Divers find Caesar of 46 B.C.

An incredible find of statuary has been unburied near Arles, previously hidden by the muddy bottom of the Rhone river. If the date of 46BC for the bust of Caesar is correct, then this is the oldest image of Julius Caesar we have.

From SFGate.com: Divers find Caesar bust that may date to 46 B.C.

For an image of the bust, showing an aging Caesar, visit Physorg.com

Tom

Vatican Art on U.S. Road Show

Vatican Road Show: Papal Art Treasures Touring U.S. Museums
Centuries
-Old Art Now on Display in St. Petersburg, Fla.

This eighth century mosaic from the oratory of Pope John VII with the image of the apostle Peter is seen Friday Feb. 8, 2008 at the Florida International Museum in downtown St. Petersburg, Fla. . The "Vatican Splendors" exhibit opened the first of a three city tour in St. Petersburg. (AP Photo/Craig Litten)

Does a cave prove Romulus and Remus are no myth? - USATODAY.com

Does a cave prove Romulus and Remus are no myth? - USATODAY.com

Paintings by Four Masters Stolen in Zurich - washingtonpost.com

Paintings by Four Masters Stolen in Zurich - washingtonpost.com

Miramax Studios, a Lost Caravaggio and Jonathan Harr

Variety reports that Miramax is looking to produce a film version of Jonathan Harr's The Lost Painting.

Harr's book is a nonfiction account of the finding of one of the master's works. The story is a rich one. The painting was known but believed lost. Hanging in a dining room of a Jesuit house was what everyone believed to be a copy by the Gerard von Honthorst, a follower of Caravaggio, from the Netherlands.

But in the 1990's, the unknown provenance of the Jesuit painting was beginning to make the light of day and finally, Sergio Bendetti, the National Gallery of Ireland curator, identified the painting as the original.

Controversy was sure to follow. And it did. There is a "Taking of Christ" in Rome. So one had to be a copy. Many claimed that the Roman one was the original and the Dublin the copy. But others, naturally, held the other opinion.

For now, it is conceded that the Dublin painting is the original.

Harr's book, The Lost Painting: The Quest for a Caravaggio Masterpiece, tracing the story of the painting, its loss, and the finding of the treasure. The book is gripping with just a nice mix of history, art lingo and fun.

Read more at Circa Art Magazine, Dublin. The painting, on permanent loan from Irish Jesuits to the National Gallery of Ireland, is on loan to the National Gallery, Washington, DC.

I am adding the visit to Dublin to my list to see one more Caravaggio! (No production date for the film has been set.)

Tom

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Italian Renaissance Painter, Luini, on Stamp

The United States Postal Service has announced that among its commemorative stamps, the Italian Renaissance painter, Bernadino Luini's Madonna of the Carnation will appear.

The oil painting, showing the Madonna with a Christ Child on her lap, holding a small carnation, was painted in about 1515.

Luini (b. c.1470, d. c.1530) from Luino, a small village on Lago Maggiore, near Torino, was a member of the Lombard school. The Lombard school emulated Leonardo da Vinci. Since many of Luini's paintings are so daVinciesque, many have been falsely attributed to da Vinci.

The Madonna of the Carnation was painted when Luini was already well on his way to becoming a master. The painting is now in the Samuel H. Kress collection at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC.

More of Luini's work can be seen on Art.com.

Tom
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Pompeii Brothel reopened to the Public

In a previous post on Pompeii (House of the Flying Cupids open in Pompeii), I talked about the reopening of house with the amazing garden named after the so-called flying cupids. Now, visitors to Pompeii are treated to another reopening.

The famed brothel called the Lupanare has finally reopened a year of restoration work. The frescoes are lit up with special lighting and, among other things, the roof is free of leaks.

Read the Times article: Erotic frescoes put Pompeii brothel on the tourist map.

The Lupanare is not the only brothel in Pompeii, but it is one of the largest, the most interesting and one that has given a significant number of artifacts to research.

Tom
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Radicals among Us: Girolamo Savonarola

These days, it seems easy to throw around the word 'radical', accusing just about anyone of being radical in some way or another.

Of course, being radical means being annoying to some group of people, challenging to another and inspirational to still others. But no matter what it is, being radical can also bring more attention than one might hope.

Of the many radical characters in history, one is particularly fascinating. Not, perhaps, so much for his message but how powerful he was with his message.

