THE QUEEN NAMES CUNARD'S NEW LINER

THE QUEEN HAS OFFICIALLY NAMED CUNARD'S 92,000-TON QUEEN ELIZABETH LINER IN A GLITTERING CEREMONY IN SOUTHAMPTON TODAY. THE NAMING, BEFORE HUNDREDS OF INVITED GUESTS ON THE QUAYSIDE AT THE VESSEL'S HOME PORT, FOLLOWING A TOUR OF THE SHIP BY THE QUEEN. BUILT AT THE FINCANTIERI MONFALCONE SHIPYARD NEAR TRIESTE IN ITALY, THE VESSEL FEATURES MEMORABILIA FROM CUNARD'S FIRST QUEEN ELIZABETH LINER AS WELL AS FROM THE SECOND SHIP TO BEAR THE NAME, THE QE2. ON BOARD THE NEW SHIP THE QUEEN SAW, FOR THE FIRST TIME, A PORTRAIT OF HER PAINTED BY BURNLEY-BORN ISOBEL PEACHY, WHO IS BELIEVED TO BE THE YOUNGEST WOMAN COMMISSIONED TO PAINT THE MONARCH. THE PAINTING SHOWS THE QUEEN WEARING A NECKLACE AND EARRINGS, FORMERLY BELONGING TO QUEEN VICTORIA, WHICH SHE WORE AT THE CORONATION IN 1953. CAPABLE OF CARRYING 2,068 PASSENGERS AND 996 CREW, THE NEW, 16-DECK QUEEN ELIZABETH IS 964ft LONG AND CAN TRAVEL AT A SPEED OF AROUND 27mph. FEATURES INCLUDE AN 18ft PANEL CREATED BY THE QUEEN'S NEPHEW VISCOUNT LINLEY, ART DECO INTERIORS ECHOING THE 1930s' GREAT AGE OF OCEAN LINERS, AND A SHOPPING AREA FEATURING NAMES SUCH AS FORTNUM & MASON AND HARRIS TWEED. UNDER THE COMMAND OF CAPTAIN CHRIS WELLS WHO EARLIER SERVED ON THE QEII AND CUNARD'S FLAGSHIP QUEEN MARY 2 (QM2), THE NW QUEEN ELIZABETH ALSO HAS AN 832-SEAT THEATER WHERE PASSENGERS WILL BE ABLE TO WATCH WEST END-STYLE SHOWS. THE SHIP LEAVES TOMORROW ON ITS MAIDEN VOYAGE, A 13-NIGHT SAILING WHICH INCLUDES STOPS AT LISBON, TENERIFE AND MADEIRA. TICKETS FOR THE FIRST VOYAGE WENT ON SALE ON 1.APRIL.2009 AND WERE ALL SNAPPED UP WITHIN 30 MINUTES. CUNARD'S FIRST QUEEN ELIZABETH LINER WAS LAUNCHED ON THE CLYDE IN SCOTLAND IN 1938 BY THE THEN QUEEN ELIZABETH, LATER THE QUEEN MOTHER, WITH THE PRESENT QUEEN, THEN 12 YEARS OLD, LOOKING ON. THE QE2 WAS LAUNCHED ON THE CLYDE BY THE QUEEN IN 1967. SHE WAS OFFICIALLY NAMED THE QM2 IN A CEREMONY AT SOUTHAMPTON IN 2004. WHILE THE FIRST QUEEN MARY SHIP, LAUNCHED BY QUEEN MARY IN 1934, LIVES ON AS A FLOATING HOTEL AND TOURIST ATTRACTION IN LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA, THE FIRST QUEEN ELIZABETH MET AN UNHAPPY FATE. SOLD TO A BUSINESSMAN, THE VESSEL CAUGHT FIRE AND SANK IN HONG KONG HARBOR IN 1972. IN SERVICE WITH CUNARD FROM 1969, THE QE2 WAS PART OF THE COMPANY'S FLEET UNTIL BEING SOLD TO A DUBAI PROPERTY COMPANY ON 2008.

