SHROUD OF TURIN TO BE DISPLAYED FOR SIX WEEKS

THE LONG LINEN WITH THE FADED IMAGE OF A BEARDED MAN IS THE OBJECT OF CENTURIES-OLD FASCINATION AND WONDERMENT, AND CLOSELY KEPT UNDER WRAP. STARTING 10.APRIL, AND BEING EXHIBITED FOR SIX WEEKS, BOTH THE CURIOUS AND THOSE CONVINCED THE TURIN SHROUD IS THE BURIAL CLOTH OF CHRIST CAN HAVE A BRIEF LOOK. BY LATE FRIDAY, 1.5 MILLION PEOPLE HAD RESERVED THEIR FIVE MINUTE CHANCE TO GAZE AT THE CLOTH, WHICH IS KEPT IN A BULLETPROOF, CLIMATE-CONTROLLED CASE. ORGANIZERS SAID EARLIER THIS YEAR THEY HOPED SOME 2 MILLION PILGRIMS AND TOURISTS WOULD SEE THE LINEN DURING THE SPECIAL VIEWING FROM 19.APRIL TO 23.MAY. THAT NUMBER DOESN'T INCLUDE POPE BENEDICT XVI, WHO WILL FLY TO TURIN ON 2.MAY FOR A DAY TRIP TO PRAY BEFORE THE SHROUD. TRADITIONALLY, THE PUBLIC GETS A PEEK AT THE 14 FOOT LONG, 3.5 FOOT WIDE CLOTH ONLY ONCE EVERY 25 YEARS. BUT RECENT DECADES HAVE SEEN MUCH LONGER INTERVALS. THE SHROUD WENT ON DISPLAY IN 1998 AFTER A 20 YEAR WAIT AND THEN AGAIN IN 2000 DURING THE MILLENNIUM CELEBRATIONS. SINCE THE LINEN'S PREVIOUS SHOWING A DECADE EARLIER, RESTORERS HAVE REMOVED PATCHES SEWN ON BY NUNS IN 1534, TWO YEARS AFTER A FIRE DAMAGED THE CASE THEN HOLDING THE SHROUD, A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SHROUD MUSEUM SAID IN A RECENT INTERVIEW. TAKING OFF THE PATCHES ALLOWED THE LINEN TO BE FULLY EXTENDED AND LET RESTORERS SMOOTH OUT CREASES IN WHAT FOR CENTURIES HAD BEEN A ROLLED-UP CLOTH, MAKING FOR WHAT RESTORERS HOPE WILL BE BETTER PRESERVATION.

DISOWNED PICASSO PAINTING TO HAVE US DEBUT

A PAINTING DISOWNED BY PABLO PICASSO IS EXPECTED TO HAVE ITS AMERICAN DEBUT IN A MAJOR EXHIBIT OF HIS WORK AT NEW YORK CITY'S METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART, THOUGH IT'S UNLIKELY TO BE A HIGHLIGHT OF THE SHOW. QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN RAISED ABOUT THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE PAINTING, WHICH IS CALLED 'EROTIC SCENE' AND SHOWS A NAKED WOMAN NESTLING HER HEAD IN A MAN'S LAP. BUT THE MET'S CURATOR OF THE 19th CENTURY, MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART SAYS THAT WASN'T THE REASON IT HAD BEEN KEPT IN STORAGE SINCE IT BEING ACQUIRED IN 1982. CURATOR GARY TINTEROW SAYS IT WAS SIMPLY 'NOT VERY GOOD'. HE CALLS IT 'SLAPDASH'. MAYBE THAT'S WHY PICASSO SAID THE PAINTING WAS 'A JOKE BY FRIENDS'. TINTEROW SAYS MET RESEARCHERS CONFIRMED IT WAS BY PICASSO BEFORE INCLUDING IT IN THE SHOW OF 300 WORKS OPENING 17.APRIL.

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION AND QVC ANNOUNCE JOINT VENTURE

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THAT IT HAS LICENSED ITS RENOWNED GEM AND JEWELRY COLLECTION TO CREATE A LINE OF BRACELETS, BROOCHES AND OTHER JEWELED CREATIONS WITH THE TV SHOPPING NETWORK QVC. THE JEWELRY LINE EXPECTED TO LAUNCH THIS FALL WILL BE BASED ON THE NATIONAL GEM AND MINERAL COLLECTION AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, WHICH INCLUDES THE FAMOUS HOPE DIAMOND AND MARIE ANTOINETTE'S EARRINGS AMONG 375,000 OTHER SPECIMENS. CURATORS WILL HELP OVERSEE CREATION OF THE JEWELRY LINE. CURATORS WILL ALSO RECORD INTERVIEWS FOR QVC TO HELP INTRODUCE THE COLLECTIONS AND OFFER A GLIMPSE BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE MUSEUM IN WASHINGTON DC. THE JEWELRY LINE FOLLOWS LICENSING DEALS FOR SMITHSONIAN-BRANDED FURNITURE, LIGHTING, BOOKS AND HOBBY KITS ON MUSEUM COLLECTIONS. SHOWTIME NETWORKS ALSO LAUNCHED THE SMITHSONIAN CHANNEL ON TELEVISION IN 2006 AS PART OF A LICENSING AGREEMENT TO GENERATE REVENUE FOR THE MUSEUM COMPLEX. THE QVC LINE WILL BE PRIMARILY COSTUME JEWELRY AND SEMIPRECIOUS STONES, A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE MUSEUM SAID IN A PRESS RELEASE STATEMENT. SOME OF THE EARRINGS, BRACELETS, RINGS, PINS, AND BROOCHES WILL BE BASED ON DESIGNS OF PIECES IN THE MUSEUM, WHILE OTHERS WILL SIMPLY BE INSPIRED BY ITS COLLECTION, INCLUDING THE HOPE DIAMOND. THE LINE WON'T INCLUDE REAL DIAMONDS, THOUGH.

