JOHN F KENNEDY LIBRARY TO DISPLAY SALINGER LETTER TO HEMINGWAY

A LETTER SENT BY A YOUNG JD SALINGER TO ERNEST HEMINGWAY IN 1946 WILL BE PUT ON DISPLAY FOR THE FIRST TIME AT THE JOHN F KENNEDY LIBRARY IN BOSTON. SALINGER MET HEMINGWAY IN EUROPE DURING WORLD WAR II, AND CLOSES THE LETTER BY TELLING HEMINGWAY THAT THE TALKS THEY HAD WERE THE ONLY 'HOPEFUL MINUTES' OF HIS WAR EXPERIENCE. THE LETTER, AVAILABLE TO SCHOLARS FOR YEARS, IS PART OF THE ERNEST HEMINGWAY COLLECTION THAT HAS BEEN KEPT AT THE JFK LIBRARY FOR 30 YEARS. IT WILL BE DISPLAYED SUNDAY DURING THE PRESENTATION OF THE PEN/HEMINGWAY AWARD, GIVEN ANNUALLY TO A FIRST-TIME WRITER OF FICTION. LIBRARY DIRECTOR THOMAS PUTNAM SAYS SALINGER'S RECENT DEATH SPARKED NEW INTEREST IN THE LETTER, IN WHICH THE FUTURE 'CATCHER IN THE RYE' AUTHOR DISCUSSES HIS OWN EFFORTS AT A LITERARY CAREER.

THE CARTIER COLUMN BY ALESSANDRO MENDINI

'THE CARTIER COLUMN' TAKES A KING'S RANSOM OF JEWELS AND MIXES IT WITH ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS BRINGING FORTH A NEW MEANING FOR ARTISTIC MASTERPIECE. THE STUNNING CREATION IS THE BRAINCHILD OF ITALIAN ARCHITECT AND DESIGNER ALESSANDRO MENDINI AND WAS CREATED FOR THE OCCASION OF THE SALONE INTERNAZIONALE DEL MOBILE IN MILANO. PRESENTED BY THE CARTIER FOUNDATION FOR CONTEMPORARY ART AND CARTIER, THE UNIQUE STRUCTURE HAS BEEN MADE ENTIRELY FROM PRECIOUS STONES AND GEMS. THE STONES USED IN THE STRUCTURE ARE A VARIETY OF PEARLS, EMERALDS, SAPPHIRES, MANDARIN GARNETS, MOONSTONES, DIAMOND PAVING, CHALCEDONIES AND RUBIES THAT CAN NO LONGER BE USED IN A CLASSICAL MANNER AS THEY HAVE BEEN PIERCED, DISMOUNTED AND ENGRAVED. THE DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION OF THE 'PRECIOUS COLUMN' CONCEIVED BY MENDINI HAVE BEEN ENTRUSTED TO CARTIER JOAILLERIE. THE GEMS WERE CLASSIFIED BY CATEGORIES BEFORE BEING ENCAPSULATED BY RESIN INTO CRYSTAL CYLINDERS SUBSEQUENTLY INCORPORATED VERTICALLY WITHIN PINK-GOLD FLUTES. THE ENTIRE COLUMN MEASURING 2.3 METERS HIGH AND TOOK 18 MONTHS OF WORK, FROM THE INITIAL SKETCHES TO THE FINAL PROJECT.

ALLUS FASHIONS FEATURES 3D PHOTOGRAPHY FOR SPRING/SUMMER CAMPAIGN

BRAZILIAN FASHION BRAND ELLUS BRINGS US A STUNNING 3D VINTAGE LOOK FOR THEIR NEW SPRING/SUMMER 2010 CAMPAIGN. THEY'VE MASTERFULLY CREATED AN AMAZING 3D EFFECT, SO IT'S TIME TO DUST OFF THOSE 3D GLASSES AND PREPARE FOR A UNIQUE MULTI-DIMENSIONAL EXPERIENCE. THE CAMPAIGN WAS SHOT BY PHOTOGRAPHER JACQUES DEQUEKER AND STARS CINTIA DICKER AND MADONNA'S FAVORITE PIECE OF EYE CANDY JESUS LUZ, IN A SERIES OF PROVOCATIVE IMAGES. ELLUS IS THE ALTER EGO OF NELSON ALVARENGA, A VISIONARY BRAZILIAN BUSINESSMAN WHO CREATED THE WORLD-FAMOUS BRAND IN 1972.

THE HIGH MUSEUM TO PRESENT 'SALVADOR DALI: THE LATE WORK'

THE FIRST MAJOR EXHIBITION TO REEVALUATE THE LAST HALF OF SALVADOR DALI'S CAREER WILL BE PRESENTED EXCLUSIVELY AT THE HIGH MUSEUM, ATLANTA, THIS AUGUST. BEGINNING IN THE LATE 1930s, DALI WENT THROUGH A RADICAL CHANGE IN WHICH HE EMBRACED CATHOLICISM, DEVELOPED THE CONCEPT OF NUCLEAR MYSTICISM AND, IN EFFECT, REINVENTED HIMSELF AS AN ARTIST. COMPRISING MORE THAN 40 PAINTINGS AND A RELATED GROUP OF DRAWINGS, PRINTS AND OTHER DALI EPHEMERA, 'SALVADOR DALI: THE LATE WORK' WILL ALSO EXPLORE THE ARTIST'S ENDURING FASCINATION WITH SCIENCE, OPTICAL EFFECTS AND ILLUSIONISM AS WELL AS HIS CONNECTIONS TO SUCH ARTISTS OF THE LATE 1960s AND 1970s AS ANDY WARHOL, ROY LICHTENSTEIN AND WILLEM DE KOONING. AMONG THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EXHIBITION WILL BE SEVERAL WORKS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN SEEN IN THE US IN 50 YEARS, INCLUDING THE MONUMENTAL 'CHRIST OF ST JOHN OF THE CROSS' WHICH WAS VOTED SCOTLAND'S FAVORITE PAINTING IN 2007, AND 'SANTIAGO EL GRANDE', WHICH HAS NOT LEFT NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA, SINCE 1959. DESIGNED AS AN ALTARPIECE, THE PAINTING INCLUDES DALI'S VISION OF THE CRUCIFIXION, AN HOMAGE TO SAINT JAMES (PATRON SAINT OF SPAIN) AND AN ATOMIC EXPLOSION. THE EXHIBITION WILL ALSO FEATURE 'ASSUMPTA CORPUSCALARIA LAPISLAZULINA', FROM A PRIVATE COLLECTION IN SPAIN, WHICH HAS NOT BEEN SEEN PUBLICLY SINCE 1959. THE HIGH WILL BE THE SOLE VENUE FOR THE EXHIBITION, WHERE IT WILL BE ON VIEW FROM 7.AUGUST.2010 THROUGH 9.JANUARY.2011.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.high.org

