22.5.10

QUEEN ELIZABETH UNVEILS STATUE AT WESTMINSTER ABBEY


QUEEN ELIZABETH RECENTLY UNVEILED A UNIQUE STATUE OF ELIZABETH I AT WESTMINSTER ABBEY. AN IMPOSING FLAME-HAIRED ELIZABETH I GLARED DOWN ON THE CURRENT MONARCH AS THE QUEEN HELPED WESTMINSTER ABBEY AND SCHOOL REACH A HISTORIC LANDMARK. THERE TO HELP CELEBRATE THE 450th ANNIVERSARY OF THE GRANTING OF THE INSTITUTION'S ROYAL CHARTER, THE CURRENT HOLDER OF THE THRONE UNVEILED A STRIKINGLY MODERN OVERSIZED STATUE OF HER FOREBEAR. SHE ALSO INSPECTED A CHAIR SHE LAST SAT ON MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY AGO, A CORONATION SEAT USED BY ALMOST EVERY MONARCH SINCE 1308. IN 1560, WESTMINSTER ABBEY, WHICH THEN FULLY INCORPORATED THE SCHOOL, WAS GRANTED A ROYAL CHARTER BY ELIZABETH I. ARRIVING IN BRILLIANT SUNSHINE, THE QUEEN, DRESSED IN A DEEP PINK OUTFIT, ATTENDED A SPECIAL SERVICE AT THE PLACE OF WORSHIP. IN NOTES INCLUDED IN THE ORDER OF SERVICE, SHE PAID TRIBUTE TO THE ABBEY'S PLACE 'CLOSE TO THE HEART OF THE SOVEREIGN' AND ITS ROLE IN REFLECTING AND INSPIRING UK LIFE. AFTER BEING LED THROUGH THE CHURCH ACCOMPANIED BY THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH, THE QUEEN TOOK HER PLACE AS GUEST OF HONOUR FOR THE PROCEEDINGS. FOLLOWING THE SERVICE SHE INSPECTED THE ORIGINAL CHARTER BEFORE INSPECTING CONSERVATION WORK ON THE CHAIR. IT IS BELIEVED TO BE THE FIRST TIME SHE HAS SEEN IT SINCE HER OWN CORONATION IN 1953. FROM THE ABBEY, THE QUEEN WAS LED TO THE NEIGHBORING WESTMINSTER SCHOOL WHERE SHE OFFICIALLY OPENED A NEW EDUCATIONAL CENTER. A GROUP OF EIGHT AND NINE YEAR OLDS HAD BEEN ASSEMBLED TO PUT ON A DISPLAY OF ELIZABETHAN DANCE FOR THE OCCASION. THE MEDIEVAL THEME WAS ONLY SLIGHTLY DISTURBED BY THE LOUD CLICK AS THE LATE 20th CENTURY TAPE PLAYER DECIDED IT HAD HAD ENOUGH AS THE MONARCH ENTERED, PUTTING AN ABRUPT END TO THE MUSIC. BUT A QUICK SWITCH OF TAPE PUT THE YOUNGSTERS BACK ON TRACK. IT WAS THEN THE TURN OF THE QUEEN TO UNVEIL THE STATUE OF ELIZABETH I IN THE SCHOOL COURTYARD. AS SHE PULLED THE PURPLE COVERING FROM THE STATUE, SHE WAS CONFRONTED WITH AN 8ft STONE AND BRASS SCULPTURE OF ELIZABETH I, COMPLETE WITH A LARGE MARBLE RUFF. THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH APPEARED TICKLED BY THE ARTWORK, POINTING TO IT AND CHUCKLING AT ONE POINT. BUT ITS CREATOR, SCULPTOR MATTHEW SPLENDOR, SAID THE ROYAL GUESTS APPEARED IMPRESSED. 'THEY WERE INTERESTED IN THE TECHNIQUE I USED AND THE MATERIALS', HE SAID AFTER TALKING WITH THE ROYAL PAIR. FROM THERE, THE QUEEN WAS GUIDED THROUGH THE SCHOOL TO CHEERS OF THE GATHERED BOYS AND GIRLS. 'HIP HIP HURRAH', THEY CHANTED IN UNION TO THE QUEEN'S DELIGHT.

VERSACE MOBILE PHONE





FOLLOWING IN THE STEPS OF ARMANI AND PRADA, VERSACE HAS RECENTLY LAUNCHED A STUNNING NEW LUXURY TOUCHSCREEN MOBILE-PHONE. VERSACE HAVE WORKED WITH MODELABS TO CREATE A LAVISH MOBILE DEVICE FEATURING A SAPPHIRE CRYSTAL SCREEN THAT IS SAID TO BE THE LARGEST SINGLE PIECE OFFERED IN A CONSUMER PRODUCT. 18 CARAT GOLD PLATING AND HIGH-TECH CERAMIC OR HANDMADE LACQUER CONSTRUCTION OPTIONS ADD TO THE DESIGNER LOOK. THE ICONIC VERSACE MEDUSA LOGO IS DISPLAYED BOTH ON THE LEATHER BACK AND THE FRONT OF THE PHONE. THE PHONE IS AN LG DEVICE WITH A THREE-INCH DISPLAY AND FIVE MEGAPIXEL CAMERA. IT OFFERS DOLBY MOBILE SURROUND SOUND TECHNOLOGY FOR HIGH QUALITY IN RINGTONES, MP3 MUSIC FILES AND VIDEO WITH 30 HOURS OF PLAYTIME. IT IS AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY AT VERSACE BOUTIQUES WORLDWIDE.

PRINCE HARRY HOLIDAYS IN AFRICA


PRINCE HARRY IS CELEBRATING THE END OF HIS EXAMS WITH A FIVE WEEK HOLIDAY IN AFRICA. THE YOUNG PRINCE, WHO RECENTLY QUALIFIED AS A HELICOPTER PILOT, IS CURRENTLY BACKPACKING THROUGH BOTSWANA AND SOUTH AFRICA. HE IS THEN EXPECTED TO TAKE IN SOME FOOTBALL AT THE UPCOMING WORLD CUP AND SPEND SOME TIME IN MAURITIUS WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND CHELSY DAVY. AFTERWARD HE WILL RETURN TO BOTSWANA FOR THE START OF HIS FIRST OFFICIAL ROYAL TOUR WITH HIS BROTHER PRINCE WILLIAM IN MID-JUNE. THE 25 YEAR OLD WILL BE ACCOMPANIED ON THE TRIP BY A SMALL ENTOURAGE OF PROTECTION OFFICERS PROVIDED BY THE METROPOLITAN POLICE. WHILE HE IS PAYING FOR HIS OWN FLIGHTS HIS BODYGUARDS WILL BE FUNDED BY THE TAXPAYER, ACCORDING TO THE DAILY MAIL. AMONGST PLANS FOR THE TRIP IS A STINT ON A HOUSEBOAT WITH FRIENDS ON THE OKAVANGO DELTA. THE VESSEL COSTS £600 PER NIGHT AND GUESTS CAN SLEEP UNDER THE STARS OR IN ONE OF THE THREE LUXURY BEDROOMS. OTHER HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE A CAMPING SAFARI IN BOTSWANA. ST JAMES'S PALACE DESCRIBED THE PRINCE'S HOLIDAY AS 'PRIVATE' AND DECLINED TO COMMENT.

DRESS WORN BY THE QUEEN WHEN MICHELLE OBAMA HUGGED HER TO BE DISPLAYED


THE PINK DRESS WORN BY THE QUEEN THE DAY MICHELLE OBAMA BREACHED ROYAL PROTOCOL BY PUTTING AN ARM AROUND HER WAIST IS SET TO GO ON DISPLAY FOR THE FIRST TIME AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE. THE WIFE OF THE US PRESIDENT MADE THE SPONTANEOUS GESTURE, WHICH THE QUEEN RECIPROCATED, DURING A RECEPTION FOR THE G20 LEADERS LAST YEAR. HER MAJESTY'S PINK DRESS WITH A BOX PLEATED HEM WAS DESIGNED BY ANGELA KELLY, THE QUEEN'S INFLUENTIAL DRESSER, AND WILL BE PART OF AN EXTENSIVE DISPLAY WHICH MIXES THE FORMAL AND INFORMAL ASPECTS OF THE ROYAL YEAR. THE CENTER PIECE OF THE SHOW, WHICH OPENS ON 27.JULY, WILL BE THE MAGNIFICENT ROBE OF STATE, ALSO ON VIEW FOR THE FIRST TIME, WHICH THE QUEEN WILL WEAR AT THE STATE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT NEXT WEEK. THE MACE, THE GREAT SWORD OF STATE AND THE CAP OF MAINTENANCE WHICH WILL PRECEDE HER MAJESTY IN PROCESSION THROUGH THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER DURING THE STATE OPENING WILL ALSO BE ON DISPLAY. THE QUEEN'S TROOPING THE COLOUR SADDLE WILL BE ON SHOW, ALONG WITH THE PEARL AND EMERALD-ENCRUSTED VLADIMIR TIARA BOUGHT BY QUEEN MARY IN 1921 AND MOST RECENTLY WORN BY HER MAJESTY IN HER OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPH AS QUEEN OF CANADA. VISITORS WILL BE ABLE TO SEE SOME OF THE GIFTS THE QUEEN HAS RECEIVED OVER THE YEARS, INCLUDING A MODEL OF WALLACE AND GROMIT, THE CARTOON CHARACTERS GIVEN TO HER IN 1996, AND A BUCKINGHAM PALACE UNDERGROUND SIGN FROM THE TRIP TO ALDGATE EAST TUBE STATION IN FEBRUARY THIS YEAR. TENS OF THE HATS HER MAJESTY HAS WORN AT ROYAL ASCOT OVER THE PAST 50 YEARS WILL ALSO BE DISPLAYED, TOGETHER WITH THE ONE SHE PLANS TO WEAR THIS YEAR.