FAMILY PAINTING COULD BE WORTH OVER £188 MILLION

WHEN THEIR CHILDREN KNOCKED IT OFF THE WALL WITH A WAYWARD TENNIS BALL, THE KOBER FAMILY WRAPPED UP THE PAINTING THEY KNEW AS 'THE MIKE' AND SHOVED IT BEHIND THE SOFA. THERE IT REMAINED FOR THE NEXT 27 YEARS, IGNORED AND FORGOTTEN ALONG WITH THE FAMILY LEGEND THAT IT WAS ACTUALLY PAINTED MY MICHELANGELO. NOW, HAVING FINALLY CONSULTED THE EXPERTS, THE KOBERS ARE REELING WITH THE NEWS THAT IT DOES INDEED APPEAR TO BE GENUINE, AND COULD BE THE ART FIND OF THE CENTURY. IT HAS ALREADY BEEN WHISKED OUT OF THEIR MODEST HOME IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK, AND PUT IN A SAFE, WITH A POSSIBLE PRICE TAG OF £188 MILLION. ANTONIO FORCELLINO, AN ITALIAN ART RESTORER AND HISTORIAN, IS CONVINCED THE PAINTING IS GENUINE AND WAS STAGGERED WHEN HE WAS SHOWN IT BY MARTIN KOBER. A SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS OF THE JESUS AND MARY INCLUDING INFRARED AND X-RAY EXAMINATIONS SHOWED THAT THE ARTIST HAD MADE A SERIES OF ALTERATION AS HE CHANGED HIS MIND. NEAR THE MADONNA'S RIGHT KNEE OF THE 25in BY 19in WOOD PANEL IS ALSO AN UNFINISHED PORTION, WHICH IS STRONG EVIDENCE OF ITS ORIGINALLY. 'THE EVIDENCE OF UNFINISHED PORTIONS DEMONSTRATES THAT THIS PAINTING NEVER, NEVER, NEVER COULD BE A COPY OF ANOTHER PAINTING', FORCELLINO SAID. 'NO PATRON PAYS IN THE RENAISSANCE FOR AN UNFINISHED COPY.' AS HE WENT TO THE KOBERS' HOME, FORCELLINO WAS SKEPTICAL BUT WAS LEFT OPEN-MOUTHED BY WHAT HE SAW. 'IN REALITY THIS PAINTING WAS EVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN THE VERSIONS HANGING IN ROME AND FLORENCE', HE SAID. IT APPEARS THAT MICHELANGELO PAINTED THE PICTURE IN 1545 FOR HIS FRIEND VITTORIA COLONNA, SOME 45 YEARS AFTER HIS FAMOUS 'PIETA' OF MARY HOLDING JESUS AT ST PETER'S BASILICA IN ROME. SHE GAVE IT TO HER LADY IN WAITING CALLED GERTRUDE YOUNG, THE SISTER IN LAW OF KOBER'S GREAT GREAT GRANDFATHER, AND SHE SENT IT TO THE US IN 1883 WHERE IT HAS REMAINED EVER SINCE. KOBER FINALLY GOT AROUND TO LOOKING INTO THE PAINTING'S HISTORY IN 2003 WHEN HE RETIRED FROM THE AIR FORCE. HE HAD IT RESTORED TO REMOVE 500 YEARS OF WEAR AND TEAR , CONTACTED AUCTION HOUSES AND SCHOLARS AND EVENTUALLY PERSUADED FORCELLINO TO COME AND SEE IT. 'IT WASN'T THE STORY THAT HAD SCARED ME, BUT THAT IT HAD BEEN EXPOSED TO HEATING COMMONLY FOUND INSIDE A MIDDLE-CLASS HOME', FORCELLINO SAID. HE EXPLAINED THAT IN 1886, RESPECTED MICHELANGELO BIOGRAPHER HERMAN GRIMM HAD SEEN THE PAINTING AND SAID IT WAS AN ORIGINAL. FURTHER EVIDENCE INCLUDES A LETTER IN THE VATICAN LIBRARY DISCUSSING A PIETA PAINTING FOR COLONNA, HE SAID. RECENT MICHELANGELOS THAT HAVE COME UP FOR SALE HAVE REACHED OVER £12 MILLION, ALTHOUGH THOSE AT THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART IN NEW YORK COULD FETCH WELL OVER £200 WERE THEY TO BE UP FOR SALE.