STOLEN PAUL KLEE PAINTING RECOVERED

A PAINTING BY SWISS ARTIST PAUL KLEE THAT WAS STOLEN FROM A NEW YORK GALLERY IN 1989 HAS BEEN RECOVERED AFTER A MONTREAL GALLERY OWNER BECAME SUSPICIOUS AND TURNED IT OVER TO US AUTHORITIES. ROBERT LANDAU TURNED THE 1930 PAINTING 'PORTRAIT IN THE GARDEN', BY THE NEO-IMPRESSIONIST ARTIST TO AUTHORITIES AFTER A FLORIDA ART DEALER TRIED TO SELL IT TO HIM. IT HAD BEEN STOLEN FROM THE MARLBOROUGH GALLERY. 'ONCE WE FOUND OUT IT WAS STOLEN, WE CALLED HOMELAND SECURITY IN WASHINGTON', LANDAU TOLD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS RECENTLY. 'WE DON'T DEAL IN STOLEN ART.' US AUTHORITIES THEN HANDED THE PAINTING OVER TO THE LONDON-BASED ART LOSS REGISTER, WHICH MAINTAINS A 350,000 ITEM DATABASE OF STOLEN ARTWORKS. CHRISTOPHER MARINELLO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ART LOSS REGISTER, PRAISED LANDAU FOR HIS ACTIONS. 'HE WAS VERY HONORABLE', MARINELLO SAID. 'WE WISH THAT EVERY DEALER WERE LIKE THE LANDAU GALLERY AND THAT THEY SEARCHED BEFORE THEY BOUGHT EVERYTHING.' A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE MARLBOROUGH GALLERY SAID THE $100,000 PAINTING IS NOW OWNED BY MALBOROUGH'S INSURER, LLOYD'S OF LONDON, WHICH WILL AUCTION IT IN THE NEAR FUTURE.' A SPOKESPERSON FOR US IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT IN WASHINGTON, TOLD THE AP THAT LANDAU WAS APPROACHED IN DECEMBER 2009 BY A MAN WHO REPRESENTED HIMSELF AS AN ART DEALER AT THE INTERNATIONAL ART FAIR IN MIAMI BEACH. THE MAN OFFERED TO SELL THE KLEE TO LANDAU, BUT LANDAU SAID HE COULD NOT EVALUATE ITS AUTHENTICITY ON THE SPOT. THE MAN THEN SENT THE PAINTING TO LANDAU IN MONTREAL WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT LANDAU WOULD BUY IT IF HE DETERMINED IT WAS AUTHENTIC. INSTEAD LANDAU DISCOVERED THAT THE PAINTING HAD BEEN STOLEN AND TURNED IT OVER TO ICE AGENTS.

AARON FREW

AARON FREW IS A STUNNING NEW UP-COMING 18 YEAR OLD MODEL FROM OXYGEN MODELS MANAGEMENT, RECENTLY HE WAS VIDEO-INTERVIEWED BY LUIS VENEGAS THE CREATOR AND EDITOR OF EY! MAGAZINE . . . IN THE VIDEO AARON SHOWS OFF HIS BEST ASSETS AND YOUTHFUL EXUBERANCE.

EY!nspiration. Aaron Frew! from Luis Venegas on Vimeo.

KENSINGTON PALACE PRESENTS 'ENCHANTED PALACE'

A NEW 'ENCHANTED PALACE' EXHIBITION WILL BE OPENING AT KENSINGTON PALACE ON 6.MARCH. ROOMS AT THE ROYAL RESIDENCE WERE TRANSFORMED TO REFLECT THE LIVES OF QUEENS AND PRINCESSES WHO USED TO LIVE THERE. THE AMAZING EXPERIENCE WAS CREATED USING INTERACTIVE THEATER, FILM PROJECTIONS, STORYTELLING AND DRAMATIC INSTALLATIONS BY FASHION DESIGNERS SUCH AS VIVIENNE WESTWOOD AND WILLIAM TEMPEST AND MILLINER STEPHEN JONES. HIGHLIGHTS WITHIN THE STATE APARTMENTS INCLUDE QUEEN VICTORIA'S BEDROOM, THE CHAMBER IN WHICH SHE AWOKE TO LEARN SHE WAS QUEEN. IT FEATURES AN AVANT-GARDE INTERPRETATION BY TEMPEST OF A PERIOD DRESS INCLUDING 2,000 ORIGAMI BIRDS. IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER ARE TWO DRESS WHICH BELONGED TO DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES AND PRINCESS MARGARET, BOTH OF WHOM USED TO LIVE IN THE LONDON HOME. VIVIENNE WESTWOOD'S CREATION IS A 'DRESS FOR A REBELLIOUS PRINCESS' INSPIRED BY KING GEORGE'S IV'S DAUGHTER PRINCESS CHARLOTTE ANS IS ON DISPLAY IN THE KING'S GRAND STAIRCASE. HISTORIC ROYAL PALACES' CURATOR ALEXANDRA KIM DESCRIBED THE EXHIBITION AS A 'TRULY UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCOVER THE HIDDEN STORIES OF KENSINGTON PALACE.' THE PALACE IS CURRENTLY UNDERGOING A £12 MILLION REVAMP WITH MAJOR WORKS SET TO START IN JUNE THIS YEAR. THE RENOVATION PROJECT, DUE TO BE COMPLETED IN 2012 IN TIME FOR THE QUEEN'S DIAMOND JUBILEE AND THE LONDON OLYMPICS, WILL IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY AND FACILITIES. THE ENCHANTED PALACE, IS PRESENTED IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE THEATER COMPANY WILDWORKS AND WILL RUN UNTIL 2012.


:: The Enchanted Palace, in association with the theatre company Wildworks, opens on March 26 and runs until 2012.

ARTIST CARVES ST BARTHOLOMEW'S FROM A GRAIN OF SAND

A TALENTED MICRO-SCULPTOR HAS PROVEN YOU REALLY CAN SEE THE WORLD IN A GRAIN OF SAND, AFTER CARVING AN INTRICATELY DETAILED CHURCH FROM A SINGLE GRANULE THAT FITS INSIDE THE EYE OF A NEEDLE. WILLIAM WIGAN HAS MADE A NAME FOR HIMSELF BY SCULPTING TINY RECREATIONS OF EVERYTHING FROM BARACK OBAMA AND HIS FAMILY, TO NEIL ARMSTRONG ON THE MOON'S SURFACE. HE WAS CHALLENGED BY HIS GIRLFRIEND WHO LIVES AT THE FOOT OF CHOSEN HILL IN CHURCHDOWN, NEAR GLOUCESTER, TO SCULPT THE HILLTOP PARISH CHURCH ST BARTHOLOMEW'S. 'I LOOKED AT THE CHURCH AND THOUGHT IT WAS WONDERFUL', WILLARD SAID. 'IT TOOK ABOUT SIX WEEKS AND IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT BECAUSE I HAD TO GET MY PROPORTIONS RIGHT.' WILLARD USES TINY SHARDS OF GLASS STUCK TO A NEEDLE, AND A BRUSH MADE FROM ONE OF HIS EYELASHES TO CREATE HIS MINUTE MASTERPIECES. 'IF I MADE A MISTAKE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE TO FIX. I WANTED TO PUT IN AS MUCH DETAIL AS I POSSIBLY COULD. I PUT IN SOME STAINED GLASS WINDOWS. THE WHOLE SCULPTURE IS THE SIZE OF A FULL STOP IN A NEWSPAPER. IT'S QUITE PAINSTAKING, IN FACT IT WAS DRIVING ME INSANE. WHEN YOU'RE WORKING ON SOMETHING SO SMALL IT CAUSES A PROBLEM IF YOU APPLY TOO MUCH PRESSURE. AND I'VE MADE THINGS SO SMALL IN THE PAST THAT I'VE SOMETIMES INHALED THEM.' WILLARD SAYS WORK OF THIS SCALE IS HIS PASSION AND HOPES TO ARRANGE AN EXHIBITION IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE IN THE FUTURE.

