 ANCIENT EGYPTIAN ARTIFACTS IN ALL, MORE THAN 50 ARE FROM KING TUT'S TOMB, INCLUDING HIS ROYAL DIADEM -- THE GOLD CROWN DISCOVERED ENCIRCLING THE HEAD OF HIS MUMMIFIED BODY THAT HE LIKELY WORE AS A KING -- AND ONE OF THE GOLD AND PRECIOUS STONE INLAID CANOPIC COFFINETTES THAT CONTAINED HIS MUMMIFIED INTERNAL ORGANS. THE TREASURES IN THE EXHIBITION ARE BETWEEN 3,300 AND 3,500 YEARS OLD.

ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO TO SHOW CARAVAGGIO'S THE SUPPER AT EMMAUS


THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO WILL BE OFFERING VISITORS THE RARE OPPORTUNITY TO VIEW ONE OF CARAVAGGIO'S MASTERWORKS FROM 10.OCTOBER.2009 THROUGH TO 31.JANUARY.2010. COMING FROM THE NATIONAL GALLERY, LONDON, 'THE SUPPER AT EMMAUS' IS ONE OF THE MOST HIGHLY REGARDED PAINTINGS BY ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL OF ALL WESTERN ARTISTS, AND IT IS A PAINTING HARDLY EVER SEEN OUTSIDE LONDON. FOR THESE FOUR MONTHS, IT WILL BE ONE OF A FEW CARAVAGGIOS ON VIEW ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES. THE SUPPER AT EMMAUS WILL SERVE AS THE CENTERPIECE FOR A FOCUS INSTALLATION IN GALLERY 211 OF THE ART INSTITUTES'S COLLECTION OF 'CARAVAGGESQUE' PAINTINGS. CARAVAGGIO'S INSISTENCE ON HEIGHTENED REALISM AND THE SCULPTURAL QUALITIES OF HIS FIGURES, OFTEN BRIGHTLY LIT AGAINST A DARK BACKGROUND, ARE EVIDENT IN WORKS SUCH AS BARTOLOMEO MANFREDI'S 'CUPID CHASTISED' AND CECCO DEL CARAVAGGIO'S 'THE RESURRECTION'. A GALLERY BROCHURE WILL ALSO LEAD VISITORS TO OTHER GALLERIES WHERE THE DIFFUSION OF CARAVAGGIO'S STYLE THROUGHOUT EUROPE WILL BE IMMEDIATELY APPARENT IN WORKS SUCH AS REMBRANDT'S 'OLD MAN WITH A GOLD CHAIN' AND RUBENS' 'THE CAPTURE OF SAMSON'.
CARAVAGGIO'S 'THE SUPPER AT EMMAUS', PAINTED IN 1601, DEPICTS A DIM TAVERN THAT FORMS THE BACKDROP FOR A MOMENT OF PROFOUND REVELATION. TWO MEN EATING AT A TABLE, SERVED BY AN INNKEEPER, REALIZE THAT THE GUEST WHO JOINED THEM AT THEIR MEAL IS NONE OTHER THAN CHRIST HIMSELF, REAPPEARING TO HIS DISCIPLES AFTER HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION. THE PAINTING IS RECOGNIZED AS A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF CARAVAGGIO'S STYLE AT ITS MOST MATURE AND DEVELOPED. CARAVAGGIO HAS REPRESENTED THIS SCENE WITH HIS SENSE OF UNCOMPROMISING REALISM, PUNCTUATED BY HIS SIGNATURE CONTRASTS OF LIGHT AND DARK, WHICH LEND A DEEPLY DRAMATIC SENSITIVITY TO THE PAINTING. THE MOMENT OS THE DISCIPLES' REALIZATION IS PICTURED WITH RADICALLY FORESHORTENED GESTURES OF SHOCK AND DISBELIEF: ONE DISCIPLE SPREADS HIS ARMS WIDE, DEMARCATING THE DEPTH OF THE PAINTING; THE OTHER LEANS FORWARD ABRUPTLY, AS IF HE WERE TO JUMP OUT OF HIS CHAIR, SHOULDERS HUNCHED AND HANDS GRIPPING THE ARMS OF HIS SEAT. CARAVAGGIO HAS RENDERED ALL OF THE DETAILS -- THE FOOD ON THE TABLE, THE WORN WRINKLES IN THE GARMENTS OF THE MEN -- WITH CRISP PRECISION AND AN ALMOST CLINICAL HANDLING OF PAINT. AGAINST THIS STARK REALISM IS COUNTER-POSED THE MOMENT OF RELIGIOUS EPIPHANY, THE SACRED MANIFESTING ITSELF WITHIN THE MUNDANE SETTING OF A DINING ROOM.