21.5.10

MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS BOSTON TO OPEN NEW WING IN NOVEMBER


THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED WING FOR THE ART OF THE AMERICAS AND RUTH AND CARL J SHAPIRO FAMILY COURTYARD AT THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS BOSTON, WILL OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ON 20.NOVEMBER. IN CELEBRATION, THE MUSEUM IS HOSTING A FREE COMMUNITY DAY TO WELCOME VISITORS TO SEE THE NEW MFA. THE WING AND ENCLOSED COURTYARD ARE THE FOCAL POINTS OF THE MUSEUM'S TRANSFORMATIONAL EXPANSION AND RENOVATION PROJECT, DESIGNED BY INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED ARCHITECTS FOSTER & PARTNERS (LONDON). THE NEW ADDITIONS ELEGANTLY INCORPORATE A MODERNIST AESTHETIC INTO THE MUSEUM'S 1909 BEAUX ARTS BUILDING. THE MFA'S PROJECT REPRESENTS THE MOST EXPANSIVE INITIATIVE FOCUSED ON AMERICAN ART AND CULTURE HAPPENING IN THE WORLD TODAY. IT ALLOWS FOR MORE THAN 5,000 WORKS FORM THE MUSEUM'S ART OF THE AMERICAS COLLECTIONS TO BE ON VIEW, WHICH MORE THAN DOUBLE THE NUMBER PREVIOUSLY DISPLAYED. COMPLETING THE WING IS A SOARING GLASS COURTYARD, THE RUTH AND CARL J SHAPIRO FAMILY COURTYARD, ONE OF THE MOST DISTINCTIVE ARCHITECTURAL SPACES IN BOSTON, WHICH SERVES AS A DYNAMIC CENTRAL MEETING PLACE WITHIN THE MFA. THE AMBITIOUS EXPANSION AND RENOVATION INITIATIVES UNDERSCORE THE MFA'S MISSION, TO MAKE ART MORE ACCESSIBLE AND EXCITING FOR THE MORE THAN ONE MILLION FAMILIES, SCHOOL CHILDREN, COLLEGE STUDENTS AND ADULTS WHO COME TO THE MUSEUM EACH YEAR FOR INSPIRATION AND EDUCATION, AND WHO VALUE IT AS A VITAL COMMUNITY RESOURCE. THE MFA'S ENHANCEMENTS ENRICH THE EXPERIENCES FOR VISITORS FROM BOSTON AND AROUND THE WORLD BY OFFERING VIBRANT NEW SPACES AND BY SHOWING WORKS FROM ALL OF THE AMERICAS IN A COMPREHENSIVE NEW CONTEXT.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.mfa.org

TATE LIVERPOOL PRESENTS 'PICASSO:PEACE AND FREEDOM'


A MAJOR EXHIBITION BRINGING TOGETHER OVER 150 WORKS BY PICASSO FROM ACROSS THE WORLD WILL BE PRESENTED AT TATE LIVERPOOL FROM 21.MAY THROUGH 30.AUGUST. 'PICASSO:PEACE AND FREEDOM' WILL REVEAL A FASCINATING NEW INSIGHT INTO THE ARTIST'S LIFE AS A TIRELESS POLITICAL ACTIVIST AND CAMPAIGNER FOR PEACE, CHALLENGING THE WIDELY-HELD VIEW OF THE ARTIST AS CREATIVE GENIUS, PLAYBOY AND COMPULSIVE EXTROVERT. THIS IS THE FIRST EXHIBITION TO EXPLORE THE POST-WAR PERIOD OF THE ARTIST'S LIFE IN DEPTH, AND WILL REFLECT A NEW PICASSO FOR A NEW TIME. TWENTY YEARS AFTER THE FALL OF THE BERLIN WALL, THE EXHIBITION PROVIDES A TIMELY LOOK AT PICASSO'S WORK IN THE COLD WAR ERA AND HOW THE ARTIST TRANSCENDED THE IDEOLOGICAL AND AESTHETIC OPPOSITIONS OF EAST AND WEST. THE EXHIBITION WILL BRING TOGETHER KEY PAINTINGS AND DRAWINGS RELATED TO WAR AND PEACE FROM 1944-1973, ALONGSIDE A WIDE RANGE OF CONTEXTUAL MATERIALS AND EPHEMERA. THE CENTERPIECE WILL BE THE ARTIST'S MASTERPIECE, THE CHARNEL HOUSE, MARKING 50 YEARS SINCE IT WAS LAST SEEN IN THE UK. THE REMARKABLE WORK WAS PICASSO'S MOST EXPLICITLY POLITICAL PAINTING SINCE GUERNICA. PICASSO'S DOVE OF PEACE BECAME THE EMBLEM FOR THE PEACE MOVEMENT AND UNIVERSAL SYMBOL OF HOPE DURING THE COLD WAR. PICASSO'S LITHOGRAPH OF THE FAN-TAILED PIGEON, GIVEN TO HIM BY MATISSE IN 1948, WA SELECTED FOR THE POSTER FOR THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL PEACE CONGRESS HELD IN PARIS IN 1949. PICASSO LATER PROVIDED VARIATIONS ON THE DOVE FOR THE PEACE CONGRESSES IN STOCKHOLM, SHEFFIELD, VIENNA, ROME, AND MOSCOW. THE DOVE ALSO HAD A HIGHLY PERSONAL SIGNIFICANCE FOR PICASSO GOING BACK TO CHILDHOOD MEMORIES OF HIS FATHER PAINTING DOVES KEPT IN THE FAMILY HOME. IN 1949 PICASSO NAMED HIS DAUGHTER 'PALOMA', SPANISH FOR DOVE, BORN IN THE SAME MONTH AS THE PEACE CONGRESS IN PARIS.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.tate.org.uk

RARE TINTIN MEMORABILIA TO BE AUCTIONED IN PARIS


BEFORE HOLLYWOOD TAKES THE CLASSIC CARTOON CHARACTER TINTIN TO THE BIG SCREEN, COLLECTORS WILL BE VYING FOR RARE MEMORABILIA OF THE BELGIAN HERO AT AN UPCOMING PARIS AUCTION. THE TINTIN SERIES, CREATED BY GEORGES REMI UNDER HIS PEN NAME HERGE, HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR AND MOST RECOGNIZED COMICS IN THE WORLD WITH TRANSLATIONS IN MORE THAN 50 LANGUAGES AND 200 MILLION COPIES OF THE 24 BOOKS SOLD. THE PARIS AUCTION WHICH IS TO BE HELD ON 29.MAY WILL INCLUDE OVER 230 ITEMS FROM 70 COLLECTORS THAT EVEN HERGE'S FOUNDATION MOULINSART, A PARTNER IN THE SALE, NEVER KNEW EXISTED. THE RECENTLY OPENED TINTIN MUSEUM IN BELGIUM OWNS ABOUT 85% OF HERGE'S WORK, INCLUDING ORIGINAL SKETCHES AND EPHEMERA RELATED TO THE TINTIN CHARACTER. THE RARE AND UNUSUAL OBJECTS BEING OFFERED AT THE SALE INCLUDING ANTIQUES AND FIRST EDITION COVERS HAS SURPRISED POTENTIAL INVESTORS. 'THERE'S BEEN A HUGE EXPLOSION OF STRIP CARTOONS OVER THE LAST 10-15 YEARS AND WITH THAT A SECONDARY MARKET HAS DEVELOPED', SAID ALEXIS VELLIET, DIRECTOR OF AUCTIONEERS PIASA. 'THIS GENERATION IS NOW LOOKING AT ORIGINAL DRAWINGS...THE TRUE CREATORS AND IF WE GO BACK THEN HERGE IS ONE OF THEM.' IN 2008, AN ORIGINAL COVER OF 'TINTIN IN AMERICA' SOLD FOR ABOUT $931,000. LAST YEAR, A LOT OF ALMOST 600 ITEMS, INCLUDING HAND-DRAWN ORIGINAL CARTOON STRIPS, RAISED OVER $1.5 MILLION. THE AUCTION IS TIMELY. A MOVIE , 'THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN: THE SECRET OF THE UNICORN', DIRECTED BY STEPHEN SPIELBERG WILL GIVE A HOLLYWOOD SPIN TO THE INTREPID REPORTER NEXT YEAR. LIKEWISE, A CIVIL ACTION CASE IN BELGIUM LAUNCHED EARLIER IN MAY AGAINST THE PUBLISHERS OF 'TINTIN IN CONGO' OVER THE PORTRAYAL OF AFRICANS IN THE BOOK HAS KEPT THE SERIES ALIVE IN THE MEDIA. DESPITE THE CASE, ONE OF THE ITEMS IN THE SALE THAT HAS CAUGHT THE EYE OF COLLECTORS IS A 'SILENT' VERSION OF THE CONGO BOOK. COPIES WERE MADE WITH SPEECH BUBBLES LEFT BLANK TO CONVINCE PUBLISHERS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES TO TAKE ON THE CARTOON IN THEIR LANGUAGE. 'IT'S HARD TO FIND ORIGINALS IN A GREAT STATE AND THESE SILENT BOOKS ARE VERY RARE...MAYBE JUST TENS OF THESE WERE PRINTED', SAID VALLIET. TINTIN MADE HIS FIRST APPEARANCE IN 1929 HEADING TO THE SOVIET UNION IN A SUPPLEMENT FOR THE ROMAN CATHOLIC BRUSSELS WEEKLY LE PETIT VINGTIEME AND IS STILL GOING STRONG. HIS TRAVELS TOOK HIM FROM CHINA TO LATIN AMERICA AND EVEN FORMER FRENCH PRESIDENT CHARLES DE GAULLE ACKNOWLEDGED TINTIN'S FAME.