In the days of Lorenzo de' Medici (the Magnificent), Michelangelo and Botticelli, there came a 'voice' of sorts 'out of the wilderness' (of sorts).

Girolamo Savonarola joined the Dominican order at Bologna. Sometime around 1490 Lorenzo himself insisted that Girolamo come to Florence. This may have been the beginning of the end.

Savonarola was fiery. He insisted on the strictest of cleanliness and purity. He preached against abuses in the church, gaining excommunication under Pope Alexander VI. And he preached against the vanities seemingly bred in this world of hypocrisy, domination and greed.

Perhaps the most disastrous moment from our historical hindsight was not that Savonarola was ultimately burned at the stake but that he called for the burning of works of art, books and whatever else might turn the faithful away from a pure and holy life. Sandro Botticelli, whose wonderful "Portrait of a Lady", "La Primavera", "Birth of Venus" and other works survive, succumbed to Savonarola's passionate preaching.

During Carnevale 1497, Savonarola's disgust at all those things that, for him, proclaimed vanity--masks, gowns, gluttonous consumption, art that portrayed nudity--were brought to a conflagration so great that it took up a large part of the Piazza della Signoria in Florence. There, even Botticelli threw what might have been some of his greatest works onto the "Bonfire of the Vanities". Michelangelo, though seemingly an interested follower did not succumb to this purging extravagance.

Ultimately, Savonarola accused, belittle, condemned and berated too many people and the wrong ones. While evidence of heresy was lacking in Savonarola's preaching and prophecies, nevertheless he and two fellow monks met there own bonfire in the same square on May 23, 1498. Perhaps this was his own "Bonfire of Vanity"--for presuming that he might change the world.

Tom
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Mona Lisa and Her Hidden Garment

It seems that the Mona Lisa has another secret, though perhaps keeping it that way was not intentional.

Scans made using infrared reflectography revealed that
Lisa Gherardini wore a gauzy veil commonly worn by pregnant or post-partem women when she was painted by Leonardo da Vinci.

The veil, called a guarnello, can be seen in Antonio Botticelli's "Portrait of a Lady".

The scans also revealed that Mona Lisa's hair is not completely down but pinned up.

For more on the news, read the Forbes article, "Scan Hints Mona Lisa Pregnant for Pose".

Tom
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Artists and Writers: Felice Varini

Finding new art in Paris is always a treat.

Today, while I was visiting my friend Jean Demélier (Artists and Writers: Jean Demélier), he pointed out to me some work of Felice Varini. Varini and Demélier are friends, so Demélier is particularly well-placed to explain Varini's work.

Varini plays around with point of view and perspective. He wants us to look at the world of human-made things in a different way. Where we might see a set of buildings down a street or a long hallway with a series of doors and windows, he places lines of colored tape. Depending on our vantage point we see these lines as a random set of lines or we see a complete image that seems to float in space.

In another words, he creates "2D images in 3D space" (see Protein Feed). The images that are formed from the lines he places on objects create what appears to be an overlapping image. Sometimes he will tape lines that form stars, sometimes he places the colored tape in such a way that it seems a hole is in the floor or a painted building is where you would expect a grey one. The effect is an extraordinary trompe l'oeil or optical illusion. See Notes on the Denial of Perspective 02 for a further analysis.

The Varini lines I saw are placed along the buildings, including the Lariboisiere Hospital, that line the Rue Ambrose Paré leading to and including Gare du Nord in Paris. At first, the lines seem to be random images of red lines. The following image is a part of the creation, showing the 'random' lines.

Notice that the red lines seem to just be broken lines on a building.



















But then you are drawn to the lines and are forced to adjust your perspective. In doing so, the line creates a new image and it is one that is someone floating before the 'natural' image.













Here is the part of the road that leads down to Gare du Nord.













Varini has exhibited in Mamco - musée d'art Moderne et Contemporain, Geneva, Kunsthalle Bern, and the Centre Pompidou - Musée National d'Art Moderne, Paris (and many more, see ArtFacts.net).

For more on Varini, you might want to read the following.



Felice Varini
Point of View-Point de Vue

See also Point de Vue sur la Gare du Nord et l'Hopital Lariboisiere and lines and colors.