16.9.09

CHRISTIE'S TO OFFER RARE RUSSIAN ART FROM GALERIE POPOFF COLLECTION


CHRISTIE'S RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THE AUCTION OF GALERIE POPOFF - AN ENDURING PASSION FOR RUSSIAN ART WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE ON 12-13.OCTOBER.2009 IN LONDON, AND WHICH WILL PRESENT EXCEPTIONAL RUSSIAN WORKS OF ART FROM ONE OF THE MOST RENOWNED RUSSIAN GALLERIES IN PARIS. THE AUCTION WILL OFFER AROUND 550 STUNNING LOTS, INCLUDING RARE RUSSIAN AND EUROPEAN 18th AND 19th CENTURY PORCELAIN, WATERCOLOURS, PAINTINGS, WORKS OF ART AND TEXTILES. AMONG THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AUCTION IS PART OF A PORCELAIN SERVICE MADE BY THE ROYAL BERLIN PORCELAIN FACTORY IN 1778 FOR GRAND DUKE PAUL PETROVICH (ESTIMATED £200,000- 300,000). THIS MAGNIFICENT SERVICE WAS COMMISSIONED BY EMPEROR FREDERICK II OF PRUSSIA AND ALL THE PIECES OFFERED IN THE SALE FEATURE THE COAT OF ARMS OF THE IMPERIAL RUSSIAN EMPIRE AND THE ARMS FOR THE DUCHY OF HOLLSTEIN-GOTTORP, PAUL'S PATRIARCHAL ARMS. TO CELEBRATE THE CORONATION OF CATHERINE THE GREAT IN 1762, FOLLOWING THE DEPOSITION OF HER HUSBAND PETER III, THE IMPERIAL PORCELAIN FACTORY IN ST. PETERSBURG CREATED A SPECIAL PRESENTATION COVERED CUP AND SAUCER. THE COVER IS CROWNED WITH THE TWO HEADED IMPERIAL EAGLE, MAKING THIS LOT UNIQUE. NO COMPARABLE EXAMPLE EXISTS, EVEN AMONGST THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS MUSEUM COLLECTIONS IN RUSSIA (estimate: £150,000-170,000).
ESTABLISHED IN 1920, GALERIE POPOFF, LOCATED JUST OPPOSITE THE ELYSEE PALACE IN PARIS, HAS LONG BEEN RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE MOST ESTEEMED SOURCES OF RUSSIAN ART AND ANTIQUITIES, ASSEMBLED BY THREE GENERATIONS OF COLLECTORS AND ART DEALERS, IS THE SUBJECT OF A BOOK, ENTITLED 'MASTERPIECES OF 18th CENTURY RUSSIAN PORCELAIN FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE POPOFF AND CIE GALLERY' PUBLISHED EARLIER THIS YEAR, WITH CONTRIBUTIONS FROM SEVERAL DISTINGUISHED PORCELAIN EXPERTS FROM PRESTIGIOUS RUSSIAN MUSEUMS.

LOUIS VUITTON CREATES $10,000 SAN FRANCISCO CABLE CAR CHARM


TO COMMEMORATE THE REOPENING OF THEIR BOUTIQUE IN SAN FRANCISCO, LOUIS VUITTON HAS REINTERPRETED A CLASSIC SYMBOL OF THE CITY, THE CABLE CAR. LOUIS VUITTON HAS DESIGNED AND CRAFTED THE BEAUTIFUL 18 CARAT YELLOW GOLD CHARMS IN THE SHAPE OF THE HISTORIC SAN FRANCISCO CABLE CARS, WITH EACH SET WITH 55 DIAMONDS, 8 MANDARIN GARNETS AND 12 YELLOW SAPPHIRES. ALL THIS COMBINED WITH RED LACQUER THAT EXUDES REFINED ELEGANCE AND CLASS AND MAKES THIS CHARM PERFECT FOR WEARING ON A CHARM BRACELET OR SIMPLY AS A PENDENT. THE EXQUISITE MINI-TRAM IS PRESENTED IN BEAUTIFUL MINIATURE LOUIS VUITTON TRUNK CASE, AND IS PRICED AT $10,000, WHICH IS SURE TO BECOME A TRUE COLLECTORS ITEM FOR ANY LOUIS VUITTON LOVER.