MARILYN MONROE - SOMETHING'S GOT TO GIVE OUTTAKES

9/11 MUSEUM TO SHOW EXHIBITS OF VIGILS AND MEMORIALS

THE SHRINES OF CANDLES AND FLOWERS AND THE BROKEN PIECES OF STEEL STANDING AT GROUND ZERO BECAME ICONIC IMAGES OF POST-SEPT 11 NEW YORK IN THE WEEKS AFTER THE TERRORIST ATTACK. VISITORS TO THE PLANNED MEMORIAL MUSEUM WILL SEE RE-CREATIONS OF THE VIGILS AND MAKESHIFT MEMORIALS THAT SPRANG UP AROUND THE CITY AND THE EIGHT-MONTH CLEANUP OF THE DESTROYED WORLD TRADE CENTER IN EXHIBITS FOCUSING ON NEW YORKERS' POST-9/11 EXPERIENCE. NEW RENDERINGS OBTAINED BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS RECENTLY SHOW A WOMAN PAYING RESPECTS OVER DOZENS OF CANDLES, FLOWERS, TEDDY BEARS AND A CONSTRUCTION WORKER'S HELMET. THE HOMEMADE SHRINES COVERED THE CITY IN THE WEEKS AFTER THE TRAGIC INDECENT, PARTICULARLY AT MANHATTAN'S UNION SQUARE, WHERE RELATIVES CAME WITH PICTURES OF THEIR MISSING LOVED ONES. AN EXHIBIT FOCUSING ON THE CLEANUP OF THE TRADE CENTER SITE BY THOUSANDS OF GROUND ZERO WORKERS WILL PROJECT IMAGES OF WORKERS AT THE SITE ONTO HUGE REMNANTS OF STEEL FROM THE DESTROYED TWIN TOWERS. VISITORS WILL PASS THROUGH A 'WHERE WERE YOU ON 9/11?' GALLERY, HEARING RECORDED RECOLLECTIONS OF WHAT PEOPLE ACROSS THE WORLD WERE DOING AND HOW THEY LEARNED OF THE 2001 TERRORIST ATTACK. MUSEUM OFFICIALS PRESENTED THE LATEST EXHIBITS FOR THE MUSEUM, SLATED TO OPEN IN 2012, AT A RECENT MEETING OF THE LOWER MANHATTAN DEVELOPMENT CORP. THE DOWNTOWN REBUILDING AGENCY GAVE $2.2 MILLION TO HELP FUND THE EXHIBITS.

DUCHESS OF CORNWALL BREAKS HER LEG IN SCOTLAND

THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL HAS BROKEN HER LEFT LEG WHILE HILL-WALKING IN SCOTLAND, CLARENCE HOUSE SAID TODAY. THE DUCHESS SUFFERED A TWISTED FRACTURE OF HER LEFT FIBULA WHEN SHE SLIPPED WHILE OUTDOORS ON WEDNESDAY BUT THE BREAK WAS ONLY CONFIRMED BY AN X-RAY TODAY. A CLARENCE HOUSE SPOKESPERSON SAID THAT ALTHOUGH DOCTORS HAVE ADVISED HER NOT TO PUT TO ANY WEIGHT ON HER LEG SHE INTENDS TO CARRY OUT ALL HER OFFICIAL DUTIES AND ENGAGEMENTS, WHICH ARE SCHEDULED FOR THE END OF THE MONTH. THE DUCHESS HAS BEEN STAYING AT BIRKHALL THE PRINCE OF WALES'S PRIVATE HOME ON THE QUEEN'S BALMORAL ESTATE. CLARENCE HOUSE SAID IN A STATEMENT: 'YESTERDAY WHILE HILL WALKING IN SLIPPERY CONDITIONS IN SCOTLAND, THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL TOOK A TUMBLE AND HURT HER LEG. TODAY, FOLLOWING DOCTOR'S ADVICE, HER ROYAL HIGHNESS HAD AN X-RAY WHICH SHOWED A TWISTED FRACTURE OF THE FIBULA. CONSEQUENTLY HER ROYAL HIGHNESS IS WEARING A PLASTER CAST AND WILL BE FOR SIX WEEKS.' CAMILLA WAS ON HER TRADITIONAL EASTER BREAK AT BIRKHALL WITH THE PRINCE WHEN THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED. AFTER THE FALL THE DUCHESS NEEDED SOME HELP GETTING DOWN FROM THE HILL BUT THE INJURY WAS NOT THOUGHT TO BE AS SERIOUS AS A FRACTURE. AFTER RESTING OVERNIGHT SHE HAD THE X-RAY WHICH REVEALED THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM. BEFORE THE INJURY CAMILLA HAD BEEN SUFFERING FROM UNRELATED HEALTH PROBLEMS. A TRAPPED NERVE IN HER BACK WHICH HAD BEEN CAUSING HER SOME PAIN FORCED HER TO CANCEL A NUMBER OF ENGAGEMENTS DURING HER RECENT TOUR TO EASTERN EUROPE WITH PRINCE CHARLES.