PIERRE FERRAND RELEASES CENTURY OLD COGNAC

PIERRE FERRAND, ONE OF ONLY A HANDFUL OF COGNAC HOUSES IN FRANCE SPECIALIZING IN OLD COGNACS FROM THE COVETED GRANDE CHAMPAGNE REGION THAT ARE NOT BLENDED WITH LESSER VARIETIES, HAS COME OUT WITH A NEW 100 YEAR OLD BOTTLING. THE LIMITED EDITION L'HOMMAGE DE PIERRE FERRAND WAS BORN OF COGNAC DISTILLED PRIOR TO WORLD WAR I STORED IN THE SHADE OF FERRAND'S LOGIS D'ANGEAC CELLAR FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY. BOTTLED IN AN EXQUISITELY CRAFTED, NUMBERED CRYSTAL CARAFE, ONLY 10 BOTTLES WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR SALE IN THE US BY SPECIAL ORDER FOR THE SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE OF $3,000 APIECE. THE AGED SPIRIT HAS TAKEN ON A BEAUTIFUL DARK SHIMMERING BRONZE COLOUR AFTER ITS LONG REPOSE IN ITS WOODEN CASK. EXCEPTIONALLY SMOOTH, IT HAS AROMAS OF PRUNE AND CANDIED FRUITS. EACH BOTTLE COMES IN A WOODEN CASE WITH A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY. 'WE WANTED TO OFFER SOMETHING SUPREMELY SPECIAL FROM OUR CELLARS', NOTED ALEXANDRE GABRIEL, PRESIDENT/OWNER OF COGNAC FERRAND. 'WE CHOSE A BEAUTIFUL BOTTLE TO CONTAIN THIS RARE COGNAC, BUT, THE TASTE IS EVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN THE BOTTLE.'

ST DUPONT SAMOURAI COLLECTION

THE ST DUPONT SAMOURAI COLLECTION IS THE LATEST LIMITED EDITION COLLECTION FROM ST DUPONT. THE COLLECTION IS INSPIRED BY EXCEPTIONAL WARRIORS OF JAPAN AND THE SUPERB SOPHISTICATION OF THEIR WEAPONS WHICH FEATURES DARK BLUE AND HINTS OF DEEP RED EVOKING NOBLE BLOOD. THE COLLECTION COMPRISES OF A NEO-CLASSIQUE LARGE AND PRESIDENT FOUNTAIN PEN, ROLLER AND BALLPOINT AND A LIGNE 2 LIGHTER. THE ITEMS HAVE A DARK BLACK RIBBON FINISH WITH A JAPANESE INSPIRED DESIGN AND WILL INCLUDE A UNIQUE SAMOURAI PRESTIGE LIGHTER AND PEN, ONLY EIGHT HUNDRED AND EIGHTY PIECES OF EACH ITEM WILL BE MADE AND WILL BE AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY FROM THE ST DUPONT BOUTIQUES.

ACQUIRES ALBERT MOORE STUDY FOR A SUMMER NIGHTWALKER GALLERY

AS THE END OF THE BRITISH SUMMER COMES TO A CONCLUSION STUDY FOR A SUMMER NIGHT', AN EXQUISITE DRAWING BY ENGLISH PAINTER ALBERT MOORE (1841-93), GOES ON DISPLAY FOR THE FIRST TIME AT THE WALKER ART GALLERY FROM 13.OCTOBER TO 10.DECEMBER. THE DRAWING, ACQUIRED FOR THE GALLERY WITH ASSISTANCE FROM THE ART FUND CHARITY, IS REUNITED WITH AN ACCOMPANYING PREPARATORY WATER COLOUR AND THE FINAL OIL PAINTING, BOTH FROM THE GALLERY'S PERMANENT COLLECTION. SEEN TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME ALL THREE GIVE A FASCINATING INSIGHT INTO MOORE'S WORKING METHODS AND HIS CONSTANT EXPERIMENTATION. THE DRAWING WAS THE EARLIEST IN THE SERIES, FOLLOWED BY THE WATERCOLOUR WITH THE FINAL OIL FINISHED AND EXHIBITED AT THE ROYAL ACADEMY IN 1890. MOORE LAID DOWN THE IDEAS IN THE INITIAL SKETCH AND USED THE WATERCOLOUR TO MARK UP A GRID SO THAT HE COULD SIZE UP THE STUDY TO OIL PAINTING DIMENSIONS. THE WORKS REVEAL MOORE MADE SEVERAL CHANGES TO THE COMPOSITION, BUT THAT THE VIVID COLOURS REMAINED CONSTANT: PRIMROSE YELLOW AND NOCTURNAL BLUE. AS A RENOWNED MEMBER OF THE AESTHETIC MOVEMENT, IN WHICH ARTISTS SOUGHT TO COMBINE COLOUR AND MOOD IN HARMONIOUS UNITY, MOORE'S INTENTION IN 'A SUMMER NIGHT' WAS TO 'PLEASE THE SENSES'. THE ART FUND IS THE NATIONAL FUND RAISING CHARITY FOR WORKS OF ART. THE FUND GAVE £5,000 TO HELP THE WALKER PURCHASE THE DRAWING IN 2009. STEPHAN DEAUCHAR, DIRECTOR OF THE ART FUND, SAID: 'THIS IS A WONDERFULLY ATMOSPHERIC DRAWING, FULL OF LIFE AND MOVEMENT. WE'RE THRILLED THAT THE SET OF THE THREE WORKS IS NOW COMPLETE, AND THAT THIS DRAWING CAN NOW BE ADMIRED ALONGSIDE THE WATERCOLOUR SKETCH AND FINAL PAINTING.' THE OIL PAINTING 'A SUMMER NIGHT' WAS BOUGHT BY LIVERPOOL COUNCIL IN 1890, WHICH OBTAINED IT WHEN THE ORIGINAL PURCHASER BACKED OUT. BUSINESSMAN SIR RUSSELL-COTES HAD PLANNED TO DISPLAY IT IN THE RECEPTION OF HIS LARGE HOTEL IN BOURNEMOUTH BUT HIS WIFE OBJECTED TO THE NUDES. THE PAINTING WAS VERY DECORATIVE AND FULL OF DETAIL. THE COMPOSITION WAS INSPIRED BY GREEK CULTURE, PARTICULARLY THE PORTLAND VASE FROM THE BRITISH MUSEUM.