£270 MILLION TREASURE TROVE RECENTLY RECOVERED BY SPANISH POLICE

SPANISH POLICE HAVE RECENTLY RECOVERED MOST OF A £270 MILLION TREASURE TROVE OF STUNNING ANTIQUE JEWELS AND OTHER VALUABLES STOLEN FROM A MANSION WHOSE OWNER SAYS HE KEPT IT LOOKING RUN-DOWN AND DECREPIT TO HIDE THE HOARD OF TREASURE INSIDE. TWO PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ARRESTED IN THE 14.MARCH BURGLARY IN THE NORTHEASTERN CATALONIA REGION AND A THIRD IS BEING SOUGHT, POLICE SAID IN A RECENT STATEMENT. THE ENTIRE HOUSE HAD BEEN CLEANED OUT, INCLUDING RINGS, NECKLACES, TIARAS ENCRUSTED WITH DIAMONDS, RUBIES OR PEARLS, SILVER MEDALLIONS, MEDALS, TRAYS, JUGS, AND OTHER VALUABLES DATING AS FAR BACK AS THE 12th CENTURY. ABOUT 85% OF THE LOOT, WHICH WAS KEPT IN GLASS DISPLAY CASES INSIDE, IN FULL VIEW, HAS BEEN RECOVERED, A POLICE SOURCE SAID. THE OWNER, LLORENC JAUME GRAU-PLA IS A DESCENDANT OF A MEDIEVAL BARON, AND ONLY USED THE HOUSE IN THE TOWN OF RIUDECOLS ON WEEKENDS AND IN THE SUMMER. HE TOLD THE NEWSPAPER EL PAIS: 'I KEEP THE HOUSE RUN-DOWN ON PURPOSE AS A WAY TO CAMOUFLAGE THE HIGH-VALUE COLLECTION I KEEP INSIDE.' HE ESTIMATED THE COLLECTION'S VALUE AT £270 MILLION. POLICE SAID THEY CAN NEITHER DISPUTE THAT AMOUNT BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO EXPERTS TO DO AN APPRAISAL. THE TWO DETAINEES, IDENTIFIED ONLY AS YOUNG ROMANIANS, APPARENTLY INVITED THEIR OWN ARREST. A DAY AFTER THE BURGLARY, THEY CALLED POLICE TO REPORT AN ATTEMPTED THEFT AT THEIR HOME ABOUT SIX MILES FROM THE MANSION. OFFICERS SEARCHING IT FOUND A CAMERA WITH PICTURES OF THE TREASURE AND A SOCK CONTAINING AN ANTIQUE COIN FROM THE BURGLED HOUSE. THEY FOUND THE REST OF THE LOOT IN A BAG HIDDEN IN A NEARBY RAVINE. THEIR CALL TO POLICE STEMMED FROM AN APPARENT FIGHT WITH PEOPLE WHO CAME AROUND SEEKING A SHARE OF THE STOLEN PROPERTY, THE POLICE OFFICIAL SAID. THE TWO MEN ARE THOUGHT TO HAVE LEARNED FROM SOMEONE ELSE IN RIUDECOLS THAT THERE WERE VALUABLES IN THE MANSION. RIUDECOLS' MAYOR, SAID THAT THE TOWN WAS IN SHOCK OVER THE INCIDENT. 'THIS HAS BEEN SURREAL BECAUSE ALMOST ON ONE KNEW ABOUT THIS TREASURE', HE SAID.

I SPY STAR ROBERT CULP DIES AT AGE 79

ACTOR ROBERT CULP HAS DIED AFTER COLLAPSING OUTSIDE HIS HOLLYWOOD HOME YESTERDAY. THE STAR, WHO TEAMED WITH BILL COSBY IN THE RACIALLY GROUNDBREAKING TV SERIES I SPY AND APPEARED AS ROB IN THE CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED SEX COMEDY BOB & CAROL & TED & ALICE, WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL BUT WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD UPON ARRIVAL, HE WAS 79. HIS MANAGER, HILLARD ELKINS, SAID THE ACTOR HAD BEEN ON A WALK WHEN HE FELL. THE ACTOR'S SON WAS TOLD HE DIED OF A HEART ATTACK, ELKINS SAID, THOUGH POLICE WERE UNSURE IF THE FALL WAS MEDICALLY RELATED. LOS ANGELES POLICE LT ROBERT BINDER SAID NO FOUL PLAY WAS SUSPECTED. BINDER SAID A JOGGER FOUND CULP, WHO APPARENTLY FELL AND STRUCK HIS HEAD. CULP HAD BEEN WORKING ON WRITING SCREENPLAYS, ELKINS SAID.

I SPY, WHICH AIRED FROM 1965 TO 1968, WAS A TELEVISION MILESTONE IN MORE WAY THAN ONE. ITS COMBINATION OF HUMOR AND ADVENTURE BROKE NEW GROUND, AND IT WAS THE FIRST INTEGRATED TELEVISION SHOW TO FEATURE A BLACK ACTOR IN A STARRING ROLE. CULP PLAYED KELLY ROBINSON, A SPY WHOSE COVER WAS THAT OF AN ACE TENNIS PLAYER. IN REAL LIFE, CULP ACTUALLY WAS A TOP-NOTCH TENNIS PLAYER WHO SHOWED HIS SKILLS IN NUMEROUS CELEBRITY TOURNAMENTS. COSBY WAS FELLOW SPY ALEXANDER SCOTT, WHOSE COVER WAS THAT OF CULP'S TRAINER. THE PAIR TRAVELED THE WORLD IN THE SERVICE OF THE US GOVERNMENT. THE SERIES GREATLY ADVANCED THE CAREERS OF BOTH ACTORS. CULP ALSO HAD STARRING ROLES IN SUCH FILMS AS THE CASTAWAY COWBOY, GOLDEN GIRL, TURK 182!, AND BIG BAD MAMA II. MORE RECENTLY, HE APPEARED IN THE VIDEO FOR EMINEM'S 1999 HIT SINGLE, GUILTY CONSCIENCE. HIS TEAMING WITH COSBY, HOWEVER, WAS PROBABLY HIS BEST REMEMBERED ROLE.