J PAUL GETTY MUSEUM TO PRESENT BEFFI TRIPTYCH


DAVID BOMFORD, ACTING DIRECTOR OF THE J PAUL GETTY MUSEUM, ANNOUNCED THE INSTALLATION OF THE MADONNA AND CHILD WITH SCENES FROM THE LIFE OF CHRIST AND THE VIRGIN (THE BEFFI TRIPTYCH) IN THE GETTY MUSEUM'S PERMANENT COLLECTION GALLERIES OVER THE SUMMER MONTHS. THE PAINTING IS THE FIRST WORK OF ART TO BE TRANSPORTED OUT OF ABRUZZO, ITALY, IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE VIOLENT EARTHQUAKE THAT STRUCK THE REGION 6.APRIL.2009. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT WORKS FROM THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ABRUZZO IN THE CITY OF L'AQUILA, THE TRIPTYCH IS ON LOAN TO THE GETTY FROM THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT AND WILL BE ON VIEW THROUGH SEPTEMBER IN THE MUSEUM'S NORTH PAVILION, ALONGSIDE OTHER PAINTINGS FROM ITALY THAT WERE CREATED AROUND THE SAME TIME PERIOD (EARLY TO MID-15th CENTURY). PAINTED BY AN UNKNOWN ARTIST, THE BEFFI TRIPTYCH IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE LATE GOTHIC PERIOD IN ABRUZZO AND EMBODIES ALL THE QUALITIES OF FIGURATIVE PAINTING FROM THE REGION DURING THE 15th CENTURY. NAMED FOR THE NEARBY TOWN OF BEFFI, WHERE IT ONCE ADORNED THE CHURCH OF SANTA MARIA DEL PONTE, THE TRIPTYCH DEPICTS SCENES FROM THE LIFE OF THE VIRGIN MARY, WHO APPEARS IN THE CENTRAL PANEL, ENTHRONED WITH THE CHRIST CHILD BENEATH AN ELEGANTLY BROCADED CANOPY. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT THE PAINTER MAY HAVE BEEN A FOLLOWER OF THE SIENESE ARTIST TADDEO DI BARTOLO. IN ADDITION TO THE PANEL PAINTINGS, THIS ANONYMOUS PAINTER ALSO ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPTS AND CREATED FRESCOES. EXPERTS IDENTIFY HIM AS THE PAINTER WHO FRESCOED THE VAULT AND WALLS OF THE PRESBYTERY OF THE CHURCH OF SAN SILVERSTRO IN L'AQUILA AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 15th CENTURY. THE BEFFI TRIPTYCH, UNLIKE MANY OTHER WORKS OF ART IN THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ABRUZZO, HAS NOW BEEN REPAIRED AFTER SUFFERING ONLY MINIMAL DAMAGE IN THE EARTHQUAKE.

20.5.10

HOODED THIEF STEALS FIVE MASTERPIECES WORTH $613 MILLION FROM FRENCH MUSEUM


A HOODED THIEF HAS STOLEN FIVE HISTORIC MASTERPIECES, INCLUDING A PICASSO AND A MATISSE IN A DARING DAWN RAID FROM THE PARIS MUSEUM OF MODERN ART TODAY. THE INCREDIBLE ART THEFT IS SET TO BE ONE OF THE BIGGEST CRIMES IN THE ART WORLD. A LONE THIEF DISGUISED IN A HOOD WAS CAPTURED ON THE MUSEUM'S CCTV CAMERAS LEAPING THROUGH A BROKEN WINDOW, THE PARIS PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE SAID. IT IS NOT YET CLEAR IF HE WAS WORKING ALONE OR WITH OTHER PEOPLE. 'HE WAS HEAVILY DISGUISED WITH A HOOD AND FACE COVERING', SAID AN OFFICER AT THE SCENE. AN OFFICIAL SAID THE PAINTINGS WERE BY PABLO PICASSO, HENRI MATISSE, GEORGE BRAQUE, AMEDEO MODIGLIANI AND FERNAND LEGER. PICASSO'S 'DOVE WITH GREEN PEAS' AND MATISSE'S 'PASTORAL' WERE AMONG THE MASTERPIECES TAKEN. THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE INITIALLY ESTIMATED THE FIVE PAINTINGS' TOTAL WORTH AT AS MUSH AS $613 MILLION. HOWEVER, THE MUSEUM ITSELF HAS SINCE DOWNGRADED THAT ESTIMATE. EXPERTS MAINTAINED THE PAINTINGS WOULD BE WORTH MILLIONS AT AUCTION. EXPERTS IN FRANCE SAID THEY WOULD BE 'IMPOSSIBLE TO SELL' ON THE OPEN MARKET. 'THE USUAL SCENARIO IS THAT THESE THINGS ARE STOLEN TO ORDER FOR PRIVATE COLLECTORS. THEY ARE DIFFICULT TO VALUE BUT THE PRICE IS ENORMOUS.' 'IT'S AN ENORMOUS CRIME, ONE OF THE BIGGEST IN ART HISTORY', SAID A SOURCE CLOSE TO THE INVESTIGATION. POLICE HAVE CORDONED OFF THE MUSEUM, ACROSS FROM THE SEINE RIVER. SENSORS SUGGESTED THAT A REINFORCED GLASS WINDOW WAS SMASHED AT 6.05am. A BROKEN LOCK WAS ALSO FOUND AT THE SCENE. THE DIRECTOR OF THE NEIGHBORING MODERN ART MUSEUM PALAIS DE TOKYO, PIERRE CORNETTE DE SAINT-CYR, CALLED THE THIEF OR THIEVES 'FOOLS'. 'YOU CAN NOT DO ANYTHING WITH THESE PAINTINGS. ALL COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD ARE AWARE, AND NO COLLECTOR IS STUPID ENOUGH TO BUY A PAINTING THAT, ONE, CAN'T SHOW TO OTHER COLLECTORS. AND TWO, RISKS SENDING HIM TO PRISON', HE SAID IN AN INTERVIEW ON LCI TELEVISION. 'THESE FIVE PAINTINGS ARE UN-SELLABLE, SO THIEVES, SIRS, YOU ARE IMBECILES, NOW RETURN THEM', HE SAID. PICASSO IS THE MOST STOLEN ARTIST IN THE WORLD BECAUSE OF HIS PROLIFIC OUTPUT, RECOGNIZABLE SIGNATURE AND VALUABLE WORKS. THERE ARE MORE THAN 500 MISSING PICASSOS ON THE LONDON BASED ART LOSS REGISTER OF STOLEN ART. THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART IN PARIS, WHICH IS DEDICATED TO 20th CENTURY ART, IS ONE OF THE MOST HIGHLY SECURE IN THE WORLD. IT WAS INAUGURATED IN 1961 AND CONTAINS AROUND 8,000 WORKS, ALL ILLUSTRATING VARIOUS ART WORLD TRENDS. PARIS MAYOR BERTRAND DELANOE SAID IN A STATEMENT THAT HE WAS 'SADDENED AND SHOCKED BY THIS THEFT, WHICH IS AN INTOLERABLE ATTACK ON PARIS' UNIVERSAL CULTURAL HERITAGE.'




LOUIS VUITTON MONOGRAM AVIATOR


LOUIS VUITTON HAS CREATED A NEW STUNNING DESIGN FOR THEIR SIGNATURE MONOGRAM PRINT FOR THEIR FALL 2010 COLLECTION WHICH IS INSPIRED BY AVIATION. THE NEW MONOGRAM AVIATOR COLLECTION FEATURES THE ICONIC LOUIS VUITTON MONOGRAM, CAREFULLY CRAFTED IN A WOVEN STEEL LAME JACQUARD FABRIC. THE INTERIOR OF THE BAG FEATURES A BRIGHT FLUORESCENT ORANGE QUILTED NYLON LINING TO RESEMBLE THE INSIDE OF A VINTAGE BOMBER JACKET. THE MONOGRAM AVIATOR COLLECTION WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THREE COLOURS: NAVY, BORDEAUX AND KHAKI EXCLUSIVELY FROM LOUIS VUITTON BOUTIQUES WORLDWIDE.


WORK CREW DISCOVER ANCIENT ARTIFACTS IN CYPRUS


WORK CREWS IN CYPRUS HAVE ACCIDENTALLY UNEARTHED FOUR RARE CLAY COFFINS ESTIMATED TO BE SOME 2,000 YEARS OLD, THE COUNTRY'S ANTIQUITIES DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR SAID WEDNESDAY. MARIA HADJICOSTI SAID THE COFFINS ADORNED WITH FLORAL PATTERNS DATE FROM THE EAST MEDITERRANEAN ISLAND'S HELLENISTIC TO EARLY ROMAN PERIODS, BETWEEN 300 BC AND 100 AD. SHE SAID THE COFFINS WERE DUG UP THIS WEEK FROM WHAT WAS BELIEVED TO BE AN ANCIENT CEMETERY IN THE EASTERN COASTAL RESORT OF PROTARAS. HADJICOSTI SAID SIMILAR COFFINS DATING FROM THE SAME PERIOD HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED. TWO SUCH COFFINS ARE ON DISPLAY IN THE CAPITAL'S ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM, WHILE THREE OTHERS REMAIN IN STORAGE THERE. BUT SHE CALLED THE LATEST FIND SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE THE COFFINS WERE UNTOUCHED BY GRAVE ROBBERS. 'THE UNDISTURBED COFFINS WILL HELP US ADD TO OUR KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THAT PERIOD OF CYPRUS HISTORY', HADJICOSTI SAID. SHE SAID OTHER ITEMS FOUND AT THE SITE INCLUDED HUMAN SKELETAL REMAINS, GLASS VESSELS AND TERRACOTTA URNS, INDICATING THAT THE CEMETERY WAS IN USE OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. AN OFFICIAL FOR THE MUSEUM SAID THE CEMETERY IS ONE OF SEVERAL FOUND THROUGHOUT THE ISLAND'S NORTHEAST, BUT SCIENTISTS DON'T KNOW WHICH UNDISCOVERED SETTLEMENT THE BODIES CAME FROM. CREWS STUMBLED ON THE COFFINS WHILE WORKING TO COMPLETE A SIDEWALK AT THE RESORT. EXCAVATIONS ON CYPRUS HAVE UNCOVERED SETTLEMENTS DATING BACK TO AROUND 9000 BC. CYPRUS THEN SAW SUCCESSIVE WAVES OF COLONIZATION, INCLUDING PHOENICIANS, MYCENAEAN GREEKS, ROMANS, AND IN THE MIDDLE AGES, FRANKS AND VENETIANS. THE ISLAND WAS CONQUERED BY OTTOMAN TURKS IN 1571 AND BECAME PART OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE IN 1878 BEFORE WINNING INDEPENDENCE IN 1960.

