SOTHEBY'S TO SELL RARE ICONIC 1986 WARHOL SELF-PORTRAIT

AN ICONIC AND RARE SELF PORTRAIT BY ANDY WARHOL, EXECUTED IN 1986 JUST PRIOR TO HIS UNEXPECTED DEATH THE FOLLOWING YEAR, WILL BE OFFERED BY SOTHEBY'S 12.MAY IN A SALE OF CONTEMPORARY ART. THE PAINTING IS FROM WARHOL'S FINAL SERIES OF SELF PORTRAITS, WIDELY ACKNOWLEDGED AS THE MOST IMPORTANT OF HIS ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER. THE MONUMENTAL CANVAS, MEASURING 108 x 108in, IS ONE OF ONLY A HANDFUL EXECUTED BY THE ARTIST AND ONE OF ONLY TWO THAT ARE KNOWN TO BE PRIVATELY HELD. ESTIMATED TO SELL FOR $10 TO $15 MILLION, THE PAINTING WILL BE SHOWN IN HONG KONG AND LONDON PRIOR TO ITS EXHIBITION AND SALE IN NEW YORK. THE SERIES OF 1986 PORTRAITS WOULD BE THE ARTIST'S LAST, PAINTED JUST PRIOR TO HIS DEATH IN FEBRUARY 1987. WHILE THE ARTIST CREATED SELF PORTRAITS THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER, THE MAJORITY DATE FROM THE 1960s AND 1970s. WHEN WARHOL CREATED THE 1986 SERIES, IT HAD BEEN QUITE SOME TIME SINCE HE HAD DEALT WITH HIS OWN ICONIC IMAGE.PREVIOUS 1960s SELF PORTRAITS HAD BEEN BASED ON STRIPS OF IMAGES TAKEN IN A PHOTO BOOTH, WHILE THE 1986 WORKS ARE BASED ON POLAROIDS WHICH HE HAD USED THROUGHOUT THE 1970s AS SOURCE IMAGES. WEARING HIS TRADEMARK SIGNATURE 'FRIGHT WIG', WARHOL'S SELF IMAGE OVERWHELMS THE INKY BLACK CANVAS SURFACE, CONFRONTING THE VIEWER WITH A DIRECT AND HAUNTING GAZE. WHILE MANY OF THE LARGE-FORMAT 1986 SELF-PORTRAITS MEASURE 80 x 80 INCHES, THIS MONUMENTAL PAINTING IS ONE OF ONLY A HANDFUL ON THE SCALE OF 108 x 108 INCHES, EACH WITH A DIFFERENT GROUND THAN THE CURRENT PURPLE SELF-PORTRAIT. THE SELF-PORTRAITS HAVE AN ELEGIAC AND MYSTICAL INTENSITY AND ARE THE PENULTIMATE STATEMENT OF THE ARTIST'S CONTRADICTORY NATURE AS A FLAMBOYANTLY PUBLIC PERSONALITY WHO WAS ULTIMATELY ENIGMATIC AS A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL.

ROME TO DISPLAY ANCIENT ARTIFACTS RETURNED BY THE METROPOLITAN

ANCIENT GREEK ARTWORKS, PIECES OF SILVERWARE AND GOLD DETAIL DATING TO THE THIRD CENTURY BC, ARE GOING ON DISPLAY IN ROME AFTER BEING RETURNED BY THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART IN NEW YORK. THE 16 HISTORIC PIECES INCLUDE TWO LARGE BOWELS, A CUP WITH TWO HANDLES, PLATES AND DRINKING UTENSILS. THEY WERE RETURNED AS PART OF ITALY'S AGGRESSIVE CAMPAIGN AGAINST ILLEGAL TRAFFICKING IN ANTIQUITIES. ITALIAN ART OFFICIALS SAID THAT THE PIECES WILL GO ON DISPLAY AT THE MUSEO NAZIONALE ROMANO IN THE ITALIAN CAPITAL. THE EXHIBIT OPENS 20.MARCH AND RUNS THROUGH 23.MAY, AND THEN MOVES TO SICILY. THE PIECES ARE KNOWN AS THE 'MORGANTINA TREASURE' AFTER THE NAME OF THE ANCIENT GREEK SETTLEMENT NEAR WHAT IS NOW THE ITALIAN CITY OF AIDONE, SICILY.