WALLIS SIMPSON'S SHOES TO BE AUCTIONED OFF

A PAIR OF DESIGNER SHOES ONCE WORN BY WALLIS SIMPSON WILL BE AUCTIONED OFF THIS WEEK. SIMPSON, THE AMERICAN WHO MARRIED KING EDWARD VIII AFTER HIS ABDICATION, BOUGHT THE VINTAGE ANDREW GELLER HIGH HEELS AT HARVEY NICHOLS IN LONDON'S KNIGHTSBRIDGE IN THE 1950s. THE DUKE OF WINDSOR LATER GAVE THE SIZE 5 SHOES, WITH INTRICATE FLORAL EMBROIDERY AND GOLD CROSS STRAPS, TO HIS VALET DAVID CAMPBELL FOR A YOUNG NIECE 'TO PLAY DRESSING UP WITH'. THEY ARE EXPECTED TO SPARK WORLDWIDE INTEREST WHE THEY GO UNDER THE HAMMER AT AUCTIONEERS GARDINER HOULGATE'S SALESROOM IN CORSHAM, WILTSHIRE, WITH AN ESTIMATE OF £150 TO £250. THE SALE ALSO INCLUDES FOUR ITEMS WHICH FETCHED MORE THAN £112,000 WHEN SIMPSON'S LEGENDARY GLITTERING JEWELRY COLLECTION WAS AUCTIONED BY SOTHEBY'S IN A LANDMARK SALE WHICH RAISED MORE THAN £31 MILLION FOR CHARITY IN GENEVA IN 1987. JAMIE BELL, AN AUCTIONEER AT GARDINER HOULGATE, SAID: 'WE AREA VERY EXCITED AND PRIVILEGED TO BE SELLING THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF WINDSOR ITEMS. WHAT IS ESPECIALLY INTERESTING IS THAT WHENEVER ANY OF THE DUCHESS OF WINDSOR ITEMS HAVE COME BACK ON THE MARKET, THEY HAVE INVARIABLY MADE MORE MONEY THAN THEY DID IN THE 1987 SALE.' DAVID HARE, GARDINER HOULGATE DIRECTOR, SAID: 'ALL THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF WINDSOR LOTS ARE WONDERFUL, HISTORIC ITEMS WITH ESTABLISHED PROVENANCE FROM THE ORIGINAL SALE.'

CHRISTIE'S TO SELL ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPTS VALUED AT £16 MILLION

AN 'OUTSTANDING' AN UNIQUE COLLECTION OF ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPTS OWNED BY KINGS, BISHOPS AND THE ARISTOCRACY IS EXPECTED TO FETCH UP TO £16 MILLION WHEN IT GOES UP FOR AUCTION. THE PRIVATE COLLECTION, WHICH CHRISTIE'S DESCRIBES AS THE MOST VALUABLE OF ITS KIND EVER TO BE OFFERED AT AUCTION, INCLUDES THE PERSONAL PRAYER-BOOKS OF KING FRANCOIS I OF FRANCE AND ELIZABETH DE BOHUN, DAUGHTER OF KING HENRY V OF ENGLAND. THE ARCANA COLLECTION: EXCEPTIONAL ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPTS AND INCUNABULA, WHICH HAS A TOTAL ESTIMATE OF BETWEEN £11 MILLION AND £16 MILLION, WILL GO ON SALE IN JULY. BUT THE SALE IS JUST THE FIRST PART OF THE AUCTION AND MORE WORKS WHICH ARE CURRENTLY BEING VALUES ARE EXPECTED TO BE OFFERED TO BIDDERS OVER THE NEXT 18 MONTHS. THE MANUSCRIPTS ARE OWNED BY AN ANONYMOUS AMERICAN COLLECTOR, WHO SPENT THREE DECADES AMASSING THE HISTORIC ITEMS. THE ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPTS ARE INTRICATELY HANDWRITTEN BOOKS WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND DECORATIONS PAINTED IN BRILLIANT COLOURS AND GOLD. MARGARET FORD, HEAD OF BOOKS AND MANUSCRIPTS AT THE LONDON AUCTION HOUSE, SAID, 'THIS IS A TRULY EXCEPTIONAL COLLECTION. . . THEY ARE MASTERPIECES OF MEDIEVAL AND RENAISSANCE ART, MANY COMMISSIONED BY IMPORTANT PATRONS. BOOK OF HOURS ARE AMONG THE MOST PERSONAL ARTWORKS. USED FOR PRIVATE DEVOTION, THEY ARE ALSO INTENDED TO REFLECT THE WEALTH AND STATUS OF THE OWNER AND LEADING ARTISTS AND CRAFTSMEN WERE ENGAGED IN THEIR CREATION. THE ARCANA COLLECTION OFFERS THE BEST EXAMPLES OF THEIR TYPE, RANGING FROM BOOKS OF HOURS TO WORKS OF LITERATURE AND ON THE NATURAL WORLD.' THE COLLECTION OF 48 STUNNING LOTS WILL GO UNDER THE HAMMER ON 7.JULY AT CHRISTIE'S LONDON.
The collection of 48 lots will go under the hammer on July 7 in London.

BONHAMS SELLS SIGNED COPY OF WIND IN THE WILLOWS FOR £32,400

A SIGNED COPY OF THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS DEDICATED TO THE DAUGHTER OF THE MAN WHO INSPIRED THE CHARACTER OF RATTY HAS SOLD AT BONHAMS 'BOOKS, MAPS AND MANUSCRIPT' SALE RECENTLY AFTER FIERCE BIDDING FOR AN ASTONISHING £32,400. THE INSCRIPTION READS: 'TO FOY FELICIA QUILLER COUCH FROM HER AFFECTIONATE FRIEND KENNETH GRAHAME, OCT. 1908'. FOY WAS THE DAUGHTER OF THE NOTED CORNISH AUTHOR, ESSAYIST AND ANTHOLOGIST SIR ARTHUR QUILLER-COUCH AT WHOSE HOME, THE HAVEN AT FOWEY, KENNETH GRAHAME OFTEN STAYED AND WHERE HE FIRST FOUND THE INSPIRATION FOR WIND IN THE WILLOWS. OTHER HIGHLIGHTS IN THE AUCTION INCLUDED THE PRIVATE JOURNALS OF A VOYAGE TO AUSTRALIA 'SPILLING THE BEANS ON THE DRUNKEN ROWS AND CAVORTING ON BOARD' SOLD FOR £14,400. JAMES BELL, WROTE THE DIARY TO KEEP A PROMISE TO A GIRL BACK HOME IN WORKINGTON THAT HE WOULD SEND HER A RECORD OF THE TRIP. A SKETCHBOOK CONTAINING WHAT IS BELIEVED TO BE THE ONLY KNOWN PICTURE DRAWN FROM LIFE OF HORATIA NELSON AND HIS LOVER EMMA HAMILTON WAS SOLD FOR £30,000. THE PAINTING IS ONE OF 37 WATERCOLOURS BY ELLIS CORNELIA KNIGHT WHO ACCOMPANIED NELSON, SIR WILLIAM HAMILTON AND HIS WIFE EMMA ON THE FLAGSHIP FOUDROYANT ROUND THE MEDITERRANEAN. A CACHE OF PAPERS RELATING TO THE ENGLISH CIVIL WAR, INCLUDING DOCUMENTS SIGNED BY OLIVER CROMWELL MADE £20,400. IN TOTAL THE SALE REALIZED £567,000 WITH 94% SOLD BY VALUE.