ART GALLERY OF NEW SOUTH WALES PRESENTS VICTORIAN VISIONS


THE EXHIBITION VICTORIAN VISIONS PRESENTS AN IMPRESSIVE COLLECTION OF SOME 45 PAINTINGS, WATERCOLOURS, DRAWINGS AND SCULPTURES BY SOME OF THE LUMINARIES OF VICTORIAN ART, INCLUDING WORKS BY ROSSETTI, HOLMAN HUNT, BURNE-JONES, LEIGHTON, POYNTER, WATTS AND WATERHOUSE. THE COLLECTION HAS BEEN ASSEMBLED BY JOHN SCHAEFFER, AUSTRALIA'S MOST PASSIONATE AND HIGHLY RESPECTED COLLECTOR OF 19th CENTURY EUROPEAN ART. THE EXHIBITION IS ON DISPLAY AT THE ART GALLERY OF NEW SOUTH WALES FROM 20.MAY THROUGH TO 29.AUGUST. THE STUNNING SCHAEFFER COLLECTION COMPLEMENTS THE ART GALLERY OF NSW COLLECTION, EXPANDING THE EXPERIENCE OF VICTORIAN ART IN ITS VARIOUS MOVEMENTS, INCLUDING SOCIAL REALISM, MEDIEVALISM, PRE-RAPHAELITISM, NEO-CLASSICISM, AESTHETICISM AND SYMBOLISM. WHILE THE GALLERY HOLDS ONE OF THE RICHEST COLLECTIONS OF VICTORIAN ART IN THE WORLD, MANY IMPORTANT ARTISTS EITHER UNREPRESENTED OR POORLY REPRESENTED IN SYDNEY ARE NOW VISIBLE IN THE SCHAEFFER COLLECTION. THE PROSPERITY OF THE VICTORIAN ARE (1837-1901) TRANSFORMED THE BRITISH ART WORLD, CREATING A COMMUNITY OF ARTISTS WHO WERE FREE TO CREATE PAINTINGS THAT DEPICTED POWERFUL STORIES FROM ANCIENT HISTORY AND CONTEMPORARY LIFE WITH A NEW RICHNESS OF COLOUR AND WEALTH OF DETAIL. FOR EXAMPLE, WATERHOUSE'S PAINTING MARIAMNE DEPICTS THE TRAGIC STORY OF THE YOUNG WIFE OF KING HEROD, WHO IS LEAVING HIS THRONE ROOM AFTER BEING SENTENCED TO DEATH BASED ON FALSE ACCUSATIONS OF INFIDELITY. FRANK DICKSEE'S CHIVALRY IS AN ICONIC IMAGE OF MEDIEVAL GALLANTRY AS A KNIGHT IN ARMOUR HAS SLAIN HIS EVIL RIVAL TO RESCUE A CLASSIC DAMSEL IN DISTRESS. WHILE THOMAS FAED'S PAINTING WORN OUT SHOWS THE WEARY CARPENTER WHO HAS BEEN SITTING ALL NIGHT AT THE BEDSIDE OF HIS SICK CHILD AND WHO FINALLY FALLS ASLEEP AS THE DAWN RISES.

PRINCE CHARLES TRIES HIS HAND AT FISHING


THE PRINCE OF WALES RECENTLY TRIED HIS HAND AT FISHING DURING A DAY-LONG VISIT TO TEESSDALE. THE PRINCE CAST A ROD BELONGING TO THE 'GET HOOKED ON FISHING' GROUP AT HEMLINGTON LAKE, MIDDLESBROUGH. UNFORTUNATELY LADY LUCK WAS NOT WITH THE PRINCE, WHO IS A WELL-KNOWN FLY FISHERMAN, AS HE DID NOT CATCH ANYTHING. HIS IMPROMPTU SPOT OF FISHING WAS PART OF A VISIT TO THE LAKE TO SEE THE WORK BEING CARRIED OUT TO REGENERATE MIDDLESBROUGH'S BECKS, AS PART OF THE CLEAN BECKS CAMPAIGN. THE PRINCE MET YOUNG ANGLERS, SCHOOLCHILDREN, ARTISTS WHO HAVE DESIGNED WORK ON THE LAKESIDE, AND MEMBERS OF THE FRIENDS OF HEMLINGTON LAKE GROUP. HE UNVEILED A PLAQUE TO MARK THE OCCASION OF HIS VISIT. HE TOLD THOSE GATHERED: 'I JUST WANT TO SAY WHAT A REAL JOY IT IS TO VISIT HERE TODAY. I DO CONGRATULATE ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN SO HEAVILY INVOLVED HERE AS IT IS MAKING A HUGE DIFFERENCE TO ALL OF THE COMMUNITY LIVING HERE. JEREMY GARSIDE, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE TEES VALLEY WILDLIFE TRUST SAID: 'IT WAS FANTASTIC TO RECEIVE A VISIT FROM PRINCE CHARLES AS PATRON OF THE WILDLIFE TRUSTS. THE MIDDLESBROUGH BECKS ARE A VALUABLE HAVEN FOR WILDLIFE AND A HUGE ASSET FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE TOWN. THE PRINCE'S VISIT RECOGNIZED THERE EFFORTS THAT ARE BEING MADE TO SECURE THESE AREAS FOR THE BENEFIT OF FUTURE GENERATIONS.' THE CLEAN BECKS CAMPAIGN WAS SET UP BY THE ENVIRONMENT AGENCY IN 2006 AND HAS BEEN RUN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MIDDLESBROUGH COUNCIL, TEES CALLEY WILDLIFE TRUST AND MIDDLESBROUGH FOOTBALL CLUB.

19.5.10

LUKE WORRALL BY FERRATER STUDIO

LOUIS VUITTON'S CORE VALLUES 2010


THREE OF THE GREATEST FOOTBALLERS OF ALL TIME ARE CAPTURED BY THE LENS OF ANNIE LEIBOVITZ FOR THE LATEST ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN FOR LOUIS VUITTON'S CORE VALUES COLLECTION. PELE OF BRAZIL, DIEGO MARADONA OF ARGENTINA AND FRANCE'S ZINEDINE ZIDANE ALL WON FOOTBALL'S ULTIMATE PRIZE, AND ALL WORE THE EMBLEMATIC N°10 SHIRT. FOR LOUIS VUITTON, THEY MET AT THE CAFE MARAVILLAS, A TYPICAL BAR IN MADRID, AND WERE TEMPTED INTO A GAME OF TABLE FOOTBALL BY LEIBOVITZ. LEIBOVITZ CAPTURES THE ATMOSPHERE OF FUN AND FRIENDLY RIVALRY IN THE HISTORIC PHOTOSHOOT. SET BY THE BAR, A LOUIS VUITTON PEGASE CABIN CASE IN MON MONOGRAM IS PERSONALIZED WITH THE INITIALS OF ZINEDINE ZIDANE, WHILE A KEEPALL RESTS ON A STOOL NEARBY. THE TAGLINE READS: 'THREE GREAT JOURNEYS, ONE GREAT GAME'. THE NEW CORE VALUES VISUAL WILL APPEAR IN JUNE 2010 ISSUES OF INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINES. SIMULTANEOUSLY, louisvuittonjourneys.com WILL FEATURE A CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE THREE PLAYERS, IN WHICH THEY DISCUSS THEIR CAREERS, RECALL THE GREATEST MATCHES THEY PLAYED IN, AND EXCHANGE VIEWS ON THE WORLD'S FAVORITE GAME. TO FINISH PELE AND ZIDANE CHALLENGE EACH OTHER TO A MATCH OF TABLE FOOTBALL. IN ITS ON-GOING COMMITMENT TO ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, LOUIS VUITTON IS MAKING A DONATION TO THE CLIMATE PROJECT, SPEARHEADED BY NOBEL PEACE WINNER AL GORE, ON BEHALF OF PELE, MARADONA AND ZIDANE.

HERMES ORIGAMI PAPER SET


FRENCH FASHION AND LUXURY GOODS HOUSE HERMES IS OFFERING AN EYE-CATCHING NEW ORIGAMI SET PLAYING HOMAGE TO ITS ICONIC SCARF DESIGNS. THE UNIQUE CREATION FEATURES SEVERAL SHEETS OF TRADITIONAL ORIGAMI PAPER IN BRIGHT COLOURS, ADORNED WITH SCARF PRINTS IN VARIOUS MOTIFS ON ONE SIDE, AND A DEEP-HUED ROTHKO-LIKE COLOUR BLOCKS ON THE OTHER. THE HERMES SCARF IS MORE THAN A MERE SQUARE OF SILK, IT'S THE STUFF OF HISTORIC LEGEND, WORN BY STYLE ICONS SUCH AS GRACE KELLY, AUDREY HEPBURN, AND CATHERINE DENEUVE. HERMES MADE ITS FIRST SCARF IN 1937, AND HAS SINCE PRODUCED MORE THAN 2,000 DIFFERENT DESIGNS, MANY ADAPTED TO MEN'S NECKTIES AS WELL. THE ENVELOPE FOR THE PAPERS IS DESIGNED IN THE STYLE OF A PIECE OF FOLDED ORIGAMI, AND ECHOES THAT OF THE LEATHER CLUTCHES HERMES HAS OFFERED IN THE PAST. ENCASED IN A HAND-STITCHED BLACK SADDLE LEATHER ENVELOPE AND PRESENTED IN A BLACK LACQUER BOX, THE SET IS PRICED AT ABOUT $740. ORIGAMI IS A TRADITIONAL FOLK ART OF PAPER FOLDING WHICH ORIGINATED IN 17th CENTURY JAPAN, WHICH PLAYS WELL TO HERMES' PHILOSOPHY OF THE SIMPLE YET INTRICATE IN DESIGN.