GEORGIA MUSEUM OF ART TO PRESENT EXHIBITION OF UGA'S 225th ANNIVERSARY

THE GEORGIA MUSEUM OF ART (GMOA), ATHENS, GA, IS ORGANIZING 'UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA TURNS 225', AN EXHIBITION BEGINNING 19.MARCH, THAT WILL CELEBRATE UGA'S 225th ANNIVERSARY. THE EXHIBITION WILL DISPLAY VISUAL ART THAT REFLECTS BOTH THE HISTORY AND THE CURRENT STATE OF UGA AND ITS CAMPUS LIFE. PAINTINGS BY LAMAR DODD, THE FOUNDER OF THE UNIVERSITY'S ART SCHOOL, WILL BE ON DISPLAY, INCLUDING 'THE ARCH' AND 'NORTH CAMPUS', AS WELL AS WORKS BY SUCH OTHER NOTABLE ARTISTS AS GEORGE COOKE, CHARLES FREDERICK NAEGLE AND HOWARD THOMAS. CURRENT ART STUDENTS AND PROFESSORS, INCLUDING THOSE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CERAMICS, WILL ALSO HAVE A ROLE IN THE ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION. THE COMBINATION OF HISTORIC AND RECENT OBJECTS REFLECTS THE PURPOSE OF THE ANNIVERSARY, WHICH IS TO HONOR THE PAST AND THE PRESENT WHILE LOOKING TO THE FUTURE. THE EXHIBITION WILL TAKE PLACE FROM 9.MARCH THROUGH TO 30.APRIL IN THE GALLERIES OF THE VISUAL ARTS BUILDING ON JACKSON STREET, WHICH IS ALSO HOME TO THE TEMPORARY OFFICES OF THE MUSEUM WHILE IT UNDERGOES EXPANSION AND RENOVATION.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.uga.edu/gamuseum

SOTHEBY'S MAGNIFICENT JEWELS SALE INCLUDES A RARE 100.17 CARAT DIAMOND NECKLACE

OVER ONE HUNDRED OF THE WORLD'S MOST STUNNING AND AMAZING JEWELS ARE SET TO GO UNDER THE HAMMER AT THE ANNUAL SOTHEBY'S MAGNIFICENT JEWELS AUCTION IN NEW YORK ON 20.APRIL. ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AUCTION IS THE MUCH ANTICIPATED 100.17 CARAT YELLOW DIAMOND NECKLACE, WHICH IS ESTIMATED TO SELL FOR AT LEAST £2 MILLION. OTHER ITEMS UP FOR BID INCLUDE 17 UNIQUE PIECES FROM BRITISH PHILANTHROPIST PATRICIA KLUGE, WHICH IS ESTIMATED TO SELL FETCH £2.25 MILLION. HIGHLIGHTS FROM HER COLLECTION INCLUDE A 1984 CARTIER PLATINUM, DIAMOND AND SAPPHIRE PANTHERE WRISTWATCH. BUT UNLIKE OTHER WATCHES, THE ACTUAL DIAL IS HIDDEN BENEATH A DIAMOND-ENCRUSTED RECLINING PANTHER. TO READ THE TIME, THE WEARER MUST LIFT UP THE HEAD OF THE ANIMAL. KLUGE, WHO ONCE MODELED IN 'GIRLIE' MAGAZINE KNAVE IN LONDON DURING THE SIXTIES, IS ALSO PARTING WITH A PAIR OF PLATINUM AND DIAMOND PENDENT-EARCLIPS ESTIMATED TO SELL FOR £530,000, AND A PLATINUM AND DIAMOND RING SET WITH A 20.15 CARAT PEAR-SHAPED DIAMOND VALUED AT £132,000. DOZENS OF OTHER JEWELS, WHICH ARE NOT PART OF THE KLUGE COLLECTION ARE ALSO TO BE SOLD. A STANDOUT ITEM IS A PINKISH-ORANGE DIAMOND WHICH 7.67 CARATS, FRAMED AND FLANKED BY ROUND DIAMONDS MOUNTED IN PLATINUM AND 18 CARAT PINK GOLD. A SOTHEBY'S SPOKESMAN SAID THE ITEM WAS THE LARGEST OF ITS KIND AS GRADED BY THE GEMOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF AMERICA AND IT IS EXPECTED TO FETCH £2.3 MILLION. DESPITE THE SENSATIONAL PRICE-TAGS, INDUSTRY EXPERTS SAY BIDDERS ARE EAGER TO SPLASH OUT ON EXCEPTIONALLY RARE ITEMS.