CHRISTIE'S TO SELL EDVARD MUNCH'S FERTILITY

CHRISTIE'S HAS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED IT WILL BE OFFERING EDVARD MUNCH'S 'FERTILITY', WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT WORKS BY THE ARTIST REMAINING IN PRIVATE HANDS. THE STUNNING PAINTING WHICH IS ESTIMATED AT $25 TO $35 MILLION AND IS THE COVER LOT OF CHRISTIE'S UPCOMING EVENING SALE OF IMPRESSIONIST AND MODERN ART ON 4.MAY. PAINTED IN THE LATE 1890s, FERTILITY WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED IN 1902 BY DR MAX LINDE, THE GERMAN PATRON RESPONSIBLE FOR HELPING MUNCH ESTABLISH HIS CAREER IN GERMANY. SINCE 1918, THE LARGE FORMAT PAINTING HAS REMAINED IN PRIVATE COLLECTIONS IN SCANDINAVIA, WITH PERIODIC LOANS TO PRESTIGIOUS MUSEUM AND GALLERY EXHIBITIONS THROUGHOUT EUROPE AND THE UNITED STATES. THE UPCOMING SALE MARKS THE FIRST OCCASION THAT THE WORK HAS EVER BEEN OFFERED AT PUBLIC AUCTION. AT NEARLY 4 FEET HIGH BY 4½ FEET WIDE, FERTILITY IS ONE OF THE LARGEST WORKS OF MUNCH'S EARLY CAREER. RENDERED IN VERDANT GREENS WITH RICH ORANGE, RED AND YELLOW ACCENTS, THE PAINTING'S FOCAL POINT IS A LUSH FRUIT TREE LADEN WITH RIPE RED CHERRIES. A MAN AND WOMAN DRESSED IN RUSTIC WORK CLOTHES STAND FACING EACH OTHER ON EITHER SIDE OF THE TREE, CREATING A TABLEAU REMINISCENT OF ADAM AND EVE BEFORE THE TREE OF LIFE. THOUGH THE WOMAN'S VISIBLE PREGNANCY AND THE SCENE'S LUSH GREENERY SEEM TO COMMUNICATE A THEME OF REGENERATION AND HOPE, A FRESH WOUND, AS FROM A NEWLY CUT BOUGH, MARS THE TREE TRUNK BETWEEN THE TWO FIGURES AND LENDS THE SCENE AN OMINOUS, UNSETTLED ELEMENT. DEMAND AMONGST COLLECTORS FOR WORKS FROM THIS PROFOUND STRETCH OF MUNCH'S CAREER CONTINUES TO GROW GLOBALLY, FUELED BY THE GREAT SCARCITY OF AVAILABLE EXAMPLES. FEW PAINTINGS FROM THE 1890s ERA STILL REMAIN IN PRIVATE COLLECTIONS, AND THE WORKS MOST CLOSELY RELATED TO FERTILITY, INCLUDING METABOLISM AND EYE IN EYE, ARE IN THE PERMANENT COLLECTION OF THE MUNCH MUSEUM IN OSLO. THE LAST SIGNIFICANT WORK FROM THE MID 1890s TO COME TO MARKET, THE DARKLY SEDUCTIVE VAMPIRE, SET A RECORD OF $38.1 MILLION AT AUCTION IN NOVEMBER OF 2008.

BONHAM'S TO SELL RARE HAND COLOURED MADONNA PRINT BY MUNCH

ONE OF THE EARLIEST KNOWN HAND-COLOURED IMPRESSIONS OF A 20th CENTURY ICONIC IMAGE, EDVARD MUNCH'S MADONNA, IS BEING OFFERED FOR SALE AT BONHAM'S PRINT SALE ON 13.JULY. IT IS ESTIMATED TO FETCH BETWEEN £500,000 TO £700,000. THE MUSEUM QUALITY IMPRESSION, WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN IN PUBLIC, IS SIGNED AND DATED 1895, THE YEAR OF ITS CREATION. THE ARTIST REWORKED HIS ORIGINAL CONCEPT SEVERAL TIMES BETWEEN 1895 AND 1902 AND THE IMAGE EXISTS IN SEVEN DISTINCT STATES. THIS PRINT IS FROM THE VERY FIRST STATE AND IS, ARGUABLY, THE EARLIEST HAND-COLOURED IMPRESSION. IT SHOWS THE MADONNA IN YELLOW AND WHITE SET AGAINST A HALO OF BLUE, GREEN AND RED. MUNCH WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR SOME OF THE MOST RADICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL ADVANCES IN PRINTMAKING AND THIS IMPRESSION DATES FROM A TIME WHEN HE TURNED INCREASINGLY TOWARDS GRAPHIC ART AS A MEANS OF EXPRESSION. ONLY A FEW HAND-COLOURED IMPRESSIONS OF MADONNA ARE KNOWN TO EXIST, MOST OF WHICH ARE NOW IN PUBLIC COLLECTIONS, AND IT IS VARY RARE FOR A PRINT OF SUCH HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE TO APPEAR ON THE OPEN MARKET. ALTHOUGH THERE ARE SIX OIL PAINTINGS OF MADONNA, ALL PREDATING THE PRINT, NONE OF THEM HAVE A BORDER WHICH MADE THE LITHOGRAPHIC IMAGE SO CHALLENGING AT THE TIME. THE WORK IS BEING SOLD ON BEHALF OF THE ESTATE OF THE ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONIST ARTIST FRANK AVRAY WILSON (1914 – 2009).