GREEK POLICE RECOVER TWIN MARBLE STATUES


POLICE IN SOUTHERN GREECE HAVE SEIZED A RARE TWIN PAIR OF 2,500 YEAR OLD MARBLE STATUES AND ARRESTED TWO FARMERS WHO ALLEGEDLY PLANNED TO SELL THEM ABROAD FOR OVER $12 MILLION, AUTHORITIES SAID RECENTLY. POLICE SAID THE MEN WERE ARRESTED IN THE PELOPONNESE AREA LATE FRIDAY AS THEY WERE LOADING THE ILLEGALLY EXCAVATED FIGURES OF YOUNG MEN INTO A TRUCK. AUTHORITIES ARE SEEKING A THIRD MAN SUSPECTED OF BELONGING TO A SMUGGLING GANG THAT PLANNED TO SPIRIT THE 6th CENTURY BC WORKS OUT OF THE COUNTRY. 'THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT FIND, OF FABULOUS VALUE, AND BOTH STATUES WERE READY TO BE TAKEN OUT OF GREECE', CULTURE MINISTER PAVLOS GEROULANOS SAID. ARCHAEOLOGISTS SAID THAT THE STATUES ARE 'OUTSTANDING WORKS OF ART' AND MAY HAVE COME FROM A TEMPLE OR CEMETERY IN A LOST ANCIENT CITY IN THE PELOPONNESE REGION IN SOUTHERN GREECE. BOTH ARE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, BUT LACK SECTIONS OF THEIR LOWER LEGS AND WERE GASHED BY A PLOW OR DIGGING MACHINERY. THE STATUES ARE OF THE STIFF, HIGHLY FORMALIZED KOUROS TYPE WIDESPREAD IN THE 7th AND 6th CENTURIES BC WHICH PORTRAYED GODS, HEROES OR ARISTOCRATS AND WERE PAINTED IN BRIGHT COLOURS. FROM THE 5th CENTURY ON, GREEK SCULPTURE BECAME MORE FLUID AND LIFELIKE, CULMINATING IN THE NATURALISM OF THE HELLENISTIC ERA. ALTHOUGH THE PRECISE SPOT OF THE FIND IS STILL UNCLEAR, AUTHORITIES BELIEVE IT MAY COINCIDE WITH THE LOST RUINS OF TENEA, A CITY THAT ACCORDING TO ANCIENT WRITERS LAY BETWEEN CORINTH AND MYCENAE AND WAS FIRST POPULATED BY PRISONERS OF WAR BROUGHT BACK BY VICTORIOUS GREEKS FROM THE TROJAN WAR, RECORDED IN HOMER'S 'ILIAD'. POLICE CHIEF LEFTERIS ECONOMOU SAID THE ARRESTS FOLLOWED INFORMATION FROM CULTURE MINISTRY OFFICIALS. HE PROVIDED NO DETAILS ON THE IDENTITY OF THE POTENTIAL BUYERS OR WHICH COUNTRY THE FINDS HAD BEEN HEADING FOR.

NORWEGIAN ROYAL FAMILY CELEBRATE NATIONAL DAY



THE YOUNGEST MEMBER OF THE NORWEGIAN ROYAL FAMILY WAS IN HIS ELEMENT RECENTLY AS THE COUNTRY CELEBRATED NATIONAL DAY. PRINCE SVERRE MAGNUS JOINED HIS GLAMOROUS MOTHER, CROWN PRINCESS METTE MARIT AND FATHER PRINCE HAAKON, IN GREETING WELL-WISHERS AS THOUSANDS GATHERED OUTSIDE THE ROYAL RESIDENCE IN ASKER, ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF OLSO. BEARING A STRIKING RESEMBLANCE TO HIS MOTHER, THE ADORABLE YOUNG ROYAL WAS FULLY DRESSED IN BUNAD, THE NATION'S TRADITIONAL COSTUME. AND THE FOUR YEAR OLD WASN'T THE ONLY ROYAL YOUNGSTER HELPING CELEBRATE THE BIG DAY. ALSO THERE WAS PRINCESS INGRID AND METTE MARIT'S 13 YEAR OLD SON MARIUS, FROM A PREVIEWS RELATIONSHIP. SYTTENDE MAI, THE 17.MAY HOLIDAY, MARKS THE DAY IN 1814 WHEN NORWAY GAINED INDEPENDENCE FROM A 500 YEAR UNION WITH DENMARK. CHILDREN'S PROCESSIONS ARE ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DAY AND IT'S ALSO THE OCCASION FOR HIGH SCHOOL LEAVERS TO CELEBRATE THE END OF THEIR SCHOOL DAYS BY PARADING ON FLOATS BEARING SLOGANS AND PLAYING LOUD MUSIC.

OXFORD UNIVERSITY MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY TO CELEBRATE 150th ANNIVERSARY


OXFORD UNIVERSITY MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY WILL BE CELEBRATING ITS 150th ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE UPCOMING YEAR LONG PROGRAM OF SPECIAL EVENTS WILL INCLUDE THE FIRST EXHIBITION IN THE WEST OF THE EXTRAORDINARY 525 MILLION YEAR OLD CHENGJIANG FOSSILS FROM CHINA; 17.MAY THROUGH 14.NOVEMBER, A HIGH PROFILE LECTURE SERIES WITH SPEAKERS INCLUDING SIR DAVID ATTENBOROUGH AND MATHEMATICIAN MARCUS DU SAUTOY, A ONE WOMAN SHOW AND EXHIBITION TO MARK THE CENTENARY OF OXFORD NOBEL PRIZE-WINNER DOROTHY HODGKIN, AND A SON ET LUMIERE AND PITT RIVERS MUSEUM TORCHLIGHT TRAIL. FROM THE OUTSET THE OXFORD UNIVERSITY MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY HAS PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE AND CULTURE. IT WAS IN THE MUSEUM IN 1860 THAT THE CELEBRATED DEBATE ON CHARLES DARWIN'S ORIGIN OF SPECIES TOOK PLACE BETWEEN BISHOP OF OXFORD, SAMUEL WILBERFORCE AND THOMAS HENRY HUXLEY. AT THE CORE OF THE MUSEUM ARE INTERNATIONALLY IMPORTANT ENTOMOLOGICAL, GEOLOGICAL, MINERALOGICAL AND ZOOLOGICAL COLLECTIONS, IN ALL OVER 5.78 MILLION SPECIMENS. THEY INCLUDE THE EARLIEST SURVIVING BRITISH NATURAL HISTORY SPECIMENS, INSECTS AND OTHER ANIMALS COLLECTED BY CHARLES DARWIN. THE MUSEUM ITSELF IS A GRADE 1 LISTED BUILDING, RENOWNED FOR ITS SPECTACULAR NEO-GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE. OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS THE OXFORD UNIVERSITY MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY HAS COMPLETED A MAJOR PROGRAM OF DISPLAY RENEWAL WHICH HAS TRANSFORMED THE WAY THAT ITS COLLECTIONS ARE PRESENTED. TO CELEBRATE ITS ANNIVERSARY, THE MUSEUM IS PURSUING FOUR FURTHER MAJOR PROJECTS THAT REFLECT THE MULTIPLE THEMES THAT SHAPE THE INSTITUTION; RESTORING AND ENHANCING THE BUILDING'S ARCHITECTURAL SPLENDOR, SERVING THE LARGER PUBLIC AS A VITAL RESOURCE OF EDUCATION AND ENJOYMENT, PRESERVING THE MUSEUM'S INVALUABLE COLLECTIONS AND CARRYING FORWARD ITS ACTIVE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.oum.ox.ac.uk

18.5.10

COMMEMORATIVE STAMPS AND COIN RELEASED FOR PRINCESS VICTORIA'S WEDDING



WITH THE UPCOMING WEDDING OF CROWN PRINCESS VICTORIA AND DANIEL WESTLING, IT SEEMS THAT EVERYONE IS SWEDEN WANTS TO OFFER THE ROYAL COUPLE SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR THEIR BIG DAY. THE COUNTRY'S POSTAL SERVICE HAS MARKED THE HISTORIC EVENT BY RELEASING THREE SPECIAL-EDITION STAMPS IN HONOR OF THE COUPLE'S 19.JUNE WEDDING. ARTIST KRISTIAN MOLLER CREATED THE THREE COMMEMORATIVE STAMPS, WHICH DEPICT THE PAIR DURING THE PHOTOCALL WHEN THEY ANNOUNCED THEIR ENGAGEMENT LAST YEAR, PRINCESS VICTORIA WEARING HER NAPOLEONIC CUT-STEEL TIARA AND THE OFFICIAL WEDDING MONOGRAM. ON THE SAME SAY THEY WERE PRESENTED WITH THE COMMEMORATIVE STAMPS, THE COUPLE ALSO RECEIVED A COMMEMORATIVE COIN FROM JOHAN GERNANDT, PRESIDENT OF THE CENTRAL BANK OF SWEDEN. THE COIN, WHICH WILL BE MINTED IN GOLD AND SILVER VERSIONS, WAS DESIGNED BY ERNST NORDIN, AND SHOWS VICTORIA AND DANIEL ON ONE SIDE WHILE THE OTHER IS DECORATED WITH THE FAMILY COAT OF ARMS. THE COIN WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC PURCHASE UNTIL 31.DECEMBER.2010.