FENICE MILANO DIVA ROLLS-ROYCE

FENICE MILANO HAS RECENTLY UNVEILED THEIR NEW DIVA TUNING PROGRAM FOR THE ROLLS-ROYCE GHOST. THE STUNNING FENICE'S DIVA EDITION HAS REDRESSED THE GHOST HOOD, GRILLE, SIDE SILLS, WING MIRRORS AND MORE IN 24 CARAT GOLD, REPEATING THE TREATMENT INSIDE THE CABIN WHICH IS ALSO 'TREATED' TO LEATHER, ALCANTRA MICROSUEDE AND TEAK VENEER TRIM.

THE HISTORIC NEW ENGLAND ACQUIRES BOURNE WATERCOLOUR

THE HISTORIC NEW ENGLAND, BOSTON, MASS, RECENTLY ACQUIRED A PAINTING BY NEW ENGLAND ARTIST GERTRUDE BEALS BOURNE (1868-1962). THE BEAUTIFUL WATER COLOUR DEPICTS GERTRUDE BEALS BOURNE'S STUDIO, CREATED FOR HER BY HER HUSBAND, ARCHITECT FRANK BOURNE, IN 'SUNFLOWER CASTLE', THEIR HOUSE ON BOSTON'S BEACON HILL. THE BOURNES MOVED IN RIGHT AFTER THEIR MARRIAGE IN 1904 AND LIVED THERE UNTIL 1962. KNOWN FOR PAINTING GARDENS AND COLONIAL REVIVAL ARCHITECTURE, BOURNE'S WORK WAS SHOWN AT SUCH VENUES AS TE BOSTON ART CLUB, THE NEW YORK WATER COLOUR CLUB, THE AMERICAN WATER COLOUR CLUB, THE CORCORAN GALLERY OF ART, AND THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART. THE VAST COLLECTIONS OF HISTORIC NEW ENGLAND'S LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES PROVIDE IMPORTANT DOCUMENTATION FOR NEW ENGLAND'S CULTURAL AND ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY. ITS HOLDINGS INCLUDE PHOTOGRAPHS, ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS, MANUSCRIPTS, EPHEMERA, PRINTS AND ENGRAVINGS, ARTWORK AND BOOKS. VISIT HistoricNewEngland.org TO EXPLORE THE ONLINE COLLECTION OF MANUSCRIPTS, PHOTOGRAPHY AND MORE. HISTORIC NEW ENGLAND IS THE OLDEST, LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE REGIONAL HERITAGE ORGANIZATION IN THE NATION. THE FACILITY BRINGS HISTORY TO LIFE WHILE PRESERVING THE PAST FOR EVERYONE INTERESTED IN EXPLORING THE AUTHENTIC NEW ENGLAND EXPERIENCE FROM THE 17th CENTURY TO TODAY. HISTORIC NEW ENGLAND OWNS AND OPERATED 36 HISTORIC HOMES AND LANDSCAPES SPANNING FIVE STATES. THE ORGANIZATION SHARES THE REGION'S HISTORY THROUGH VAST COLLECTIONS, PUBLICATIONS, PUBLIC PROGRAMS, MUSEUM PROPERTIES, ARCHIVES AND FAMILY STORIES THAT DOCUMENT MORE THAN 400 YEARS OF LIFE IN NEW ENGLAND.