THE STAFFORDSHIRE HOARD HAS BEEN SAVED FOR THE COUNTRY

THE ART FUND HAS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THAT THE STAFFORDSHIRE HOARD, THE LARGEST ARCHAEOLOGICAL ANGLO-SAXON FIND EVER UNEARTHED, HAS BEEN SAVED FOR THE NATION. THE NEWS COMES AFTER THE NATIONAL HERITAGE MEMORIAL FUND (NHMF), THE GOVERNMENT'S FUND OF LAST RESORT FOR HERITAGE ITEMS AT RISK, PLEDGED £1,285,000, BRINGING THE CAMPAIGN TO THE £3.3 MILLION TARGET, JUST OVER THREE WEEKS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. THANKS TO THE SUPPORT OF THE PUBLIC, TRUSTS AND FOUNDATIONS, AND THE GENEROUS £1,285,000 NHMF GRANT, THE AWE-INSPIRING FIND HAS NOW BEEN SAFELY SECURED FOR BIRMINGHAM MUSEUMS & ART GALLERY AND THE POTTERIES MUSEUM & ART GALLERY, STOKE-ON-TRENT. STEPHEN DEUCHAR, DIRECTOR OF THE ART FUND, SAID: 'WE HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY BOWLED OVER BY THE ENTHUSIASM AND FASCINATION THE STAFFORDSHIRE HOARD HAS SPARKED AMONGST THE BRITISH PUBLIC, AS WELL AS VISITORS FROM ABROAD. IT IS WONDERFUL NEWS THAT THE NHMF HAS ENABLED THE TARGET OF £3.3 MILLION TO BE REACHED AHEAD OF THE DEADLINE, AND I HOPE THAT THIS WILL GIVE THE WEST MIDLANDS A HEAD-START WITH THE NEXT STAGE IN FUND RAISING FOR THE CONSERVATION, RESEARCH AND DISPLAY OF THE TREASURE.' HOWEVER, THE ART FUND EMPHASIZED THAT THERE IS STILL MORE WORK TO BE DONE. A FURTHER £1.7 MILLION MUST BE FOUND SO THAT THE HOARD CAN BE PROPERLY CONSERVED, STUDIED AND DISPLAYED. PLANS FOR THE FUTURE CONSERVATION AND INTERPRETATION OF THE HOARD INCLUDE THE CREATION OF A 'MERCIAN TRAIL' WHICH WOULD HIGHLIGHT THE FASCINATING HISTORY OF MERCIA, THE ANGLO-SAXON KINGDOM WHICH COVERED THE WEST MIDLANDS AREA. THE HOARD WAS FOUND IN JULY 2009 IN A FIELD NEAR LICHFIELD, WHICH ALREADY CONTAINS TWO OTHER ANGLO-SAXON TREASURES: THE ILLUMINATED ST CHAD GOSPELS AND A STONE ANGEL. WATLING STREET, THE FAMOUS ROAD NOW KNOWN AS THE A5, RUNS CLOSE TO WHERE THE HOARD LAY BURIED FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

MISSOURI HISTORY MUSEUM TO PRESENT 'VATICAN SPLENDORS: A JOURNEY THROUGH FAITH AND ART'

ONE OF THE LARGEST COLLECTIONS OF ART, DOCUMENTS AND HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT OBJECTS FROM THE VATICAN EVER TO TOUR NORTH AMERICA IS COMING TO THE MISSOURI HISTORY MUSEUM IN ST LOUIS FOR A LIMITED ENGAGEMENT BEGINNING 15.MAY. 'VATICAN SPLENDORS: A JOURNEY THROUGH FAITH AND ART' WILL PRESENT UNIQUE OBJECTS ILLUSTRATING THE VATICAN'S IMPACT ON HISTORY AND CULTURE THROUGH 2,000 YEARS. APPROXIMATELY 170 OBJECTS WILL BE PRESENTED IN GALLERIES AND RECREATED ENVIRONMENTS THAT ENHANCE THE VISITOR'S UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR HISTORICAL AND ARTISTIC SIGNIFICANCE. ITEMS IN THE COLLECTION INCLUDE A STUNNING ARRAY WHICH INCLUDES MOSAICS, FRESCOES, PAINTINGS BY RENAISSANCE MASTERS, WORKS BY WELL KNOWN SCULPTORS, PRECIOUS OBJECTS FROM THE PAPAL MASS, UNIFORMS OF THE PAPAL SWISS GUARDS AND HISTORICAL MAPS, DOCUMENTS AND RELICS. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EXHIBITION INCLUDE ARTWORK BY MICHELANGELO, SIGNED DOCUMENTS AND PERSONAL OBJECTS SUCH AS HIS DRAWING CALIPER, AND TOOLS USED IN WORKS ON THE SISTINE CHAPEL AND BASILICA OF SAINT PETER'S, AND VENERATED RELICS (BONE FRAGMENTS) OF SAINT PETER AND SAINT PAUL ALONG WITH OBJECTS DISCOVERED AT THEIR TOMBS. THE EXHIBITION WILL ONLY APPEAR IN THREE NORTH AMERICAN CITIES, AFTER WHICH THE ITEMS WILL RETURN TO THE VATICAN, FROM WHICH THEY CANNOT BE ABSENT FOR MORE THAN A YEAR.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.mohistory.org/home

JULIAN'S AUCTIONS TO OFFER NEVER BEFORE SEEN MARILYN MONROE PHOTOGRAPHS

AN AMAZING SET OF 11 NEVER BEFORE-SEEN PHOTOGRAPHS OF HOLLYWOOD LEGEND MARILYN MONROE RELAXING ON THE SET OF HER CLASSIC COMEDY FILM 'SOME LIKE IT HOT' HAVE BEEN RECENTLY REVEALED TO THE PUBLIC. THE SHOTS ARE UNUSUAL BECAUSE THEY ARE IN COLOUR, WHEREAS THE FILM WAS DONE IN BLACK AND WHITE. THE PHOTOGRAPHS SHOW MARILYN CHATTING ON SET WITH CO-STAR TONY CURTIS IN THE 1959 FILM, THREE YEARS BEFORE HER DEATH. ANOTHER SHOWS CURTIS DRESSED IN DRAG ABOUT TO APPLY HIS OWN LIPSTICK. IT WAS CURTIS'S HEAVY MAKE-UP WHICH FORCED THE FILM TO BE SHOT IN BLACK AND WHITE. ORIGINALLY, THE PRODUCTION WAS TO BE IN FULL COLOUR, BUT AFTER SEVERAL SCREEN TESTS, IT HAD TO BE CHANGED TO BLACK AND WHITE BECAUSE OF THE VERY OBVIOUS 'GREEN TINT' AROUND THE THICK PAN-STICK REQUIRED BY CURTIS AND LEMMON WHEN PORTRAYING JOSEPHINE AND DAPHNE -- CURTIS AND LEMMON DON THE FEMALE DISGUISES TO ESCAPE GANGSTERS AFTER THEY WITNESS THE ST VALENTINE'S DAY MASSACRE. THE PHOTOS COME FROM A SET OF SLIDES TAKEN ON LOCATION IN FLORIDA, THAT ARE ABOUT TO GO ON SALE AT AN AUCTION OF SHOWBIZ MEMORABILIA. THE SALE IS BEING ORGANIZED AT THE PLANET HOLLYWOOD RESORT AND CASINO IN LAS VEGAS ON 25.JUNE BY JULIEN'S AUCTION HOUSE.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY ROBERT MAPPLETHORPE DONATED TO ITALIAN MUSEUMS