BALMORAL EXHIBITS QUEEN'S CLOTHES

THE QUEEN HAS LOANED SOME OF THE CLOTHES SHE WEARS AT BALMORAL INCLUDING A QUILTED COUNTRY JACKET, TWEED SKIRT, PLAIN LEATHER SHOES AND A HEADSCARF FOR AN EXHIBITION ON THE ROYAL ESTATE. THE IDES CAME FROM HER STAFF ON THE ESTATE WHO HAVE PUT TOGETHER THE EXHIBITION WHICH SHOWS THE 'THREE LIVES OF BALMORAL'. THE EXHIBITION COVERS BALMORAL'S ROLE AS A WILDLIFE HAVEN AND WORKING ESTATE, VISITOR ATTRACTION AND PRIVATE RETREAT OF THE ROYAL FAMILY. THE EXHIBITION ALSO FEATURES A RARE CHANCE TO SEE A FILM OF THE PRIVATE CEREMONY THAT GREETS THE QUEEN WHEN SHE ARRIVES AT BALMORAL EVERY SUMMER AS WELL AS MANIKINS OF SOME OF THE STAFF'S UNIFORMS SUCH AS THOSE OF THE ROYAL CHEF, FOOTMAN AND PAGE. BALMORAL, A 50,000 ACRE ESTATE OF HEATHER-COVERED HILLS, FORESTS AND RIVERS, HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PLACE OF ROYAL REFUGE. BUT IN ITS ROLE AS A TOURIST ATTRACTION, IT IS OFTEN THE MORE FORMAL SIDE OF THE QUEEN THAT THE PUBLIC SEE THERE. IN FACT LAST YEAR THE MOST NOTABLE OTHER ROYAL CLOTHES ON DISPLAY AT BALMORAL WERE IN THE CASTLE BALLROOM, THE LARGEST ROOM IN THE CASTLE, WHEN A COLLECTION OF ROYAL DRESSES BELONGING TO THE QUEEN WENT ON DISPLAY. THE QUEEN'S CLOTHES WILL HELP DRAW VISITORS WHO WILL HAVE TO PAY UP TO 50% MORE THIS YEAR TO VISIT BALMORAL. THE ADULT PRICE WILL BE £8.50; STUDENTS, UNWAGED AND PENSIONERS WILL BE £7.50 WHILE CHILDREN WILL BE £4.50. BALMORAL SAYS IT IS THE FIRST TIME IN THREE YEARS THAT IT HAS INCREASED PRICES. THE ESTATE IS MAINLY OPEN BETWEEN APRIL TO THE END OF JULY BEFORE THE ROYAL FAMILY ARRIVE FOR THEIR SUMMER BREAK. BALMORAL HAS BEEN THE SCOTTISH HOME OF THE ROYAL FAMILY SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED BY QUEEN VICTORIA IN 1852.

HERMES 'HAUTE BIJOUTERIE' JEWELRY COLLECTION

FRENCH LUXURY DESIGN HOUSE HERMES HAS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THAT IT WILL BE LAUNCHING A STUNNING AND UNIQUE NEW COLLECTION OF FINE JEWELRY DESIGNED BY FAMOUS ACCESSORIES DESIGNER PIERRE HARDY. THE 14 PIECE COLLECTION WHICH HAS BEEN NAMED 'HAUTE BIJOUTERIE' WAS INSPIRED BY THE SHAPE OF A HORSE'S HOOF TO KEEP WITH THE FASHION HOUSE'S EQUESTRIAN ROOTS. PRICES RANGE FROM $23,675 FOR A PAIR OF ROSE GOLD AND BLACK JADE EARRINGS TO $880,000 FOR A DIAMOND NECKLACE. THE JEWELRY PIECES WILL COME IN CUSTOM-MADE BOXES MADE OF BLACK ALLIGATOR LEATHER. HERMES WILL BE TAKING ORDERS FOR THE COLLECTION ON A WORLD TOUR THAT WILL STOP IN TOKYO IN SEPTEMBER, HONG KONG IN OCTOBER AND BERLIN IN NOVEMBER. THE WAITING TIME IS FIVE TO SEVEN MONTHS, AND PIECES CAN BE ADAPTED TO CUSTOMERS' TASTES.