WAL-MART INVESTIGATES UNPRECEDENTED ANNOUNCEMENT

POLICE BEGAN A RACE HATE CRIME INVESTIGATION RECENTLY AFTER AN ANNOUNCEMENT WAS BROADCAST AT A WAL-MART SUPERSTORE IN NEW JERSEY ORDERING 'BLACK PEOPLE' TO GET OUT. A MAN'S VOICE WAS HEARD CALMLY SAYING OVER THE PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM: 'ATTENTION WAL-MART CUSTOMERS, ALL BLACK PEOPLE LEAVE THE STORE NOW'. THE UNUSUAL DEMAND CAUSED AN OUTCRY AMONG SHOPPERS AT THE STORE IN WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP. OFFICIALS AT WAL-MART, WHICH IS AMERICA'S LARGEST STORE CHAIN, WERE REVIEWING SECURITY TAPES TRYING TO DISCOVER WHO HIJACKED THE INTERCOM TO MAKE THE OFFENSIVE MESSAGE. DETECTIVES WHO ARE INVESTIGATING THE INCIDENT BELIEVE A RACIST EMPLOYEE MAY BE RESPONSIBLE. WITNESSES TOLD THE COURIER-POST NEWSPAPER THAT CUSTOMERS AND STORE EMPLOYEES LOOKED STUNNED AND SHOCKED. MANAGEMENT LATER APOLOGIZED. A COMPANY SPOKESPERSON SAID THAT THE INCIDENT WAS 'UNACCEPTABLE', AND WILL BE LOOKING AT WAYS TO PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE. WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND THE GLOUCESTER PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE ALSO ARE INVESTIGATING. WAL-MART OFFICIALLY APOLOGIZED FOR THE 'UNACCEPTABLE' INCIDENT, BUT SHOPPER SHEILA ELLINGTON, WHO WAS IN THE STORE WHEN THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS AIRED, HAS VOWED SHE WILL NEVER RETURN. 'IN 2010, I WANT TO KNOW WHY SUCH STATEMENTS ARE BEING MADE. IT FLIES IN THE FACE OF WHAT WE TEACH OUR KIDS, AND THAT'S TOLERANCE', SHE SAID.

THE QUEEN'S PERSONAL CAR BEING OFFERED FOR SALE

THE QUEEN'S PERSONAL CAR, COMPLETE WITH A CUSTOMIZED HANDBAG HOLDER AND LAMBSKIN RUGS FOR THE CORGIS, HAS RECENTLY GONE ON SALE. BEARING THE SAME NUMBER PLATE AS WHEN IT WAS USED BY THE QUEEN BETWEEN 2001 AND 2004, THE JAGUAR DAIMLER IS BEING SOLD BY SPECIALIST MEMORABILIA DEALER PETER RATCLIFFE. THE TOP OF THE RANGE DAIMLER, WHICH WAS SPECIALLY BUILT FOR THE MONARCH, ONLY HAS 14,000 MILES ON THE CLOCK AS IT WAS MAINLY USED FOR DRIVING AROUND THE GROUNDS OF THE WINDSOR ESTATE. PAINTED A SHADE OF BRITISH RACING GREEN, THE DAIMLER MAJESTIC V8 HAS UNDERGONE SEVERAL MODIFICATIONS TO SUIT ITS PREVIOUS OWNER. THE CAR'S EXTRAS INCLUDED A SECURE TELEPHONE LINK TO DOWNING STREET AND THE HOME OFFICE, WHICH WAS REMOVED PRIOR TO SALE. UNIQUE WINDOW SWITCHES WERE ALSO INSTALLED TO STOP THE WIND BLOWING DIRECTLY INTO THE QUEEN'S FACE. OTHER EXTRAS INCLUDE A CONSOLE OF SWITCHES TO CONTROL FLASHING STROBE LAMPS AND BLUE EMERGENCY CONVOY LIGHTS AND PADDED LEATHER INSERTS FOR THE ARM POCKETS IN THE DOORS TO STOP THE CORGIS SLIDING OFF THE CALFSKIN SEATS INTO THEM. RATCLIFFE SAID: 'THE QUEEN HAD THE IDENTICAL CAR FROM 1998 TO 2001. SHE LIKED THE CAR SO MUCH THAT SHE WANTED THE SAME AGAIN, BUT THERE WERE A FEW THINGS SHE WANTED TO CHANGE. WHEN SHE MET WITH JAGUAR SHE SAID THAT WHEN SHE SAT IN THE BACK OF THE CAR SHE LIKED A BIT OF AIR, BUT DIDN'T LIKE THE WIND TO BLOW DIRECTLY INTO HER FACE. SO THEY INSTALLED AN EXTRA SWITCH ON EACH OF THE REAR DOORS TO CONTROL THE WINDOWS ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE. IT WAS INGENIOUS.' 'THE QUEEN ALSO SAID THAT WHEN SHE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A PASSENGER, SHE WAS WORRIED THAT SHE WOULD HAVE NOWHERE TO PUT HER HANDBAG. JAGUAR TOOK THE NORMAL ARMREST AND ADDED A SLIDING TRAY SO COULD PLACE HER HANDBAG ON TOP AND PUSH BACK THE TRAY TO HOLD IT IN PLACE WHILE THE CAR WAS MOVING', RATCLIFFE ADDED. THE DAIMLER MAJESTIC V8 WAS RELEASED FROM JAGUAR'S COLLECTION OF ROYAL VEHICLES AFTER IT WAS DEEMED SURPLUS TO BUCKINGHAM PALACE'S REQUIREMENTS. RATCLIFFE BOUGHT THE CAR, WHICH STILL HAS A 2005 TAX DISC IN IT, LAST YEAR. THE CAR ENTHUSIAST WOULD NOT COMMENT ON THE PRICE OF THE CAR, ALTHOUGH THE MOTOR HAD A LIST PRICE OF £65,000.