Tom

Artists and Writers : Lance Luschnig

Lance Luschnig is an amazing photographer. From when I first met him in Moscow, Idaho, I have continued to learn a great deal about photography from him.

The first works I saw of his were at an exhibit at the library in Moscow, Idaho. The series was called something like 'Reading' and was made up of photographs of people reading.

Later I saw other of Lance's work including various nudes and some beginning landscapes.

Lance has regularly worked with black and white film photography (that despite the prevalence of digital technology is still an art worth learning and using).

He has since moved on to computer manipulated work and has moved toward greater and greater abstraction.

Lance has shown in New York, Chicago, Paris (Galerie a l'enseigne des Oudins) besides locally in Moscow, Idaho and Spokane, Washington.

As I have a few more available, I will add some samples below. For now, here are two abstracts.

Tom

Artists and Writers: Jean Demélier

It occurred to me while in Paris that I should mention a few things about two good friends of mine who are tremendous artists (and one is also a writer).

Jean Demélier has been writing and painting most of his life. Born in Poitiers in 1940, he has lived in France, England and Germany. He currently resides in Paris and continuously works every single day.

I first met Jean when I was visiting another friend, Lance Luschnig (see Artists and Writers: Lance Luschnig), who was showing his photographic work at Galerie a l'enseigne des Oudins (58, Rue Quincampoix 75004 Paris, 01 42 71 83 65).

Walking into Jean's apartment is like walking into a museum. It is livable, but every turn there is some creating that is worth discussing.

I have had many good, long talks with him and always struck by his particular take on politics or religion.

The first book I read of his was Le Rêve de Job, and enticing tale of a father and son with a complex interplay of intellect, sensuality and life, intertwined with chess.



Le Rêve de Job

His has myriad other books; very recently a book of his sketches, Life Lines was published by Oasis Books. He also has a large number of sketches, paintings and mixed-media works. Below are some samples of his sketches as well as a sample of his other art.

Tom

St. Petersburg: Hermitage Museum suffers theft

A sad day in the art world. Thieves have stolen some 200 items from the famous Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg. The museum has one of the best collections in the world including Greek and Roman items, works by da Vinci, Raphael, Titian, Rembrandt, Holbein, Mengs, Michelangelo, Mazzuoli and much, much more.

Read more: Hermitage hit by mystery thieves (from BBC News).

If you have a chance to go to St. Petersburg, the Hermitage is a must. Visit the museum's website: Hermitage Museum. The website is extensive with highlights, exhibition information and a virtual museum.

Tom

Finding Caravaggio

It has recently been a thrill for me to discover three Caravaggio paintings in Rome. I have been to Rome many, many times, and I have a person goal to see all the Caravaggios that exist. But for all these years, I had not yet seen three paintings on the life of St. Matthew.

Checking my list I noticed that The Calling of St. Matthew, The Angel and St. Matthew and The Martyrdom of St. Matthew were all located in the church of San Luigi dei Francesi (St. Louis of the French). I made a mental note to look for that church sometime this summer.

After my tours ended, I thought I would wander a little to see what I could see. A friend was visiting and we went to the L'Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella. An interesting place all its own (especially the 'mother house' in Florence).

As we were walking away from the Piazza Navona I saw a sign for the Piazza de San Luigi dei Francesi. My brain skipped a few beats as I tried to discern why this seemed significant. I then pulled out my (yes, old-fashioned) note paper and scanned my list of Caravaggios--there it was a listing of three in the church that was located on this piazza.

I walked into the church and as I slowly made my way toward the small side chapel where the painting were located, my excitement grew, anticipating this viewing. Several other great paintings passed, but as soon as I saw the play of light and dark, and the dark punctuated with color, I knew I had reached the spot. I felt myself on the verge of weeping with joy at seeing such beauty. My companion listened patiently as I described each painting and the history behind the paintings.

In a previous post (Caravaggio in a new light), I mentioned the digital Caravaggio exhibit at the Loyola University Museum of Art in Chicago. This is a great way to see the paintings if you cannot get to see the real thing!

National Gallery, London: Cézanne and Velázquez

If your travels this fall take you to London, you will want to visit the National Gallery. And if you have been there before, this is a good time to re-visit the location.

Cézanne (Cézanne in Britain) and Velázquez (first such extensive exhibit in Britain) are special exhibit.