NATIONAL TRUST SAVES RARE BAROQUE MASTERPIECE


ONE OF THE GREATEST WORKS BY THE ITALIAN BAROQUE MASTER DOMENICHINO (1581–1641) IS TO REMAIN IN BRITAIN AND IS NOW ON PUBLIC DISPLAY IN ROOM 32 OF THE NATIONAL GALLERY, HAVING BEEN ACQUIRED BY AN ANONYMOUS PRIVATE COLLECTOR. THIS IS A TREMENDOUS OUTCOME FOR THE NATION AND A TRIUMPH OF COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE REVIEWING COMMITTEE ON THE EXPORT OF WORKS OF ART AND OBJECTS OF CULTURAL INTEREST (RCEWA) AND THE ANONYMOUS PRIVATE COLLECTOR, RESULTING FROM THE APPLICATION OF THE 'RIDLEY RULES'. 'SAINT JOHN THE EVANGELIST' IS THE FINEST PAINTING BY DOMENICHINO TO REMAIN IN PRIVATE HANDS AND THE MOST IMPORTANT EXAMPLE OF HIS WORK IN THE UK. MEASURING 259x199 cm, THE MONUMENTAL OIL PAINTING IS A MUST SEE HIGHLIGHT FOR VISITORS TO THE ITALIAN BAROQUE ROOMS OF THE NATIONAL TRUST. NATIONAL TRUST CURATOR DAWSON CARR SAID: 'DEPICTIONS OF DIVINE INSPIRATION WERE A MAINSTAY OF BAROQUE ARTISTS, AND THE HEROIC POSE AND FOCUSED, SERENE GAZE OF DOMENICHINO'S FIGURE MAKE IT ONE OF THE FINEST INTERPRETATIONS OF THE CLASSICAL TRADITION. ALTHOUGH DOMENICHINO IS WELL REPRESENTED IN UK PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COLLECTIONS, NONE OF THE PAINTINGS CAN EQUAL THE GRAND SCALE AND CONCEPTION OF THIS, ONE OF HIS GREATEST EASEL PAINTINGS. IT IS UNDOUBTEDLY THE BEST WORK BY THE ARTIST REMAINING IN PRIVATE HANDS AND ITS EXPORT WOULD HAVE BEEN LAMENTABLE FOR THE REPRESENTATION OF ITALIAN BAROQUE PAINTING IN THIS COUNTRY.' THE SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME COMES JUST MONTHS AFTER THE RCEWA PLACED AN EXPORT LICENSE DEFERRAL ON THE PAINTING, OWING TO ITS OUTSTANDING AESTHETIC IMPORTANCE. IT HAD ALREADY BEEN SOLD TO AN OVERSEAS BUYER FOR £9,225,250 AT AN AUCTION IN DECEMBER 2009. WITH THE EXPORT DEFERRAL IN PLACE, A NEW COLLECTOR CAME FORWARD WISHING TO ACQUIRE THE PAINTING, TO KEEP IT IN THE UK AND TO MAKE PROVISION FOR ITS REGULAR PUBLIC DISPLAY. THE AGREEMENT WAS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE 'RIDLEY RULES', WHICH CAN ONLY BE APPLIED AFTER IT IS CLEAR THAT NO UK INSTITUTION IS ABLE TO RAISE SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO ACQUIRE THE WORK. THE 'RIDELY RULES' THEN ALLOWS FOR OFFERS FROM PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS, WHO WILL GUARANTEE PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE ARTWORK FOR 100 DAYS WITHIN A 12 MONTH PERIOD. IN THE FIRST PHASE OF THE ARRANGEMENT, THE PAINTING WILL BE ON DISPLAY AT THE NATIONAL GALLERY FROM 10.MAY FOR A PERIOD OF 18 MONTHS.

BONHAMS TO SELL LIBRARY FROM HIGHGROVE HOUSE


MUCH OF THE ORIGINAL LIBRARY FROM HIGHGROVE HOUSE, NOW THE HOME OF THE PRINCE OF WALES, IS FOR SALE AT THE BOOKS, MAPS AND MANUSCRIPTS SALE AT BONHAMS IN LONDON O0N 8.JUNE. CONTAINING MUCH THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL FOR AN EDUCATED MAN OF THE TIME, WORKS BY SHAKESPEARE, NEWTON, SAMUEL JOHNSON AND JOHN EVELYN. THE LIBRARY HAS A PARTICULAR LEANING TOWARDS TRAVEL AND NATURAL HISTORY. AMONG THE MOST FASCINATING ITEMS ARE THE COMPLETE SET OF 'THE NATURALISTS MISCELLANY' WITH STUNNING ILLUSTRATIONS OF ANIMALS AND BIRDS INCLUDING A GUESS AT WHAT A DODO WOULD HAVE LOOKED LIKE; VOLUMES 1-60 OF THE LAVISHLY ILLUSTRATED BOTANICAL MAGAZINE AND THE FIRST EDITION IN ENGLISH OF OTTO VON KOTZEBUE CLASSIC ACCOUNT OF HIS, UNSUCCESSFUL, SEARCH FOR A NORTH-EAST PASSAGE LINKING THE ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC OCEANS. HIGHGROVE WAS BUILT AT THE VERY END OF THE 18th CENTURY FOR JOHN PAUL PAUL, A WEALTHY HUGUENOT, AND MANY OF THE VOLUMES CARRY HIS BOOKPLATE. OTHERS, PUBLISHED IN HIS LIFETIME AND BOUND FOR HIM IN NEARBY TETBURY, WOULD CERTAINLY HAVE FORMED PART OF HIS COLLECTION. THE LIBRARY CONTINUED TO EXPAND AFTER JOHN PAUL PAUL'S DEATH IN 1828 UNTIL HIS FAMILY SOLD THE HOUSE IN THE MID 19th CENTURY FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF HIS GRANDDAUGHTER WHEN HER GOWN CAUGHT FIRE IN THE BALLROOM. PRINCE CHARLES BOUGHT HIGHGROVE IN 1980, FROM THE MP MAURICE MACMILLAN, SON OF FORMER PRIME MINISTER HAROLD MACMILLAN, SHORTLY BEFORE HIS MARRIAGE TO THE LADY DIANA SPENCER. UNDER HIS STEWARDSHIP THE STATE HAS BECOME A BEACON OF CONSERVATION AND BIOLOGICALLY SUSTAINABLE FARMING.

ROYAL COUPLE VISIT DUTCH CULTURE CENTER AT THE SHANGHAI WORLD EXPO 2010


RECENTLY CROWN PRINCE WILLEM-ALEXANDER AND PRINCESS MAXIMA VISITED THE DUTCH CULTURE CENTER IN SHANGHAI, TO SEE, AMONGST OTHER THINGS, THE EXHIBITION DOUBLE INFINITY, A JOINT PROJECT OF THE VAN ABBEMUSEUM AND ARTHUB ASIA. THE ROYAL COUPLE WERE TAKEN ROUND BY CHARLES ESCHE, DIRECTOR OF THE ANNEMUSEUM AND DAVID QUADRIO, DIRECTOR OF ARTHUB ASIA. ROB VAN GIJZEL, THE MAYOR OF EINDHOVEN, PRESENTED THEM WITH A SPECIAL EDITION OF THE DOUBLE INFINITY BOOK. THE EINDHOVEN ARTIST JOGN KORMELING, ARCHITECT OF HAPPY STREET, THE DUTCH PAVILION AT THE SHANGHAI WORLD EXPO 2010, AND VARIOUS CHINESE ARTISTS, INCLUDING JIN SHAN AND XHOU ZIAHOU, WERE ALSO PRESENT FOR THE TOUR. IN ADDITION TO DOUBLE INFINITY, THE ROYAL COUPLE ALSO VISITED THE OTHER ACTIVITIES IN THE DUTCH CULTURE CENTER, SUCH AS A REHEARSAL OF THE NEDERLANDS DANS THEATRE, AN EXHIBITION OF ALEXANDER VAN DER SLOBBE AND AN ART PROJECT BY STUDENTS OF THE WILLEM DE KOONING ACADEMY AND THE SHANGHAI NORMAL UNIVERSITY. DOUBLE INFINITY TAKES PLACE PARALLEL TO THE WORLD EXPO 2010 AND IS A COLLABORATIVE ENCOUNTER BETWEEN A NORTHWESTERN EUROPEAN ART MUSEUM, THE VAN ABBEMUSEUM AND AN ASIAN ART INITIATIVE, ARTHUB ASIA. IT COMPRISES OF AN EXHIBITION, A PERFORMANCE SERIES, A LECTURE PROGRAM AND A PUBLICATION. DOUBLE INFINITY MARKS THE FIRST TIME THAT A EUROPEAN MUSEUM OPENS ITSELF AND ITS COLLECTION TO THE RESPONSES OF ARTISTS LIVING AND WORKING IN CHINA, RESPONSES THAT FORM A HOST OF ENRICHING, HUMOROUS AND CRITICAL INSIGHTS.

17.5.10

ARTHUR M SACKLER GALLERY PRESENTS 'GODS OF ANGKOR: BRONZES FROM THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF CAMBODIA'


THE ENDURING SIGNIFICANCE OF BRONZE IN CAMBODIAN CULTURE IS THE THEME OF 'GODS OF ANGKOR: BRONZES FROM THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF CAMBODIA', THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION TO FOCUS SPECIFICALLY ON THE SKILLS AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF KHMER BRONZE CASTERS. ON VIEW AT THE ARTHUR M SACKLER GALLERY FROM 15.MAY THROUGH 23.JANUARY.2011, THE EXHIBITION FEATURES MAGNIFICENT BRONZE SCULPTURES AND RITUAL OBJECTS CREATED WITHIN A KHMER CULTURAL CONTEXT THAT SPANNED SOME 1,600 YEARS, FROM LATE PREHISTORY THROUGH THE ANGKOR PERIOD (9th-15tH CENTURIES). 36 MASTERWORKS FROM THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF CAMBODIA'S UNPARALLELED COLLECTION OF SOME 7,000 BRONZES MAKE UP THE STUNNING COLLECTION. THE EXHIBITION, WHICH GREW OUT OF A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE FREER AND SACKLER GALLERIES AND THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF CAMBODIA TO DEVELOP A CONSERVATION PROGRAM AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM, EXPLORES SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN BRONZE CASTING, AS WELL AS CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS DEVELOPMENTS THAT COALESCED DURING THE ANGKOR PERIOD INTO A RECOGNIZABLE KHMER STYLE OF BRONZE FORM, FINISH AND ORNAMENT.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.asia.si.edu