THREE IMPORTANT PHOTOGRAPHS BY ROBERT MAPPLETHORPE (1946-1989) HAVE BEN DONATED BY THE ROBERT MAPPLETHORPE FOUNDATION TO THE PERMANENT COLLECTIONS OF THE RENOWNED FLORENTINE STATE MUSEUMS, THE GALLERIA DELL'ACCADEMIA AND THE GALLERIA DEGLI UFFIZI. A CEREMONY WAS HELD RECENTLY IN THE CITY TO MARK THE HISTORIC OCCASION. MAPPLETHORPE'S 'VON HACKENDAHL', IS A STUDY OF A MALE POSITIONED LIKE AN ANCIENT ATHLETE, AND 'DERRICK CROSS', IS A STUDY OF THE MODEL IN A YOGA POSE, REPRESENT THE FIRST WORKS BY AN AMERICAN ARTIST TO ENTER THE COLLECTION OF TE GALLERIA DELL'ACCEDEMIA AND ARE AMONG THE ONLY MODERN WORKS BY ANY ARTIST. THE PHOTOGRAPHS, WHICH ILLUSTRATE MAPPLETHORPE'S PASSION FOR THE HUMAN FORM AND HIS TECHNICAL AND FORMAL MASTERY, WERE DONATED BY THE FOUNDATION FOLLOWING THE SUCCESS OF THE RECENT EXHIBITION AT THE MUSEUM, 'ROBERT MAPPLETHORPE: PERFECTION IN FORM', WHICH FEATURED BOTH WORKS. THE EXHIBITION, WHICH SHOWED WORKS BY MAPPLETHORPE IN THE COMPANY OF MICHELANGELO'S SCULPTURES AND DRAWINGS, WAS THE FIRST TO BE DEDICATED TO A POST-RENAISSANCE ARTIST AT THE ACCADEMIA. DUE TO THE POPULARITY OF THE SHOW DURING ITS INITIAL FOUR-MONTH RUN, THE MUSEUM EXTENDED IT BY ANOTHER FOUR MONTHS THROUGH JANUARY 2010. THE ARTIST'S 'SELF PORTRAIT' HAS ALSO BEEN DONATED TO THE GALLERIA DEGLI UFFIZI, FOLLOWING A REQUEST BY THE MUSEUM TO INCLUDE A MAPPLETHORPE WORK IN ITS CELEBRATED SELF-PORTRAITS COLLECTION. THE PHOTOGRAPH, WHICH PICTURES THE ARTIST WEARING LIPSTICK AND A FEATHER BOA, IS A CELEBRATION OF HIS TRANSGRESSIVE SIDE AS WELL AS A REFERENCE TO THE ARTIST MARCEL DUCHAMP, TO WHOM HE STRONGLY RELATED. THE PHOTOGRAPH WILL JOIN THE WORLD'S LARGEST COLLECTION OF SELF PORTRAITS, CONSISTING OF APPROXIMATELY 1,700 WORKS, WHICH WAS FOUNDED IN THE 17th CENTURY BY CARDINAL LEOPOLDO DE'MEDICI.

NEW ZEALAND FASHION DESIGNER INSULTS PRINCESS ROYAL

A NEW ZEALAND FASHION DESIGNER HAS INSULTED PRINCESS ANNE BY CALLING HER 'BORING AS BAT ****' AND LIKENING HER HAIRSTYLE TO 'A COTTAGE LOAF'. BRITISH-BORN DENISE L'ESTRANGE-CORBET MET THE PRINCESS AT A PRIVATE COCKTAIL RECEPTION IN AUCKLAND LAST WEEK. THE PRINCESS WAS ON A LOW-KEY VISIT TO NEW ZEALAND AND WAS THE GUEST OF HONOR AT THE PARTY, HELD TO LAUNCH A NEW CAMPAIGN FOR THE COUNTRY'S BRANCH OF SAVE THE CHILDREN. THE PRINCESS HAS BEEN PRESIDENT OF THE CHARITY SINCE 1970. BUT THE NEW ZEALAND MEDIA, AND HER FELLOW GUESTS, GAVE HER A COOL RECEPTION. THE NEW ZEALAND HERALD SCOFFED AT THE PRINCESS'S OUTFITS, REPORTING THAT SHE WORE 'AN ILL-FITTING JACKET IN AN UNFLATTERING SHADE OF NEON TANGERINE, WITH A MATRONLY HAIR-BUN SET SO RIGID IT APPEARED LIKE A BERET'. THE REPORT BY THE PAPER'S DIARIST ALSO TOOK AIM AT THE PRINCESS ROYAL'S HEIGHT. 'CAROL HIRSCHFELD, WHO MC'd THE EVENT, CHOSE KITTEN HEELS SO AS TO AVOID TOWERING OVER THE PRINCESS. THAT DIDN'T WORK', IT SAID. BUT IT WAS L'ESTRANGE-CORBET WHO DELIVERED THE MOST SCATHING INSULT. 'SHE WAS AS BORING AS ******* BAT ****, IS WHAT SHE WAS', SHE REPORTEDLY TOLD THE NEWSPAPER. 'THE WORLD'S HAIRDRESSERS AT YOUR BECK AND CALL AND YOUR HAIR LOOKS LIKE A COTTAGE LOAF! AND PERSONALITY MINUS! NO WONDER DIANA LEFT THEM ALL FOR DEAD'. BUCKINGHAM PALACE HAS DECLINED TO COMMENT.

RARE SCHINDLER'S LIST TO BE SOLD FOR £1.5 MILLION

THE FAMOUS SCHINDLER'S LIST OF JEWS SAVED FROM THE NAZI HOLOCAUST DURING WORLD WAR TWO IS BEING OFFERED UP FOR PRIVATE SALE FOR £1.5 MILLION. THE LIST OF 801 JEWISH MEN, WOMAN AND CHILDREN, WHICH BELONGS TO THE FAMILY OF OSKAR SCHINDLER'S RIGHT HAND MAN, ITZHAK STERN, IS ONE OF ONLY FIVE KNOWN TO EXIST. BEING SOLD THROUGH THE WEBSITE Momentsintime.com, THE OLD AND TATTERED MANUSCRIPT DATED FROM 18.4.1945, IS BEING HANDLED ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVED BASIS. THE STERN FAMILY, WHOSE PATRIARCH, ITZHAK WAS PLAYED BY BEN KINGSLEY IN THE OSCAR WINNING SPIELBERG EPIC 'SCHINDLER'S LIST', HAVE BEEN IN NEGOTAITIONS WITH Momentsintime.com FOR OVER TWO YEARS. 'THERE ARE FIVE KNOWN EXAMPLES OF SCHINDLER'S LIST PRESERVED IN THE WORLD TODAY', SAID A SPOKESPERSON FOR Momentsintime.com. 'THIS IS ONE OUT OF A REPUTED LIST OF SEVEN MADE BY IN TOTAL OSKAR SCHINDLER. TWO ARE IN THE HANDS OF THE ISRAELI HOLOCAUST MUSEUM, ONE IS IN KOBLENZ IN GERMANY AND THE OTHER IS IN THE HOLOCAUST MUSEUM IN WASHINGTON DC. THE OTHER TWO ARE UNACCOUNTED FOR.' THE PLAIN, TYPED NAMES AND BIRTH-DATES CONCEAL THE VAST HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE AND PERSONAL DANGER WHICH SCHINDLER HIMSELF WENT THROUGH TO RESCUE THE CONDEMNED JEWS. SCHINDLER OWNED A FACTORY IN KRAKOW, POLAND, DURING WORLD WAR TWO AND RELIED ON JEWISH LABOR TO RUN THE PLANT. HE BECAME DISTRESSED AT THE GERMAN TREATMENT OF THE JEWS AFTER WITNESSING A 1942 RAID ON A JEWISH GHETTO AND USED HIS POSITION IN THE NAZI PARTY TO PERSUADE OFFICIALS THAT HIS WORKERS WERE VITAL TO THE WAR EFFORT AND SAVED THEM FROM THE GAS CHAMBERS. HE IS CREDITED WITH SAVING 1,200 JEWS DURING THE WAR.

