HAPPY HALLOWEEN

SIR CHRISTOPHER LEE KNIGHTED BY THE PRINCE OF WALES

DRACULA STAR SIR CHRISTOPHER LEE WAS KNIGHTED BY THE PRINCE OF WALES AND HAILED THE HAMMER HORROR MOVIES THAT MADE HIS NAME FAMOUS. THE PROLIFIC ACTOR FAMED FOR HIS SPINE CHILLING ROLES AS COUNT DRACULA AND OTHER DARK CHARACTERS SAID HE WOULD ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL TO THE STUDIO THAT CREATED HIS PERSONA. LEE, WHO WAS KNIGHTED BY CHARLES AT A RECENT BUCKINGHAM PALACE INVESTITURE CEREMONY, HAS APPEARED IN MORE THAN 250 FILMS AND TELEVISION PRODUCTIONS AND WAS HONORED FOR SERVICES TO DRAMA AND TO CHARITY. THE 87 YEAR OLD MOVIE STAR WAS DRESSED IN A MORNING SUIT FOR THE EVENT AND WALKED WITH THE AID OF A STICK AFTER RECEIVING TREATMENT FOR A BACK INJURY HE SUSTAINED DURING A FALL. AFTER THE CEREMONY LEE SAID HE WOULD NOT DIVULGE WHAT THE PRINCE HAD SAID TO HIM AFTER BEING KNIGHTED BUT SAID THE HEIR TO THE THRONE WAS "EXTREMELY COMPLIMENTARY" ADDING "HE COULDN'T HAVE BEEN NICER AND WAS VERY EASY TO TALK TO." THE VETERAN ACTOR, WHO WAS KNIGHTED ON THE EVE OF HALLOWEEN, JOKED: "I'VE DONE A LOT OF FILMS THAT HAVE BECOME ICONIC, NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE OF ME." THESE INCLUDE 'THE WICKER MAN', WHICH THE ACTOR IS PROUD OF AS THE WRITER ANTHONY SHAFFER CREATED THE PART OF LORD SUMMERISLE FOR HIM, AND THE VILLAIN SCARAMANGA IN THE JAMES BOND MOVIE 'THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN'. LEE ADDED: "A WHOLE NEW CAREER OPENED UP FOR ME WHEN I WAS IN 'LORD OF THE RINGS' AND 'STAR WARS'. WHAT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME IS, AS AN OLD MAN, I'M KNOWN BY MY OWN GENERATION AND THE NEXT GENERATION KNOW ME TOO." HE ALSO CRITICIZED MODERN HORROR FILMS THAT SHOW "BLOOD AND GORE AND MUTILATION." HE SAID: "IT'S WHAT YOU DON'T SEE THAT KEEPS YOU ON THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT IN ANY KIND OF FILM, LEAVE IT TO THE IMAGINATION OF THE VIEWER."

HOCUS POCUS -- I PUT A SPELL ON YOU

BUCKINGHAM PALACE PRESENTS 'THE CONVERSATION PIECE: SCENES OF FASHIONABLE LIFE'

A FASCINATING INSIGHT INTO HIGH-SOCIETY STYLE AND MANNERS, FROM THE TIME OF CHARLES I TO THE REIGN OF QUEEN VICTORIA, IS PRESENTED AT THE QUEEN'S GALLERY IN BUCKINGHAM PALACE,LONDON, IN A STUNNING EXHIBITION ENTITLED 'THE CONVERSATION PIECE: SCENES OF FASHIONABLE LIFE'. TYPICALLY A CONVERSATION PIECE SHOWS A FAMILY GROUP OR A GATHERING OF FRIENDS PARTICIPATING IN INFORMAL ACTIVITIES, PERHAPS AT A TEA PARTY, ON A FISHING TRIP OR AT A DINING CLUB. WHILE A PORTRAIT PRIMARILY RECORDS THE SITTER'S APPEARANCE, THE CONVERSATION PIECE DEPICTS THEIR WAY OF LIFE. THE EXHIBITION TRACES THE ROOTS OF THE CONVERSATION PIECE BACK TO THE NETHERLANDS IN THE 17th CENTURY AND TO THE WORK OF ARTISTS AS PIETER DE HOOCH AND GODFRIED SCHALCKEN. THIS FORM OF GROUP PORTRAITURE REACHED THE HEIGHT OF ITS POPULARITY IN GEORGIAN ENGLAND, AND THE EXHIBITION INCLUDES OUTSTANDING PAINTINGS BY THE GREATEST EXPONENTS OF THE CONVERSATION PIECE, JOHAN ZOFFANY, WILLIAM HOGARTH AND THOMAS GAINSBOROUGH. TO COMPLEMENT THE SELECTION OF ROYAL CONVERSATION PIECES, THE EXHIBITION SHOWS EXAMPLES OF THE GENRE ACQUIRED BY MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY OVER THE PAST FOUR CENTURIES.
THE CENTERPIECE OF THE EXHIBITION IS A GROUP OF WORKS BY ZOFFANY, PERHAPS THE GREATEST PRACTITIONER OF THE CONVERSATION PIECE. A GERMAN BORN PAINTER WHO SETTLED IN ENGLAND, ZOFFANY WAS A FAVORITE OF GEORGE III AND PAINTED NUMEROUS WORKS FOR THE ROYAL FAMILY. THE KING AND HIS CONSORT, QUEEN CHARLOTTE, COMMISSIONED THE ARTIST TO CELEBRATE THE VIRTUES OF 'NORMAL' FAMILY LIFE. IN QUEEN CHARLOTTE WITH HER TWO ELDEST SONS, ZOFFANY SHOWS THE LAVISHLY ATTIRED QUEEN AS AN ATTENTIVE MOTHER WITH HER CHILDREN AND THE FAMILY DOG GATHERED AROUND HER. THE EXHIBITION INCLUDES ZOFFANY'S GREATEST PAINTING, 'THE TRIBUNA OF THE UFFIZI', IN WHICH A DISTINGUISHED GATHERING OF ARISTOCRATS, ARTISTS AND GRAND TOURISTS ARE SET AGAINST A DAZZLING ASSEMBLAGE OF MASTERPIECES.