FRUGAL QUEEN MOTHER


VISITORS TO THE QUEEN MOTHER'S HIGHLAND RETREAT WHO ARRIVED EXPECTING REGAL POMP AND ROYAL SPLENDOR WERE IN FOR A SEVERE SHOCK, A FORMER AIDE HAS RECENTLY REVEALED. SHE SPENT AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE ON MAINTAINING THE CASTLE MEY, WHICH HAD FRAYED AND AGE WORN CURTAINS AND CARPETS THAT BECAME INCREASINGLY THREADBARE. AND SUCH WAS HER FRUGALITY THAT SHE REFUSED TO BUY A TV AND VIDEO RECORDER, INSTEAD RENTING THEM FOR HER ANNUAL STAY AT THE CASTLE, ACCORDING TO ASHE WINDHAM, WHO SERVED AS HER EQUERRY AT THE REMOTE PILE IN CAITHNESS, NEAR JOHN O'GROATS, SCOTLAND. HE SAID THAT AFTER DINNER THE ROYAL PARTY WOULD SIT IN THE LIBRARY FACING AN ANCIENT TELEVISION,WHICH ARRIVED EVERY SUMMER FROM A SHOP IN THURSO. 'THE MOST CHALLENGING JOB WAS TO GET THE EQUALLY ANTIQUATED VIDEO RECORDER TO WORK PROPERLY. THIS ACHIEVED, WE WOULD ALL SIT AND WATCH ONE OF HER FAVORITE COMEDIES, WHICH INCLUDED DAD'S ARMY, FAWLTY TOWERS, YES MINISTER, KEEPING UP APPEARANCES AND ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE. IF THERE WAS A HORSE RACE GOING ON WE WOULD BE ASKED TO RECORD IT, WHICH WAS SOMETHING OF A POISONED CHALICE IN CASE IT DIDN'T WORK. IT WAS A PARTICULARLY OLD AND TEMPERAMENTAL VIDEO RECORDER.' WINDHAM NOW CHAIRS THE CASTLE OF MEY TRUST, WHICH MAINTAINS THE LANDMARK AS A TOURIST ATTRACTION. HE IS KEEN TO COUNTER THE PERCEPTION THAT THE QUEEN MOTHER, WHO HAD A PERSONAL FORTUNE OF £70 MILLION AND ONCE RAN UP A £4 MILLION OVERDRAFT AT COUTTS, PURSUED A LAVISH LIFESTYLE. SHE REFUSED TO REPLACE HER COLLECTION OF SIX BURBERRY RAINCOATS, FOUR BLUE AND TWO GREEN, WHICH SHE WORE YEAR AFTER YEAR. THE QUEEN MOTHER WHO DIED IN 2002 AGED 101. SHE FIRST SAW WHAT WAS THEN BARROGILL CASTLE IN 1952, WHILE MOURNING THE DEATH OF HER HUSBAND GEORGE VI. FALLING FOR ITS RUINED ISOLATED CHARM, AND HEARING IT WAS TO BE ABANDONED, SHE DECLARED: 'NEVER! IT'S PART OF SCOTLAND'S HERITAGE. I'LL SAVE IT.' HAVING ACQUIRED THE MOST NORTHERLY CASTLE ON THE BRITISH MAINLAND, SHE HAD IT RESTORED WITH BEAUTIFUL WALLED GARDENS. 'THE DECORATIONS WERE PUT IN BETWEEN 1952 AND 1955 AND I'M LED TO BELIEVE THAT NOTHING MUCH WAS CHANGED AFTER THAT', SAID WINDHAM. 'I REMEMBER SAYING ON ONE OCCASION, 'MA'AM, THE CURTAINS IN ONE OF THE UPSTAIRS BEDROOMS ARE RATHER FALLING TO BITS' SHE LOOKED AT ME WITH A TWINKLE IN HER EYE AND SAID, 'I THINK THEY WILL LAST A FEW MORE YEARS'. THE OLD TV AND VCR ARE NOW ON DISPLAY AT THE CASTLE, WHICH IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ON MOST DAYS BETWEEN MAY AND OCTOBER. WINDHAM SAID HIS FORMER EMPLOYER'S PARSIMONY WAS INSPIRED BY THE PRIVATIONS OF TWO WORLD WARS. 'SHE WAS 14 WHEN THE GREAT WAR BROKE OUT AND WAS VERY MUCH ACCUSTOMED TO RATIONING. DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR, WHEN SHE WAS QUEEN, THEY EVEN HAD LINES PAINTED ROUND THE BATHS AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE TO MAKE SURE THEY DIDN'T USE TOO MUCH WATER.'

ZHANG HUAN'S THREE HEAD SIX ARMS INSTALLED IN SAN FRANSICO


SAN FRANCISCO MAYOR GAVIN NEWSOM, ARTS COMMISSION PRESIDENT PJ JOHNSTON AND DIRECTOR OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS LUIS R CANCEL RECENTLY DEDICATED A NEW TEMPORARY SCULPTURE BY CELEBRATED CHINESE ARTIST ZHANG HUAN. PRESENTED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SHANGHAI-SAN FRANCISCO SISTER CITY 30th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, ZHANG'S COLOSSAL THREE HEADS SIX ARMS (2008) MADE ITS WORLD PREMIERE IN THE HEART OF SAN FRANCISCO'S CIVIC CENTER, THE JOSEPH L ALIOTO PERFORMING ARTS PLAZA, WHICH IS LOCATED ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE CITY HALL. THREE HEADS SIX ARMS, COURTESY OF THE ARTIST AND THE PACE GALLERY, NEW YORK, IS ON LOAN THROUGH 2011. THREE HEADS SIX ARMS IS PART OF A SERIES OF MONUMENTAL WORKS DEPICTING THE FRAGMENTED EXTREMITIES OF BUDDHIST STATUES. THE SERIES WAS INSPIRED BY ZHANG'S DISCOVERY OF RELIGIOUS SCULPTURES THAT HAD BEEN DESTROYED DURING THE CULTURAL REVOLUTION FOR SALE IN A TIBETAN MARKET. HE BEGAN THE AMAZING SERIES IN 2006 SHORTLY AFTER MOVING TO NEW YORK CITY FROM SHANGHAI WHERE HE RETIRED HIS PERFORMANCE ART PRACTICE AND EMBRACED A MORE TRADITIONAL APPROACH TO ARTISTIC CREATION. HIS RECENT WORK IS CHARACTERIZED BY A MORE OVERT RELATIONSHIP WITH TRADITIONAL CHINESE CULTURE AND BUDDHIST ICONOGRAPHY. STANDING OVER 26 FEET TALL AND WEIGHING ALMOST 15 TONS, THREE HEADS AND SIX ARMS IS ZHANG'S LARGEST SCULPTURE TO DATE. ZHANG CHOSE SAN FRANSISCO AS THE IDEAL SETTING TO DEBUT HIS SCULPTURE, IN PART BECAUSE OF THE LONG-STANDING HISTORY BEING HONORED BETWEEN SHANGHAI AND SAN FRANCISCO DURING THIS YEAR'S SISTER CITY CELEBRATION. 'THE SHANGHAI SAN FRANCISCO CITY CELEBRATION COMMEMORATES THIS IMPORTANT TIME IN THE HISTORY OF OUR TWO COUNTRIES WHEN THE EXCHANGE OF ART, CULTURE AND IDEAS BETWEEN THE EAST AND WEST IS MARKED BY OPENNESS AND MUTUAL APPRECIATION. WHILE THREE HEADS SIX ARMS CLEARLY EMBODIES IDEAS THAT ARE ROOTED IN CHINESE CULTURE AND TRADITION, IT IS ALSO ABOUT OUR COMMON HUMANITY. I HOPE THAT, WHILE THE SCULPTURE IS IN SAN FRANCISCO, IT WILL SERVE AS A BRIDGE BETWEEN THESE TWO GREAT CITIES AND THAT IT WILL CONTINUE TO FOSTER THIS SPIRIT OF TOLERANCE AND APPRECIATION', SAID ZHANG.

$4 MILLION ART COLLECTION RECOVERED BY POLICE IN ARGENTINA


SOME 77 PAINTINGS AND OTHER ART OBJECTS BY NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS VALUED AT ABOUT $4 MILLION WERE RECOVERED BY POLICE IN ARGENTINA ON SATURDAY. AMONG THE RECOVERED WORKS ARE PAINTINGS BY ARTISTS LIKE ANTONIO BERNI, RAUL SOLDI, LINO SPILIMBERGO AND OTHER ARGENTINE ARTIST, TOGETHER WITH ORIGINAL PORCELAIN PIECES OF HIGH VALUE. THE OBJECTS WERE STOLEN LAST NOVEMBER FROM A PRIVATE COLLECTION IN THE TOWN OF PILAR ABOUT 60 KILOMETERS FROM BUENOS AIRES. THE COLLECTION BELONGS TO DOCTOR OMAR MANTOVANI, WHO WORKED WITH THE CURRENT COACH OF THE ARGENTINA'S NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM. POLICE SOURCES SAID THAT FIVE PERSONS OF INTEREST HAVE BEEN ARRESTED AND THAT TEN PAINTINGS STILL HAD TO BE RECOVERED.