Tom

Celebrating Picasso's 125th Birthday

In honor of Picasso's 125th birthday this year, Museo del Prado in Madrid is showing of the master's work. It is an appropriate place for this exhibit: it not only honors Picasso's work but also his museum directorship, 1936-1939.

The Museo de la Reina Sofía is also the place to see Picasso in Spain.

For general information on Picasso and the exhibits the joint museum site.

Tom

Musée de l'Orangerie: Monet, Renoir, Picasso, Cézanne, Gauguin, Modigliani and more!

After six years of redesign and renovation, the Musée de l'Orangerie in the Jardin des Tuileries, Paris, has reopened. It is a stunning location and a mesmerizing presentation of some of the world's greatest artists.

On the museum, read this New York Times article.

The ground level seems very simple and, at first, not worth the wait (better if you have a reservation--see the museum's website--but it's not too long of a wait if you go late in the day) and being troubled by a security screening. Once you enter the first gallery presenting Monet's Water Lilies or "Nymphéas" ('large format'--they take up nearly entire walls) you realize that it is the perfect setting. Despite the buzz of people admiring the scene, you feel almost transported to a pleasant afternoon along the River Giverny.

And as if on that river bank, you could sense people of all sorts taken by the scene: from the grandfather teaching his granddaughter about art to the young man expressing his sheer amazement of the work to his disinterested girlfriend.

Moving to the lower floor, there is no disappointment. Gauguin, Picasso, Cézanne and many more confront you as you leisurely stroll through the Jean Walter and Paul Guillaume collections.

Nero's Golden House & Grotesque Art Style

Greetings from Rome!

You may have found this blog quiet for a while but that doesn't mean there has been a lack of interesting things. I have just finished a tour of Spain with 13 people. It was a great tour and now I am getting ready to start the first Rome tour of the summer.

In the past few years, one of the exciting sites to open was the Domus Aurea or the Golden House of Nero. The house smacked of opulence and gave rise to the artistic style we have come to call grotesque.

Unfortunately, fall flooding caused the closing of the Domus until further notice. Those who were looking forward to seeing the magnificient construction, partially covered over by later emperors, will be a little disappointed. But the way things have been going in Rome, the Domus will re-open and we will once again be able to see the house that Nero built. Information on the site can be found on the Superintendent of Archaeology of Rome site (English is available, but was not working as of this posting).

The grotesque style of art, characterized by human and animal forms, often with seemingly unrealistic attitudes, along with free use of surrealistic foliage, arose from the first discovery of the Domus Aurea. In the 16th century, the likes of Michelangelo skinnied through a hole dug into what everyone thought was a cave or underground grotto. What they discovered were the magnificiently painted ceilings of the Domus Aurea.

Slowly artists began to incorporate this type of artistic decoration into their own work giving rise to the grotesque or grotto-like art. Only later, due to the over use and sometimes seemingly extravagant styling does the word come to mean our sense of disgusting.

Read about the grotesque style on the Giornale Nuovo blog.

Una vita non basta!

Tom

Happy Birthday, Leonardo da Vinci!

April 15, 1452.

554 years ago, a genius was born. Leonardo, Il Fiorentino or da Vinci, was born to his father, Ser Piero and his mistress Caterina.

Much has been said about Leonardo, his genius, his secrets and more. An interesting angle is from the University of Padua.

In this blog, I just want to mention a new book on his genius and suggest it.

Bülent Atalay's, Math and the Mona Lisa: The Art and Science of Leonardo da Vinci, is a great look at the intertwining of science and art, as exemplified by Leonardo. Atalay not only looks at this man's genius but also highlights the historical milieu of scientific and mathematic learning, ranging from the Greeks to the Muslims and to the Chinese and Egyptians. He explains clearly the 'golden proportion', the introduction of Arabic 'numerals' into Western mathematics and the theory of relativity.

There are a couple of caveats. The author is sometimes a bit longwinded and takes time to get to his point. There are some technical errors (for example, he calls 'alimony' an exception to the prefix al- of Arabic origin; but the al- in alimony is not a prefix, but rather a part of the compound word originating from Latin meaning to nourish or sustain), and some endnotes are missing. But overall the book is fascinating and easy to read.

Tom
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The many faces of Perú

Perú is a fascinating country. From the lowland, coastal regions of Lima to the high Andes, you can experience a full variety of cultural flavor.