SOTHEBY'S TO SELL RARE RUSSIAN MINIATURE OF PETER THE GREAT

A MINIATURE PORTRAIT OF CZAR PETER THE GREAT IN A DIAMOND ENCRUSTED FRAME, OWNED FOR DECADES BY AN ARIZONA FAMILY THAT DIDN'T REALIZE ITS HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE, IS GOING ON THE AUCTION BLOCK. THE EARLY 18th CENTURY PIECE WILL BE SOLD AT SOTHEBY'S AUCTION HOUSE, NEW YORK, 2.NOVEMBER AND IS EXPECTED TO FETCH $80,000 TO $120,000. THE ESTATE OF THE ORIGINAL OWNER, GEORGE ROBERTS, LEARNED OF ITS IMPORTANCE DURING AN APPRAISAL OVER THE SUMMER. ROBERTS PURCHASED IT IN 1951 FROM A LONDON DEALER. IN 2001, ONE OF THE TWO IN PRIVATE HANDS SOLD FOR $132,500 AT CHRISTIE'S. EXPERTS BELIEVE THAT AS FEW AS 10 OF THE BEJEWELED MINIATURES WERE BESTOWED BY PETER THE GREAT ON HIS SUBJECTS FOR THEIR EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE TO HIM. UNTIL THE LATEST DISCOVERY, ONLY FIVE WERE KNOWN TO EXIST, THREE OF THEM IN MUSEUM COLLECTIONS. THEY PREDATE THE BETTER KNOWN ORDER OF ST ANDREW AWARD FOR CIVILIAN AND MILITARY MERIT. THE 3½-HIGH OVAL PORTRAIT AT THE UPCOMING SALE DEPICTS PETER THE GREAT IN A BLUE CAPE AND THE SASH OF THE ORDER OF ST ANDREW. THE FRAME HANGS FROM AN IMPERIAL CROWN SURROUNDED WITH DIAMONDS. THE REVERSE SIDE IS ENGRAVED WITH A TRIPLE-CROWNED, IMPERIAL DOUBLE-HEADED EAGLE. WHILE BELIEVING IT HAD SOME VALUE BECAUSE OF THE DIAMONDS, ROBERTS' GRANDDAUGHTER, WHO LIVES IN NORTHERN ARIZONA, HAD NO IDEA IT WAS AN EARLY 18th CENTURY WORK OF HISTORIC IMPORTANCE, SOTHEBY'S SAID. AFTER HER GRANDFATHER BOUGHT IT, IT SPENT SOME TIME IN ILLINOIS WHERE HE LIVED AND FINALLY ENDED UP IN ARIZONA WHERE THE FAMILY KEPT IT IN A DISPLAY CABINET. IT WILL BE SOLD AS PART OF SOTHEBY'S RUSSIAN ART SALE.