PRINCE OF WALES AND CAMILLA JOIN WORSHIPERS FOR SUNDAY MASS

CHURCHGOERS FROM A PRAGUE CHURCH WERE JOINED BY TWO UNEXPECTED WORSHIPERS RECENTLY, THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL. THE ROYAL COUPLE JOINED BRITISH AND AMERICAN EX-PATS WHO FILLED THE SIMPLE WOODEN PEWS OF THE 15th CENTURY GOTHIC BUILDING ON SUNDAY. THE CHURCH'S CHAPLAIN REVEREND RICKY YATES GREETED THE ROYALS AT THE STEPS OF ST CLEMENT'S IN THE CAPITAL OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC. HE LATER TOLD THE CONGREGATION AFTER THE ROYALS HAD BEEN SEATED IN THE FRONT PEW: 'MAY I WELCOME WITH GREAT PLEASURE THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSESS, THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL, WHO HAVE JOINED US FOR WORSHIP AS PART OF THEIR FOUR DAY TRIP.' WHENEVER A ROYAL VISIT RUNS OVER INTO A WEEKEND CHARLES NORMALLY ATTENDS A CHURCH SERVICE IN THE COUNTRY HE IS VISITING. THE COUPLE ARE COMING TO AN END OF A NINE-DAY TOUR OF EASTERN EUROPE THAT HAS ALREADY TAKEN IN POLAND AND HUNGARY. WHEN THE YOUNGEST MEMBERS OF THE CONGREGATION WERE CALLED FORWARD TO ATTEND SUNDAY SCHOOL A GROUP OF THREE AND FOUR YEAR OLDS GATHERED IN FRONT OF CHARLES AND CAMILLA, WITH THE PROTESTS OF ONE LITTLE BOY IGNORED BY HIS PARENTS. THE REV YATES'S SERMON FOCUSED ON PASSION SUNDAY, THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT. CHARLES AND CAMILLA JOINED THE WORSHIPERS IN SINGING HYMNS WHICH INCLUDED THE TRADITIONAL SONG 'FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT'. CHURCHWARDEN GERRY TURNER, A 63 YEAR OLD BRITISH EX-PAT AND TRANSLATOR WHO HAS LIVED IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC FOR 22 YEARS, SAID PRAYERS FOR LEADING FIGURES INCLUDING THE QUEEN AND THE ROYAL FAMILY. AFTER THE SERVICE, HE SAID: 'EVERYONE IS CHUFFED TO HAVE HAD THE PRINCE AND DUCHESS HERE, ESPECIALLY THE AMERICANS.'

HERMES PLANS TO EXPAND ITS LUXURY MARKET

HERMES HAS BEEN EXPANDING ITS REACH SINCE IT STARTED AS A LUXURY PARISIAN SADDLE SHOP IN 1837. TODAY HERMES NOW ENCOMPASSES 17 DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, WHICH STILL INCLUDES LUXURY CUSTOM MADE SADDLES AS WELL AS PERFUME, APPAREL AND TABLEWARE TO JEWELRY AND CASHMERE THROWS. THEN THERE'S THE FAMOUS LINE OF ICONIC HAND BAGS, INCLUDING THE MUCH COVETED BIRKIN BAG. THANKS TO PIERRE-ALEXIS DUMAS, THE COMPANY'S VISIONARY ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, HERMES HAS EXPANDED ITS RANGE TO ALSO INCLUDE A $7.6 MILLION HELICOPTER, A $2.1 MILLION CAR AND A $109 MILLION YACHT. AND HE PLANS ON FURTHER EXPANSION. IN A RECENT INTERVIEW WITH THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, DUMAS REVEALED HIS PLANS TO REFRESH AND EXPAND ON THE HERMES LUGGAGE LINE AND THE HERMES BRAND AS A WHOLE. 'TWENTY YEARS AGO WE DID A HARD-CASE SUITCASE IN CARBON FIBER. IT WAS QUITE INNOVATIVE. I AM VERY INTERESTED IN EXPANDING THE LINE. WE HAVE TO REINVENT OURSELVES. IF WE LAUNCH A PERFUME AND IT IS WHAT WE DID IN THE 70s, WHAT'S THE POINT? WE ARE CONSTANTLY REASSESSING WHO WE ARE. HERMES IS GOING TO EXPAND MORE ON SPACE AND HOME. IF YOU HAVE A VERY LARGE BOAT, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO PUT INSIDE?'

ISTITUTO ITALINO DI CULTURA PRESENTS 'MARIA CALLAS: A WOMAN, A VOICE, A MYTH'

JUST OVER FIFTY YEARS SINCE MARIA CALLAS' HISTORIC DEBUT AT THE SHRINE AUDITORIUM IN LOS ANGELES, THE SPIRIT OF 'LA DIVINA' RETURNS TO THE CITY OF ANGELS AT THE ISTITUTO ITALINO DI CULTURA (ITALIAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE/IIC) THROUGH 23.APRIL IN THE EXHIBITION 'MARIA CALLAS: A WOMAN, A VOICE, A MYTH' AND BOOK RELEASE THE YOUNG MARIE CALLAS, CELEBRATING THE GREATEST OPERA SINGER OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY. AN IMPRESSIVE COLLECTION OF MARIA CALLAS' HISTORIC STAGE COSTUMES AND PERSONAL ATTIRE, STUNNING JEWELS, RARE DOCUMENTS, BOOKS AND LETTERS PASSIONATELY GATHERED OVER MANY YEARS BY BRUNO TOSI, PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIAZIONE MARIA CALLAS, AS WELL AS PHOTOGRAPHS LENT BY THE HELLENIC PARLIAMENT FOUNDATION FOR PARLIAMENTARISM AND DEMOCRACY, WILL BE EXHIBITED AT THE ICC IN AN EXHIBITION CREATED BY BARTON MYERS ASSOCIATES. THE EXHIBITION IS A MUST SEE FOR ALL LOVERS OF THE ARTS, CULTURE, OPERA, FASHION AND DESIGN. THE SHOW WILL ALSO INCLUDE A SPECIAL SCREENING OF THE DOCUMENTARY BIOGRAPHY®: MARIA CALLAS COURTESY OF THE BIO CHANNEL. PART OF THE EXHIBITION WILL THEN TRAVEL TO VENICE, ITALY TO BE INSTALLED IN THE SOON TO BE INAUGURATED MARIA CALLAS MUSEUM AT SCUOLA DEL CRISTO, SAN MARCUALA-CANNAREGIO
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.iiclosangeles.esteri.it/IIC_Losangeles