16.5.10

BAE/DESIGN Q 'SAFARI JET'




FOR MOST OF US, WHEN WE TRAVEL, WE TRY TO BRING SOME OF THE COMFORTS OF HOME WITH US EVEN WHEN THE TRIP CONSISTS OF 'ROUGHING IT'. RECENTLY BAE SYSTEMS AND DESIGN Q HAVE COME UP WITH THE ULTIMATE IN TRAVEL LUXURY WITH ALL THE COMFORTS OF HOME. THE FOUR-ENGINED ACRO BUSINESS JET EXPLORER FOUR HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO LAND ON SHORT RUNWAYS AND UNEVEN LANDING STRIPS, DELIVERING ITS PASSENGERS DIRECTLY TO THEIR EXOTIC LOCATIONS. THEN, WITH THE FLICK OF A SWITCH, A DOOR ON THE SIDE OF THE JET OPENS AND A VIEWING PLATFORM EXTENDS FROM THE FUSELAGE, OFFERING SPECTACULAR OPEN-AIR VIEWS. PRICED AT AN ESTIMATED £16 MILLION, THE 'SAFARI JET' HAS ROOM FOR TWO PILOTS, EIGHT PASSENGERS AND CREW. INSIDE THE AIRCRAFT, A GALLEY KITCHEN WHICH CAN DELIVER GOURMET MEALS TO AN EIGHT SEAT DINING AREA, AND LARGE SOFA FOLD OUT TO PROVIDE ON-BOARD BEDS. ONCE PASSENGERS HAVE HAD THEIR FILL OF 'ROUGHING IT' THEY SIMPLY TRANSFORM THE AIRCRAFT BACK INTO ITS 'FLYING MODE' AND FLY OFF TO THE NEXT LOCATION. THE 100ft AIRCRAFT IS BEING BUILT TO ORDER IN THE UK, AND A SPOKESMAN FOR BAE/DESIGN Q SAYS THE AIRCRAFT WILL 'OFFER A NEW LEVEL OF SOPHISTICATION FOR THE DISCERNING CUSTOMER'. WITH MARBLE FLOORS AND QUALITY FINISHES THROUGHOUT, THE INTERIORS CAN BE MODIFIED AND DESIGNED TO SUIT THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF THE CUSTOMER.

DOM PERIGNON ŒNOTHEQUE ROSE


DOM PERIGNON HAS RELEASED ITS LATEST ADDITION TO THE ŒNOTHEQUE SERIES WITH THE EXCLUSIVE ŒNOTHEQUE ROSE. EVERY FEW YEARS LUXURY VINTNER DOM PERIGNON PUT ASIDE A SMALL QUANTITY OF AN EXQUISITE VINTAGE AND PLACE IT INTO A SPECIAL CELLAR KNOWN AS THE ŒNOTHEQUE (WINE LIBRARY) TO AGE AND MATURE TO ITS FULLEST POTENTIAL. THE NEW ŒNOTHEQUE ROSE HAS SPENT OVER TEN YEARS AGING IN THE ŒNOTHEQUE. THE ROSE IS MADE EXCLUSIVELY FROM PINOT NOIR AND CHARDONNAY GRAPES, AS THE AGING LASTS, THE SCENT BECOMES MORE EXQUISITE AND THE TASTE AS WELL. THE DOM PERIGNON ŒNOTHEQUE ROSE WILL BE AVAILABLE IN EXTREMELY LIMITED QUANTITIES IN SELECT SHOPS WORLDWIDE.

TRUMAN CAPOTE'S BROOKLYN TOWNHOUSE ON THE MARKET


BROOKLYN'S MOST FAMOUS HOUSE, THE 11 BEDROOM MANSION WHERE TRUMAN CAPOTE WROTE MOST OF HIS ICONIC NOVELS INCLUDING BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S, HAS RECENTLY BEEN PUT ON THE MARKET FOR $18 MILLION. THE STUNNING HOME AT 70 WILLOW ST IN BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, IS BEING OFFERED FOR JUST THE THIRD TIME IN 70 YEARS AND IS LIKELY TO BREAK SALES RECORDS IN THE BOROUGH AND BECOME THE MOST EXPENSIVE TOWNHOUSE IN ITS HISTORY. THE LAVISH PERIOD HOME FEATURES 18 ROOMS WITH 11 FIREPLACES, PARKING FOR FOUR CARS, A MURAL COPIED FROM THE KENNEDY WHITE HOUSE, A BACK PORCH AND A LUSH GARDEN MODELED AFTER CLASSIC SOUTHERN GARDENS. THE HOME IS BEING TOUTED AS ONE OF THE FINEST HOUSES IN THE BOROUGH'S FINEST NEIGHBORHOOD. 'IT'S LIKE LIVING IN A COUNTRY ESTATE IN THE MIDDLE OF NEW YORK CITY', SAID KAREN HEYMAN, THE SOTHEBY'S BROKER SELLING THE PROPERTY. 'IT TAKES YOUR BREATH AWAY THE MINUTE YOU WALK IN.' BUILT IN 1839 AND NOW IN THE HANDS OF A MEDIA ENTREPRENEUR, THE HOUSE WAS OWNED IN THE 1950s BY BROADWAY ART DIRECTOR OLIVER SMITH, WHO DESIGNED THE FAMOUS SETS FOR 'GUYS AND DOLLS' AND 'WEST SIDE STORY'. CAPOTE SAID HE GOT SMITH BLITZED ON MARTINIS TO PERSUADE HIS FRIEND TO RENT HIM THE HOUSE'S GARDEN APARTMENT FROM 1955 TO 1965. THERE, AMID THE GRAND GREEK REVIVAL COLUMNS AND GLITTERING CRYSTAL CHANDELIERS, THE PROLIFIC WRITER DREAMED UP ICONIC NEW YORK PARTY GIRL HOLLY GOLIGHTLY FROM BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S, HE ALSO WROTE THE POIGNANT IN COLD BLOOD, HIS FAMOUS NONFICTION NOVEL, AT THE MANSION. CAPOTE WOULD THROW LAVISH PARTIES FOR THE NEW YORK'S RICH AND FAMOUS WHEN SMITH LEFT TOWN, OFTEN BRAGGING THAT HE OWNED THE ENTIRE PROPERTY.



SMU MEADOWS MUSEUM DISCOVER OWNING NAZI LOOTED ART


SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY'S MEADOW'S MUSEUM, DALLAS, HAS RECENTLY LEARNED THAT THREE OF ITS WELL-KNOWN PAINTINGS WERE AMONG THE MILLIONS OF ARTWORKS STOLEN FROM JEWISH FAMILIES BY THE NAZIS DURING WORLD WAR II. THE FOUNDER OF THE DALLAS-BASED MONUMENTS MEN FOUNDATION FOR THE PRESERVATION OF ART DISCOVERED THE PAINTINGS' CONNECTION TO WORLD WAR PLUNDER WHILE DOING RESEARCH FOR TWO BOOKS. ROBERT EDSEL SAID HE CAME ACROSS A BLACK AND WHITE PHOTO SHOT IN GERMANY IN 1945 THAT SHOWED A PAINTING HE THOUGHT LOOKED 'EERILY LIKE ONE' HE HAD SEEN AT SMU'S MUSEUM. IT WAS THE 'SAINT JUSTA', HALF OF A FAMOUS PAIR OF PAINTINGS BY THE SPANISH ARTIST BARTOLOME ESTEBAN MURILLO. EDSEL LATER SPOTTED ITS COMPANION PIECE, 'SAINT RUFINA', IN ANOTHER PHOTO. 'THEY'RE NOT JUST TREASURES OF CIVILIZATION, BUT THEY'RE REPRESENTATIVE OF FAMILIES WHO LOST THEIR LIVES AND HAD EVERYTHING STOLEN FROM THEM', EDSEL SAID. EDSEL ESTIMATED THAT THE MURILLO PAINTINGS WERE VALUED AT LEAST BETWEEN $10 MILLION TO $15 MILLION FOR THE RARE PAIR, AFTER DISCUSSIONS WITH VARIOUS AUCTION HOUSES. 'THESE ARE TWO OF THE FINEST WORKS OF ART BY THIS ARTIST, ONE OF SPAIN'S MOST IMPORTANT PAINTERS EVER', HE TOLD THE ASSOCIATED PRES IN A RECENT INTERVIEW. EACH OF THE PAINTINGS BORE A NOW TIME FADED NUMBER ON THE BACK OF THEIR WOODEN STRETCHERS. THE NAZIS USED NUMBER CODES TO INVENTORY STOLEN ART, EDSEL SAID. THE R1171 ON THE SANTA JUSTA MEANT THAT IT CAME FROM THE FRENCH ROTHSCHILD COLLECTION AND WAS THE 1,171st ITEM FROM THAT COLLECTION INVENTORIED BY THE NAZIS, ACCORDING TO A STORY ON DALLAS TELEVISION STATION WFAA'S WEBSITE. THE NAZIS STOLE MORE THAN 6,000 ITEMS FROM THE ROTHSCHILD ESTATE, EDSEL SAID. SMU'S MEADOWS MUSEUM HAS HAD THE MURILLO MASTERPIECES FOR 38 YEARS. THE MUSEUM BOUGHT THE PAINTINGS AT A NEW YORK GALLERY IN 1972 AND DIDN'T KNOW OF THE LINK, SAID NICOLE ATZBACH, THE MUSEUM'S ASSISTANT DIRECTOR. THE MUSEUM IS WORKING WITH CONSULTANTS IN LONDON AND PARIS TO TRACE THE ART WORKS' CHAIN OF CUSTODY AND VERIFY OWNERSHIP. DOCUMENTS SHOW THAT THE PAINTINGS WERE INITIALLY RETURNED TO THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT, BUT THE EXPERTS ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE WHETHER FRANCE GAVE THE PAINTINGS BACK TO THE ROTHSCHILD FAMILY BEFORE THE MEADOWS MUSEUM ACQUIRED THEM. EDSEL TOLD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS THAT THAT DOCUMENT IS 'A MISSING LINK TO TITLE OWNERSHIP'. EVEN SO, HE AND THE UNIVERSITY SAID THE MUSEUM'S OWNERSHIP OF THE WORKS WILL BE VALIDATED. THE MUSEUM HAS SHOWN THE ARTWORKS INTERNATIONALLY AND PUBLISHED THEM IN VARIOUS CATALOGS WITHOUT ANYONE CLAIMING TO OWN THEM. 'GIVEN THAT THESE PAINTINGS ARE SO WIDELY KNOWN, THEIR LOAN HISTORY... AND THE FACT THAT THE ROTHSCHILDS WERE CLOSELY TIED TO THE ART WORLD I DON'T SEE HOW THEY WOULD NOT HAVE SPOKEN OUT TO CLAIM THEM IF THEY HAD NOT ALREADY GONE THROUGH PROPER CHANNELS', ATZBACH SAID.