ISABELLA STEWART GARDNER MUSEUM REACHES FUND-RAISING MILESTONE

THE ISABELLA STEWART GARDNER MUSEUM, BOSTON, HAS REACHED A CRITICAL BENCHMARK IN EARLY FUND-RAISING FOR ITS NEW BUILDING AND PALACE RESTORATION PROJECT. THE GARDNER MUSEUM HAS RAISED, TO DATE, MORE THAN $100 MILLION IN GIFTS AND PLEDGES, REPRESENTING SUPPORT FROM THE MUSEUM'S ENTIRE BOAR OF TRUSTEES, AS WELL AS FROM THE MUSEUM OVERSEER, OTHER INDIVIDUALS AND INSTITUTIONAL FUNDERS. THIS EARLY FUND-RAISING WILL HELP TO SUPPORT THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW BUILDING DESIGNED BY PRITZKER PRIZE WINNING ARCHITECT RENZO PIANO, LOCATED BEHIND THE GARDNER MUSEUM. DESIGNED TO COMPLEMENT THE HISTORIC MUSEUM, THE NEW BUILDING, LIKE ISABELLA GARDNER'S ORIGINAL, WILL BE A WORK OF ART AND A CULTURAL LANDMARK FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON. THE PROJECT WILL HELP TO PRESERVE THE ISABELLA STEWART GARDNER MUSEUM BY REDUCING WEAR AND TEAR ON THE MUSEUM PALACE AND WORLD RENOWNED COLLECTION BY RE-LOCATING VISITOR SERVICES TO THE NEW BUILDING, AND WILL HOUSE NEW AREA FOR PROGRAMMING CARRYING FORWARD GARDNER'S LEGACY AS A CENTER FOR CREATIVITY. THE MUSEUM IS CURRENTLY WORKING WITH ARCHITECT RENZO PIANO AND RENZO PIANO BUILDING WORKSHOP ON FINAL REFINEMENTS TO THE DESIGN OF THE NEW BUILDING, INCLUDING PLANS FOR THE EXTERIOR CLADDING AND MATERIALS. WHILE FINAL DESIGN REFINEMENTS ARE STILL UNDERWAY, THE MUSEUM ANTICIPATES TOTAL PROJECTED HARD AND SOFT COSTS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW BUILDING TO BE APPROXIMATELY $115 MILLION. IN ADDITION, THE CAMPAIGN WILL RAISE FUNDS FOR THE ENDOWMENT AND FOR THE PRESERVATION WORK ON THE COLLECTION AND THE HISTORIC BUILDING , IN ADDITION TO THE RESTORATION OF GALLERY AREAS IN THE EXISTING MUSEUM PALACE. THE MUSEUM WILL UNVEIL THE FINAL DESIGN IN EARLY 2010. THE MUSEUM ALSO WILL LAUNCH A WEBSITE DEDICATED TO THE NEW BUILDING PROJECT AT THAT TIME. "PRESERVATION IS AT THE HEART OF THIS INITIATIVE", SAYS BARBARA HOSTETTER, PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEE. "THE NEW BUILDING AND RESTORATION PROJECT WILL ENSURE THE LONG-TERM PRESERVATION OF THE HISTORIC MUSEUM AND COLLECTION, WHILE GIVING LIFE TO ISABELLA GARDENER'S LEGACY OF SUPPORT FOR ARTISTS, MUSIC, LANDSCAPE AND SCHOLARSHIP. THE EARLY SUPPORT AND ENTHUSIASM THAT WE ARE SEEING FOR THE PROJECT UNDERSCORES THE IMPORTANCE OF THE GARDNER MUSEUM, AND OF THIS PROJECT, TO THE MANY WHO LOVE AND CHERISH ITS UNIQUE LEGACY."

GODIVA HOME FRAGRANCE COLLECTION

GODIVA CHOCOLATIER RECENTLY UNVEILED A NEW WAY TO INDULGE IN THE SENSORIAL DECADENCE OF ITS CHOCOLATES, THE NEW GODIVA HOME FRAGRANCE COLLECTION. GODIVA SCENTED CANDLES ARE THE BRAND'S FIRST FORAY INTO THE HOME FRAGRANCE CATEGORY IN ITS OVER 80 YEAR HISTORY AND REPRESENT A DEPARTURE FROM GODIVA'S TRADITIONAL CULINARY INNOVATIONS. LED BY LEGENDARY CANDLE QUEEN LAURA SLATKIN, THE GODIVA FRAGRANCE COLLECTION WAS DEVELOPED BY COMBINING THE TALENTS OF THE FRAGRANCE INDUSTRY'S MASTER PERFUMERS WITH THE EXPERTISE OF GODIVA'S MASTER CHEF CHOCOLATIERS. THE RESULT IS GODIVA CANDLES FIVE SOPHISTICATED AND DELECTABLE FRAGRANCES WHICH ARE PERFECT FOR THE UPCOMING HOLIDAY SEASON: HOLIDAY PEPPERMINT BARK, MILK CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE, BLACK ALMOND TRUFFLE, WHITE CHOCOLATE MAGNOLIA AND RASPBERRY GANACHE. THE PACKAGING IS REMINISCENT OF GODIVA'S ICONIC GOLD BALLOTINS AND THE SCENTS ARE DESIGNATED BY DIFFERENT COLOUR PRINTED RIBBONS ON EACH. THE CHOCOLATE BROWN TINTED GLASSES CELEBRATE GODIVA'S RICH CHOCOLATE HERITAGE AND ARE ADORNED WITH THE GODIVA LOGO. THESE READY TO GIFT CANDLES ARE A NEW, FUN AND UNIQUE WAY TO EXPERIENCE THE GODIVA BRAND FOR ONLY $22.50.