PROFILES IN HISTORY TO SELL LARGEST COLLECTION OF VINTAGE GLAMOR PHOTOGRAPHY

GEORGE HURRELL'S ICONIC PORTRAIT OF JEAN HARLOW ON A WHITE BEARSKIN RUG CREATED FOR VANITY FAIR MAGAZINE NOW SPEARHEADS ONE OF THE LARGEST AUCTIONS OF GLAMOR PHOTOGRAPHY IN ART HISTORY. THE ORIGINAL CAMERA NEGATIVE, AS WELL AS A CUSTOM PRINT OF THE INCOMPARABLE PHOTOGRAPH IS REGARDED AS HURRELL'S MOST IMPORTANT PORTRAIT AND IS ESTIMATED TO SELL FOR OVER $20,000. THE MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR MICHAEL H EPSTEIN AND SCOTT E SCHWIMER COLLECTION , WHICH CONTAINS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF THE BEST EXAMPLES OF HOLLYWOOD FINE ART, WILL BE AUCTIONED OFF BY PROFILES IN HISTORY BEGINNING 26.MARCH. THE MICHAEL H EPSTEIN AND SCOTT E SCHWIMER COLLECTION IS RECOGNIZED AS TEH WORLD'S LARGEST COLLECTION OF GEORGE HURRELL AND INCLUDES OVER 1,000 ORIGINAL VINTAGE PHOTOGRAPHS AS WELL AS 500 CAMERA NEGATIVES. FEATURED ARE DOZENS OF THE MOST VALUABLE 8x10 CAMERA NEGATIVES FROM HURRELL'S CAREER. INCLUDED IS THE BEARSKIN RUG PORTRAIT AS WELL AS THE NEGATIVES USED FOR THE HURRELL PORTFOLIOS TOGETHER WITH THOSE OF GARY COOPER, BETTE DAVIS, MARLENE DIETRICH, RITA HAYWORTH, VERONICA LAKE, AND JOHNNY WEISSMULLER FROM TARZAN, WHICH IS THE MOST SYMBOLIC EVER TAKEN OF A MALE SUBJECT IN HOLLYWOOD. EPSTEIN AND SCHWIMER RECENTLY DECIDED TO OPEN UP THEIR VAULTS AND FOR THE FIRST TIME WILL BE SELLING THEIR COLLECTED PHOTOGRAPHS AND FINE ART MASTERPIECES TO BENEFIT MANY CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS THEY PASSIONATELY SUPPORT, PRIMARILY THE LOS ANGELES GAY & LESBIAN CENTER ON WHICH EPSTEIN SERVED AS BOARD MEMBER FOR 7 YEARS. 'IT'S TIME FOR SCOTT AND ME TO SHARE THE FRUITS OF OUR 25 YEAR COLLECTION WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD. WE WANT OTHERS TO ENJOY AND EMBRACE THE MOST REWARDING FIELD OF COLLECTING WITH WHICH WE CAN EVER IMAGINE BEING INVOLVED IN', EPSTEIN SAID ABOUT THE UPCOMING AUCTION. 'THERE IS NO BETTER ORGANIZATION THAN PROFILES IN HISTORY TO ENTRUST OUR COLLECTION. I AM CERTAIN THAT SCOTT AND I WILL BE BACK COLLECTING ONCE THIS AUCTION IS OVER.'
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.profilesinhistory.com or www.liveauctioneers.com.