£1 MILLION LEGACY OF 'UNKNOWN ARTIST' DISCOVERED

IT NEVER LOOKED LIKE MUCH FROM THE OUTSIDE, A GRIMY, RUN-DOWN STONE-TERRACE HOUSE WITH TRAFFIC FLOWING PAST THE DOORSTEP. BUT WHEN DAVE PEARSON PULLED THE DOOR SHUT BEHIND HIM, HE LOCKED HIMSELF AWAY INTO A STUNNING WORLD OF HIS IMAGINATION. VIRTUALLY EVERY DAY FOR ALL HIS ADULT LIFE, HE TRANSFORMED HIS THOUGHTS AND INSPIRATIONS INTO PAINTINGS, DRAWINGS, SCULPTURE AND ARTWORK. FEW WERE ABLE TO APPRECIATE THE EXTENT OF HIS WORK, WHICH HE SELDOM SOLD OR EXHIBITED. BUT WHEN HE DIED AT THE AGE OF 70, AN ASTONISHING LEGACY WAS REVEALED. FOR BEHIND THE ANONYMOUS WHITE DOOR IN MANCHESTER ROAD, HASLINGDEN, LAY AN UNSEEN TREASURE TROVE OF ART. PAINTINGS SPILLED OUT FROM EVERY ROOM INTO HALLWAYS, STAIRWELLS AND CORRIDORS. ONE ROOM HAD BEEN CONVERTED AT ONE STAGE INTO A LARGER THAN LIFE RECREATION OF 'BEDROOM' BY VAN GOGH, THE ARTIST WHOSE WORK INSPIRED PEARSON TO A LIFETIME OF PROLIFIC CREATIVITY. NOW THE HOUSE, ON A MAIN ROAD NEAR ACCRINGTON, LANCASHIRE, IS BEING PRESERVED AS A TRIBUTE TO HIS TALENT AND A SHOWCASE FOR HIS WORK. A TRUST HAS BEEN SET UP TO BUY THE HOUSE AND ALLOW A WIDER AUDIENCE TO SEE HIS PAINTINGS AND SCULPTURES THERE. PERHAPS A BRITISH ARTIST CALLED DAVE LACKS SOME OF THE ALLURE OF MICHELANGELO OR LEONARDO, BUT EXPERTS BELIEVE THE COLLECTION COULD EASILY BE WORTH MORE MORE THAN £1 MILLION, ABOUT 15 TIMES THE VALUE OF THE HOUSE.



PEARSON WAS A QUITE, RATHER MODEST MAN AND HE DIDN'T TALK MUCH ABOUT HIS CREATIONS. BEHIND CLOSED DOORS HE WOULD SOMETIMES SURVIVE FOR WEEKS ON LEMONADE AND BISCUITS. YET IT WAS THIS INTENSITY AND ECCENTRICITY THAT INFORMED MUCH OF HIS WORK, PRODUCED IN ANY MEDIUM THAT CAME TO HAND. ONE DAY HE MIGHT START ON A MINUTELY DETAILED PAINTING THAT WOULD COVER EVERY INCH OF A WALL AND PART OF THE CEILING. ANOTHER DAY, HE WOULD CREATE A TINY, INTIMATE SCULPTURE FROM PAPIER MACHE. HE WOULD, OF COURSE, HAVE WELCOMED WIDER APPRECIATION IN HIS LIFETIME, BUT BECAUSE HE PREFERRED TO SPEND EVERY SPARE MINUTE PRODUCING ART RATHER THAN PROMOTING IT, HE ATTRACTED ONLY A SMALL FOLLOWING FOR SOMEONE ONCE DESCRIBED BY AN ADMIRER AS 'ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S MOST EXCITING NEW ARTISTS'. WHEN HE SUCCUMBED TO CANCER TWO YEARS AGO, MOST OF HIS CREATIONS HAD NEVER BEEN SEEN OUTSIDE THE CHAOS OF HIS STUDIO HOME. NOW THE HASLINGDEN MID-TERRACE IS SET TO BECOME A LANDMARK IN THE LIFE OF DAVE, IN MUCH THE SAME WAS A HOUSE IN ARLES DID FOR VINCENT VAN GOGH.

HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR'S FAMILY ALLOWED TO KEEP £6.6 MILLION ANCIENT GOLD TABLET

THE FAMILY OF A HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO KEEP A £6.6 MILLION ANCIENT GOLD TABLET HE RECEIVED IN EXCHANGE FOR CIGARETTES ON THE STREETS OF POST-WAR BERLIN. BERLIN'S VODERASIATISCHES MUSEUM HAD DEMANDED THAT THE 3,200 YEAR OLD ARTIFACT BE RETURNED BECAUSE IT WAS LOOTED BY SOVIET TROOPS. BUT A NEW YORK JUDGE HAD RULES THAT POLISH AUSCHWITZ SURVIVOR RIVEN FLAMEMBAUM'S FAMILY NO LONGER HAD TO HAND OVER THE HISTORIC RELIC. FLAMAMBAUM DIED IN 2003 AT THE AGE OF 92, LEAVING THE TABLET TO HIS THREE CHILDREN, ISRAEL, HANNAH, AND HELEN. THE SOLD-GOLD TABLET ENDED UP IN HIS HANDS AFTER IT WAS LOOTED FROM THE MUSEUM'S STORAGE BY SOVIET TROOPS IN 1945, AND TRADED FOR SEVERAL PACKETS OF CIGARETTES. THE TABLET WAS FOUND IN THE RUINS OF AN IRAQ TEMPLE IN 1913 BY GERMAN ARCHEOLOGIST WALTER ANDRAE AND WAS SHIPPED TO GERMANY BEFORE BEING DISPLAYED AT THE VORDERASIATISCHES MUSEUM. NASSAU COUNTY COUNTY SURROGATE COURT JUDGE JOHN RIORDAN RULED THE MUSEUM HAD WAITED TOO LONG TO PRESS ITS CLAIM, AND DECLARED THE TABLET WAS RIGHTFULLY THE PROPERTY OF THE FLAMENBAUMS. THE FLAMENBAUMS' LAWYER SAID THE FAMILY HAD NO IDEA HOW MUCH IT WAS WORTH, WITH ONE EXPERT PRICING IT AT JUST £60. HE SAID THEY HAD NO PLANS TO SELL THE HEIRLOOM. 'THIS WAS PART OF AN IMMIGRANT'S TALE. IT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS HE WAS ABLE TO GET AND PUT IN HIS POCKET TO MAKE A NEW LIFE', HE SAID.