BOUCHERON/GIRARD-PERREGAUX LADYHAWKE TOURBILLON WATCH

THE CREATIVE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN BOUCHERON AND GIRARD-PERREGAUX, INITIATED IN 2007, CULMINATED RECENTLY IN A TRULY UNIQUE TIMEPIECE BEATING WITH THE FAMOUS TOUBILLON WITH THREE GOLD BRIDGES. THE MOVEMENT IS A MODERN, ETHEREAL REINTERPRETATION OF THE CALIBRE CONSTANT GIRARD-PERREGAUX PRESENTED AT THE 1889 PARIS UNIVERSAL EXHIBITION, EARNING HIM A GOLD MEDAL, THE VERY SAME YEAR FREDERIC BOUCHERON WAS SIMILARLY REWARDED IN THE JEWELRY CATEGORY. WITH THE LADYHAWKE, A FALCON CLUTCHING A WATCH POWERED BY THE TOURBILLON, BOUCHERON IS FURTHER STRENGTHENING ITS IMAGE AS A JEWELER SPECIALIZED IN WATCHES, WITH ANIMALS AS THE FOCUS POINT OF ITS CREATIONS. WITH THIS UNIQUE PIECE, THE HOUSE'S MASTER CRAFTSMEN ARE OFFERING LOVERS OF RARE SOULFUL OBJECTS A FALCON FASHIONED FROM GOLD ADORNED WITH THE PLUMAGE OF STUNNING PRECIOUS STONES. THIS MAJESTIC PRINCE OF THE HEAVENS, EVER LOYAL COMPANION TO THE POWERFUL, EVOKES MEMORIES OF THE ITALIAN MEDIEVAL LEGEND RECOUNTED IN THE 1985 FILM LADYHAWKE. A TALE OF LOVE, MYSTERY AND MAGIC, WHERE THE HEROINE TURNS FALCON BY DAY AND BEAUTIFUL WOMAN BY NIGHT. THE PIECE OF UNCOMMON PRESENCE IS SET WITH A GRADIENT OF 833 DIAMONDS TOTALING MORE THAN 25 CARATS, AND TRULY STANDS OUT AS A MILESTONE IN BOUCHERON'S ART JEWELRY MAKING. THE BOUCHERON/GIRARD-PERREGAUX LADYHAWKE TOURBILLON TIMEPIECE IS TRULY A ONE OF A KIND CREATION.

LADY SARAH MCCORQUODALE TO BECOME MASTER OF TEH BELVOIR HUNT

LADY SARAH MCCORQUODALE, SISTER OF DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES, IS DUE TO BECAME MASTER OF THE HUNT. UNLIKE HER NEPHEW PRINCE WILLIAM, LADY SARAH IS FREE TO CONTINUE ENJOYING FOXHUNTING. WHEN THE LABOUR GOVERNMENT BANNED FOX HUNTING, THE PRINCE OF WALES AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY RELUCTANTLY ACCEPTED THAT THEY COULD NO LONGER RIDE TO HOUNDS. THERE IS NO SUCH RESTRICTION ON PRINCE WILLIAM'S AUNT LADY SARAH, WHO WILL BECOME A MASTER OF THE BELVOIR HUNT. 'LADY SARAH WILL BECOME A MASTER OF THE HUNT IN MAY', SAYS NINA CAMM, THE SECRETARY OF THE BELVOIR HUNT SUPPORTER'S CLUB. 'SHE HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF THE HUNT FOR MANY YEARS. THERE WAS ALWAYS MUCH SPECULATION ABOUT WHETHER LADY SARAH'S SISTER DIANA, WAS A SUPPORTER OR AN OPPONENT OF HUNTING. ALTHOUGH SHE RODE TO HOUNDS AS A YOUNG GIRL, IT WAS CLAIMED THAT SHE FROWNED UPON THE SPORT IN LATER LIFE. HOWEVER, PRINCE WILLIAM AND PRINCE HARRY REGULARLY RODE TO HOUNDS. WILLIAM CONTINUED HUNTING UNTIL ONE MONTH BEFORE THE BAN CAME INTO EFFECT IN 2005 AND FOXHUNTING IS SAID TO HAVE BEEN HIS FAVORITE SPORT. THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE PRINCESS ROYAL CARRIED ON HUNTING UNTIL 2004. THE PREVIOUS YEAR, PRINCE CHARLES REPORTEDLY TOLD A PRIVATE GATHERING: 'IF THE LABOUR GOVERNMENT EVER GETS ROUND TO BANNING FOX HUNTING, I MIGHT AS WELL LEAVE THIS COUNTRY AND SPEND THE REST OF MY LIFE SKIING.' THE HUNTING ACT HAS RESULTED IN ONLY A HANDFUL OF PROSECUTIONS. IT STILL ALLOWS THE HUNTING OF A FOX'S SCENT WITH DOGS, BUT NOT THE KILLING OF THE ANIMAL. LADY SARAH IS CURRENTLY THE HIGH SHERIFF OF LINCOLNSHIRE, THE UNPAID ENFORCER OF THE QUEEN'S WRIT IN THE COUNTRY. DAVID CAMERON SAYS HE WILL HOLD A FREE VOTE IN PARLIAMENT ON WHETHER TO LIFT THE 2005 LAW IF THE CONSERVATIVES WIN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

PRINCE HARRY HOPES TO JOIN NORTH POLE EXPEDITION

PRINCE HARRY PLANS TO JOIN A CHARITY EXPEDITION WITH INJURED SERVICEMEN TO THE NORTH POLE NEXT YEAR. HE SAID RECENTLY THAT HE HOPES TO COMPLETE PART OF THE 300 MILE ARCTIC TREK ALONGSIDE AMPUTEES WHO LOST LIMBS IN THE LINE OF DUTY. THE 25 YEAR OLD PRINCE HAD ALREADY BEEN NAMED AS PATRON OF THE EVENT, WHICH AIMS TO RAISE £1 MILLION FOR THE CHARITY WALKING WITH THE WOUNDED. BUT AT A LUNCHEON IN LONDON HE ANNOUNCED THAT HE WANTS TO GO FURTHER WITH HIS SUPPORT. 'YOU WILL BE GLAD TO KNOW THAT IF MY MILITARY COMMITMENTS ALLOW ME I WOULD LOVE TO JOIN THE TEAM', HE SAID. ALTHOUGH HARRY IS TRAINING TO BECOME AN ARMY AIR CORPS HELICOPTER PILOT AND PLANS TO RETURN TO AFGHANISTAN IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS, HE IS HOPEFUL OF BEING GIVEN PERMISSION TO JOIN THE MONTH LONG EXPEDITION FOR FIVE DAYS NEXT APRIL. FUNDS RAISED WILL HELP REHABILITATE INJURED SERVICE PERSONAL BACK INTO EMPLOYMENT. DURING THE TREK, THE EIGHT-STRONG TEAM WILL TAKE THE SIBERIAN APPROACH TO THE NORTH POLE ACROSS THE FROZEN ARCTIC OCEAN. ACCOMPANIED BY EXPERT GUIDES, THEY WILL FACE TEMPERATURES AS LOW AS MINUS 50c, FIELDS OF FLOATING ICE RUBBLE AND THE THREAT OF AGGRESSIVE POLAR BEARS. EACH PARTICIPANT WILL HAVE TO COMPLETE THE TREK ON SKIS WHILE PULLING MORE THAN 240lbs OF EQUIPMENT ON SLEDS. IT IS THOUGHT THAT NO AMPUTEE HAS EVER MADE IT TO THE POLE UNASSISTED. HARRY, WHO TESTED HIS STRENGTH BY DRAGGING A SLED, SAID: 'THIS PROJECT EXEMPLIFIES THE TENACITY AND COURAGE OF THOSE WHO SERVE OUR COUNTRY. THEY ARE A HUGE EXAMPLE TO US ALL.'
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.walkingwiththewounded.org.uk