15.9.09

PEDRO ALMODOVAR DESIGNS FOR ILLY ART COLLECTION


A SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION ILLY ART COLLECTION WAS DESIGNED BY RENOWNED SPANISH FILM DIRECTOR PEDRO ALMODOVAR TO COINCIDE WITH THE RELEASE OF HIS LATEST FILM, 'LOS ABRAZOS ROTOS' (BROKEN EMBRACES). DATING TO 1992, THE LEADING ITALIAN COFFEE COMPANY'S COLLABORATIONS WITH PRE-EMINENT VISUAL CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS HAVE PRODUCED STUNNING AND MUCH SOUGHT AFTER UNIQUE CUP AND SAUCER SETS, WHICH ARE DESIGNED TO ENHANCE THE ENJOYMENT OF COFFEE IN PAIRING IT WITH BEAUTIFUL OBJECTS. ILLY'S PASSION FOR THE BEAUTIFUL AND WELL MADE AND ITS LOVE FOR THE WORLD OF CONTEMPORARY ART ARE THE DRIVING FORCES BEHIND THE ILLY ART COLLECTION SERIES. THE ALMODOVAR SIX-CUP SERIES WILL BE AVAILABLE STARTING MID-OCTOBER 2009 AT www.illyusa.com, WHICH TAKES ITS INSPIRATION FROM SIX OF THE FAMED DIRECTOR'S MOST ADMIRED FILMS; WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN (1988), TIE ME UP! TIE ME DOWN! (1990), HIGH HEELS (1991), THE FLOWER OF MY SECRET (1995), BAD EDUCATION (2004) AND VOLVER (2006). "WE ARE HONORED THAT PEDRO ALMODOVAR HAS GRACED THE ILLY COLLECTION WIT SUCH A STRIKINGLY VIVID SERIES OF CUPS, QUITE UNLIKE ANY OTHER WE'VE SEEN", SAYS CARLO BACH, ART DIRECTOR OF ILLYCAFFE. "EACH CUP AT ONCE CELEBRATES HIS OWN PAST ARTISTRY, WHILE BEING COMPLETELY ORIGINAL ON ITS OWN. EACH TELLS A MEMORABLE STORY, JUST AS HIS FILMS, IN HIS SIGNATURE, WONDERFULLY UNCONVENTIONAL STYLE." BACK SAID ALMODOVAR HAS LONG BEEN A FAN OF ILLY, BEEN KNOWN TO KEEP IT ON HAND WHILE FILMING. THAT GAVE BACH IMPETUS TO APPROACH THE DIRECTOR ABOUT CREATING A COLLECTION FOR ILLY.





13.9.09

NATIONAL GALLERY OF LONDON PRESENTS TITIAN'S DIANA AND ACTAEON


FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE IT WAS ACQUIRED BY THE NATIONAL GALLERY, LONDON, AND THE NATIONAL GALLERIES OF SCOTLAND, TITIAN'S DIANA AND ACTAEON IS GOING ON DISPLAY AT TRAFALGAR SQUARE. DIANA AND ACTAEON WILL HANG IN ROOM 10 OF THE NATIONAL GALLERY FROM 12.SEPTEMBER, AS PART OF A NEW DISPLAY DEMONSTRATING TITIAN'S PROFOUND INFLUENCE ON EUROPEAN ART. PAINTINGS FROM DIVERSE PARTS OF THE NATIONAL GALLERY'S COLLECTION WILL BE SHOWN ALONGSIDE DIANA AND ACTAEON, AND TITIAN'S THE DEATH OF ACTAEON (ACQUIRED IN 1972), INCLUDING WORKS BY CEZANNE, RUBENS, POUSSIN, AND CONSTABLE.
DIANA AND ACTAEON IS ONE OF SIX LARGE-SCALE MYTHOLOGIES INSPIRED BY THE ROMAN POET OVID THAT TITIAN PAINTED FOR KING PHILIP II OF SPAIN. TITIAN BEGAN THE PAINTING AND ITS COMPANION DIANA AND CALLISTO IN 1556, THE YEAR OF PHILIP'S CORONATION. SPURRED ON BY THE PRESTIGE OF A ROYAL PATRONAGE, HE UNLEASHED ASS HIS CREATIVITY TO PRODUCE WORKS OF UNPRECEDENTED BEAUTY AND INVENTIVENESS. TITIAN WORKED FOR THREE YEARS TO PERFECT THESE MASTERPIECES, WHICH WERE SHIPPED TO SPAIN IN 1559. HE CLAIMED THEIR LENGTHY GENESIS WAS DUE TO THE RELENTLESS PAINS HE TOOK TO MAKE SUMPTUOUS WORKS OF ART WORTHY OF A KING. DIANA AND ACTAEON DEPICTS THE FATAL CONSEQUENCES OF A MORTAL TRAGICALLY CAUGHT UP IN AFFAIRS OF THE GODS. IT IS REMARKABLE FOR ITS POWERFUL DRAMATIZATION OF EXTREMES OF HUMAN EMOTION, WITH ITS RICH ARRAY OF COLOURS, CONTRASTING TEXTURES AND ATMOSPHERIC EFFECTS.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.nationalgallery.org.uk/