ANNIE LEIBOVITZ IS FACING MORE FINANCIAL PROBLEMS

PHOTOGRAPHER ANNIE LEIBOVITZ IS FACING NEW ACCUSATIONS OF BALKING AT BILLS, LESS THAN A MONTH AFTER SHE STRUCK A DEAL INTENDED TO RESOLVE FINANCIAL PROBLEMS THAT HAD RISKED HER RIGHTS TO SOME OF POP CULTURE'S MOST FAMOUS IMAGES. INVESTMENT FIRM BRUNSWICK CAPITAL PARTNERS LP SAID IN A LAWSUIT FILED RECENTLY THAT LEIBOVITZ OWES MORE THAN $800,000 IN FEES FOR ITS HELP ARRANGING HER RECENT FINANCING AGREEMENT WITH OTHER FIRMS, COLONY CAPITAL LLC. THROUGH A SPOKESPERSON, LEIBOVITZ DECLINED TO COMMENT. NEW YORK- BASED BRUNSWICK SAID IT 'MADE EXHAUSTIVE EFFORTS' TO LINK LEIBOVITZ WITH INVESTORS WHO COULD HELP HER OUT OF A FINANCIAL HOLE THAT HAD THREATENED TO COST HER CONTROL OF HER LIFE'S WORK. LEIBOVITZ HAS PHOTOGRAPHED FIGURES RANGING FROM BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN TO QUEEN ELIZABETH II DURING HER 40 YEAR CAREER. DESIGNATED A 'LIVING LEGEND' BY THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, SHE MADE BUT MISMANAGED HER FORTUNE. BY LAST SUMMER, SHE WAS STRUGGLING TO REPAY A $24 MILLION LOAN, WITH HER THREE HISTORIC NEW YORK TOWNHOUSES AND THE COPYRIGHT TO ALL HER PICTURES ON THE LINE. 'AS A RESULT OF ITS DILIGENT EFFORTS, BRUNSWICK CAPITAL SUCCESSFULLY FOUND SEVERAL INTERESTED AND VIABLE INVESTORS', INCLUDING COLONY, ACCORDING TO THE LAWSUIT, FILED IN A MANHATTAN STATE COURT. THE LAWSUIT SEEKS MORE THAN $808,000.

SOTHEBY'S TO SELL 1791 US CENSUS SINGNED BY THOMAS JEFFERSON

A FIRST EDITION OF THE US CENSUS SIGNED BY THOMAS JEFFERSON IN 1791 IS HEADING FOR THE AUCTION BLOCK IN NEW YORK CITY. THE 56-PAGE DOCUMENT LISTS THE POPULATION FOR THE NATION'S 13 STATES AND SOUTHWEST TERRITORY. IT'S EXPECTED TO FETCH $50,000 TO $70,000 WHEN IT'S SOLD 14.APRIL AT SOTHEBY'S. THE CENSUS GIVES STATE AND COUNTY BREAKDOWNS. THE STATE POPULATION IS LISTED ACCORDING TO FIVE CATEGORIES: FREE WHITE MALES 16 YEARS AND UPWARD, FREE WHITE MALES UNDER 16, FREE WHITE FEMALES, ALL OTHER PERSONS AND SLAVES. JEFFERSON WAS SECRETARY OF STATE AT THE TIME. ONLY TWO OTHER 1791 CENSUS COPIES SIGNED BY JEFFERSON HAVE BEEN AUCTIONED SINCE 1975. A MANUSCRIPTS SPECIALIST ST SOTHEBY'S ESTIMATES THAT AS FEW AS 200 COPIES WERE PRINTED BUT SAYS NOT ALL WERE SIGNED BY JEFFERSON.

HERMES TO OPEN FIRST SHANG XIA BRAND IN CHINA

HERMES HAS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THAT IT WILL OPEN ITS FIRST STORE UNDER THE XIA BRAND IN CHINA THIS SEPTEMBER. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, PATRICK THOMAS, SAID: 'SHANG XIA, WHICH IS OWNED BY HERMES AND HAS ITS OWN DESIGN TEAM, WILL MAKE AND SELL CLOTHES AND ACCESSORIES BASED ON CHINESE STYLES AND TRADITIONAL KNOW-HOW.' ADDING THAT IF CUSTOMER REACTION PROVES POSITIVE, HERMES WILL 'PROBABLY OPEN A STORE IN PARIS NEXT YEAR AND GRADUALLY ROLL OUT WORLDWIDE.' THE FIRST BOUTIQUE WILL OPEN IN SHANGHAI.

QUEEN ATTENDS EASTER SERVICE

THE QUEEN WAS JOINED BY TWO OF HER GRANDDAUGHTERS WHEN SHE TOOK PART IN THE TRADITIONAL EASTER SUNDAY SERVICE AT WINDSOR CASTLE. A CROWD OF WELL-WISHERS GATHERED OUTSIDE ST GEORGE'S CHAPEL TO SEE MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY AS THEY ARRIVED FOR THE ANNUAL HOLIDAY MATTINS SERVICE. THE QUEEN, WEARING A LONG VIOLET COAT AND MATCHING HAT ACCESSORIZED BY A FLOWER, WAS JOINED BY HER CHILDREN PRINCE ANDREW, PRINCESS ANNE AND PRINCE EDWARD. THE DUKE OF YORK'S DAUGHTERS EUGENIE, WEARING A DARK PURPLE DRESS, WHITE BERET AND JACKET, AND BEATRICE, WHO WAS IN A FLORAL DRESS AND PALE GRAY HAT, WERE ALSO PRESENT, AS WERE THE COUNTESS OF WESSEX AND PRINCESS ANNE'S HUSBAND TIM LAURENCE. AFTER THE HOUR-LONG SERVICE CONDUCTED BY DEAN OF WINDSOR, THE RIGHT REVEREND DAVID CONNER, THE QUEEN LEFT TO APPLAUSE FROM THE CROWDS. SHE WAS PRESENTED WITH POSIES OF FLOWERS BY FOUR YEAR OLD SERAFINA MANNERS, SEVEN YEAR OLD GRACE ABBOTT AND TEN YEAR OLD LOUISA HINKS, BEFORE LEAVING IN A CAR, SMILING AND WAVING. ABBOTT SAID THE QUEEN WISHED HER A HAPPY EASTER AND SAID: 'IT WAS REALLY SPECIAL.' KIMBERLY PEACOCK, ON HOLIDAY FROM HUDDERSFIELD WITH DAUGHTER MADELEINE AND SON ELLIOT, SAID 'WE WEREN'T EXPECTING TO SEE THE QUEEN SO CLOSE UP. IT WAS PRETTY AMAZING.'

MODERNA MUSEET MALMO AND PIERRE LEGUILLON PRESENTS WORKS BY DIANE ARBUS

TEH FRENCH ARTIST PIERRE LEGUILLON HAS COMPILED A UNIQUE RETROSPECTIVE ON THE LARGE BODY OF WORK PRODUCED BY DIANE ARBUS. THIS SPRING AND SUMMER, THE EXHIBITION IS BEING SHOWN AT MODERNA MUSEET MALMO, FEATURING SOME 100 PHOTOS IN THEIR ORIGINAL CONTEXT, ON THE PAGES OF MAGAZINES. IN THE 1960s, DIANE ARBUS (1923-1971) WAS USED WIDELY BY PUBLICATIONS SUCH AS HARPER'S BAZAAR, ESQUIRE, TOWN AND COUNTRY AND VOGUE. HER EXTENSIVE WORK WAS RELATIVELY UNKNOWN AND PIERRE LEGUILLON'S UNIQUE PRESENTATION IS THE FIRST TIME HER WORK HAS BEEN SHOWN IN THIS WAY: A PRINTED RETROSPECTIVE IN THE FORM OF SOME 100 ORIGINAL MAGAZINE SPREADS. THE EXHIBITION PRESENTS A BROAD SPECTRUM OF MATERIAL THAT DEMONSTRATES HER WIDE VARIETY OF SUBJECTS AND GENRES: PHOTO JOURNALISM, CELEBRITY SHOTS, KIDS' FASHION AND SEVERAL PHOTO ESSAYS. ALL ARBUS' PHOTOS ARE SHOWN IN THEIR ORIGINAL CONTEXT, IN THE PAGES OF THE ORIGINAL MAGAZINES TO WHICH THEY WERE PUBLISHED. THE IMAGES ARE SHOWN AS THEY WERE INTENDED TO BE SEEN, IN THEIR INTENDED FORMAT AND SETTING AND IN RELATION TO A TEXT. INTERSPERSED WITHIN THE RICH ARRAY OF ARBUS' PHOTOGRAPHIC OUTPUT ARE VARIOUS TEXTS AND IMAGES BY OTHER PHOTOGRAPHERS SUCH AS ANNIE LEIBOVITZ, BILL OWENS AND WALKER EVANS. THE RETROSPECTIVE WHICH WAS PUT TOGETHER BY PIERRE LEGUILLON AND IS PRESENTED AS A WORK OF ART/EXHIBITION/COLLECTION.
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PERSONAL BELONGINGS OF TEH ROYAL FAMILY TO BE SHOWN AT SANDFRINGHAM

PERSONAL TRINKETS BELONGING TO THE ROYAL FAMILY, INCLUDING A CUSTOM-MADE JIGSAW PUZZLE OWNED BY THE QUEEN, ARE ON DISPLAY FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE EXHIBITION WHICH OFFERS AN INSIGHT INTO THE PRIVATE LIFE OF THE ROYAL FAMILY RECENTLY OPENED AT SANDRINGHAM ESTATE IN WEST NORFOLK. THE COMPLICATED 400-PIECE JIGSAW PUZZLE, A COLLAGE WHICH INCLUDES THE PRINCESS ROYAL, THE DUKE OF YORK, QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER, PRINCESS MARGARET, PRINCES WILLIAM AND HARRY AND THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH, IS AMONG OTHER PREVIOUSLY UNSEEN PERSONAL ITEMS ON DISPLAY. THE JIGSAW PUZZLE WAS SENT TO THE QUEEN, FOR WHOM PUZZLES ARE A FAVORITE PAST TIME, IN 1993 AS A GIFT FROM A SPECIALIST JIGSAW PUZZLE MAKER IN LONDON. THE BOX IS LEFT PLAIN BECAUSE THE QUEEN IS UNDERSTOOD TO FIND THAT HAVING A PICTURE TO FOLLOW MAKES THE TASK TOO EASY. ROMANTIC JEWELRY FROM HER PREDECESSORS ARE ALSO ON SHOW. WHEN QUEEN ALEXANDRA (THEN THE PRINCESS OF WALES) GAVE A PAIR OF STUDS AND A TIE PIN TO THE PRINCE OF WALES (LATER KING EDWARD VII), ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF THEIR ENGAGEMENT IN 1886 SHE WROTE: 'WEAR THESE FOR LUCK ON ST LEGER DAY.' THE PRINCE DID AS SHE ASKED AND HIS HORSE PERSIMMON WON AT THE ST LEGER STAKES AT DONCASTER. VISITORS CAN ALSO PERUSE A BIRTHDAY BOOK GIVEN TO PRINCESS VICTORIA, DAUGHTER OF KING EDWARD VII, WHEN SHE TURNED EIGHT IN 1876, WHICH SHE FAITHFULLY KEPT OR FIFTY YEARS. A GOLD BANGLE MADE FOR QUEEN ALEXANDRA CONTAINS EIGHT LOCKETS, WHICH OPEN TO REVEAL PICTURES OF HER LADIES IN WAITING AND CLOSEST FRIENDS. SWORDS, SCIMITARS, SPEARS AND FIREARMS PRESENTED TO EDWARD VII DURING A TOUR OF INDIA IN THE 1870s, WHILE STILL PRINCE OF WALES, ARE ALSO ON VIEW.

CHANEL SHANGHAI WORLD EXPO ACCESSORIES COLLECTION

TO CELEBRATE THE UPCOMING 1.MAY OPENING OF THE SHANGHAI WORLD EXPO, CHANEL IS LAUNCHING THE SHANGHAI ACCESSORIES COLLECTION WHICH WAS INSPIRED BY LEGENDARY ICONS AND DELIGHTS OF CHINA. THE SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION COLLECTION INCLUDING STUNNING BRACELETS, NECKLACES, RINGS, HANDBAGS AND VARIOUS JEWELRY PIECES, WILL DEBUT AT CHANEL'S FIVE CHINESE BOUTIQUES BEGINNING IN MAY. ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE A HANDBAG INSPIRED BY THE CHINESE TAKE-AWAY BOX, A BOX SHAPED PURSE MADE FROM METALLIC FABRIC WITH THE CLASSIC CHANEL LEATHER AND METAL INTERTWINED CHAIN. KARL LAGERFELD ALSO INTRODUCED A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT METAPHORS IN HIS STUNNING DESIGNS, INJECTING TRADITIONAL CHINESE ART AND FOLK CUSTOMS INTO THE COLLECTION, SUCH AS A DRAGON TOTEM IN THE JEWELRY, OR TASSELS DRESSED AS BRACELETS, AND NECKLACES.

ARTIST CREATES CELEBRITY PRORTRAITS FROM GOOSE EGGS

THEY CALL HIM THE EGG MAN. FOR OVER THIRTY YEARS JOHN LAMOURANNE HAS BEEN MAKING UNIQUE CELEBRITY PORTRAITS FROM GOOSE EGGS, AND SELLING THEM FOR UP TO £600 A TIME. 'MY EGG ART BEGAN AFTER A TRIP TO DISNEY WORLD WITH MY DAUGHTERS IN THE LATE 1970s' SAYS THE 63 YEAR OLD. 'I MADE A MICKEY MOUSE AND THAT LED ME TO PRODUCE MY FIRST REAL EGG ARTWORK OF THE BEATLES.' EACH CREATION IS AROUND FIVE TO SIX INCHES HIGH, PAINTED WITH CERAMIC PAINT AND FINISHED USING MODELING GLUE AND PARTS TAKEN FROM DOLLS. 'I FIRST HOLLOW OUT THE EGGS WITH A SMALL DRILL AND STRAW AND THEN EMPTY THEM OF THE CONTENTS', SAYS LAMOURANNE. 'LUCKILY, IF I MAKE A MISTAKE THE RAW MATERIALS ARE NOT THAT EXPENSIVE OR RARE.' IN THE LAST 32 YEARS, HE ESTIMATES HE HAS MADE SEVERAL THOUSAND EGGS. MANY OF HIS PORTRAITS HAVE ENDED UP IN THE HANDS OF THEIR SUBJECTS. 'GENE SIMMONS FROM KISS APPARENTLY HAS HIMSELF AS PAINTED BY ME', SAY LAMOURANNE. 'THAT IS A COOL THING.'