Speaking of flavor, do you know one of the traditional dishes of Perú?

Cuy (pronounced koo-ee) is a particular specialty in Cuzco. Whereas most food prices are very inexpensive, Cuy is nearly 10 times as expensive. If you want to try it, you need to order it the day before (I don't know why!). And unless you are pretty willing to try something very different and new, at that price, I wouldn't bother.

What exactly is this delicacy?

Ready?

It is guinea pig. Nicely roasted and served warm--yummy! Personally, I prefer cuy picante (roasted guinea pig in a spicy, red sauce).

Would you like to make your own? Here is a recipe from Fundación Intervida.

Why would you want to eat cuy? Well, for one, it is quite rich in protein. For another, it is actually quite good. (Don't be put off by how it is served: head on and split down the middle.)

More than just eating guinea pig, it seems that the guinea pig has been used for healing and for diagnosing diseases. See the interesting article on these properties.

Tom

Michelangelo at the British Museum

There is quite a lot going on at the British Museum in London these days. In particular, there is an extensive exhibition on the works of Michelangelo.

Perhaps most exciting about the exhibit, Michelangelo Drawings: Closer to the Master, is that the museum brings together in the exhibition material that has been not been displayed together since, probably, the items all left the studio, over 400 years ago.

Other special events include: Michelangelo: Money and Medals (with a complementary online tour), a full day discussion featuring the feminist author, Germaine Greer, art critic Brian Sewell, theologian Emma Disley and several others, Michelangelo: Points of View.

While the British Museum is always free, there is a cost for the special exhibition as well as special events. Tickets can be purchased in advance and online.

Have a look at these blogs for some discussion of Michelangelo: Renaissance Weblog, Art News Blog and for exciting news of a newly found lost painting by Michelango in a Chianti village, see, Live Journal. (More on the last one to come!)

Tom
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Sarcophagus with scenes of Iliad and Odyssey

Ancient Sarcophagus Unearthed in Cyprus - Yahoo! News

Another article with better pictures:
USATODAY.com - Ancient sarcophagus unearthed in Cyprus


An exciting find worth visiting Cyprus for!

Tom
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House of the Flying Cupids open in Pompeii

After 10 years of work, the Archaeological Superintendent of Pompeii has reopened one of the best examples of art and architecture styles from the era of Nero.

The beautiful house that was belonged to Gnaeus (Cnaeus) Poppaeus featured gilded, flying cupids, hence its name.

The house demonstrates the changing styles of Pompeiian art and architecture and will delight visitors. In particular, the public spaces are fine examples of the so-called 'third-style'. Elsewhere, scenes of Greek, Roman and Egyptian mythology adorn walls, gardens and peristyles.

The statuary and other salvageable remains are viewable in the Naples Archaeological Museum.

The Italian news agency, ANSA, has a brief story. For details of the house itself, visit the Archaeological Superintendent of Pompeii page.

But be sure to make reservations for viewings. Visit the Arethusa page. The page is only available in Italian.

• Click on Scavi di Pompei
• Click on Prenotazioni
• Click the last entry for Casa degli Amorini dorati
• Indicate your desired visit date (at the bottom of the page)

You can also use the Arethusa for making reservations to other sites.

Tom

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Rembrandt turns 400!

Bloomberg.com. Amsterdam Celebrates Rembrandt Birthday, Aims to Lure Tourists

In honor of Rembrandt's 400th birthday there is a lot going on in Amsterdam.

Visit the Rijksmuseum site for the celebrations: Rembrandt 400.

Those traveling through Amsterdam's airport, Schiphol, can get in on the celebration too. The museum is having a special exhibit at the airport covering the work of Rembrandt's students, including Gerard Dou, Carel Fabritius and Govert Flinck. The airport exhibit is from 2 March through 30 May.

What a great way to pass the layover time!

At the Rijksmuseum, an interesting exhibit on works that were once believed to be by Rembrandt is going on from 9 March through 24 May. The same exhibit will then be on display at Schiphol from 1 June through 5 September. The exhibit explains how art professionals determine the authenticity of paintings. This is well worth a visit.

And an interesting combined exhibit is also underway at the Van Gogh museum. Rembrandt and Caravaggio are displayed together in this exciting display of the masters. This exhibit runs from 24 Februrary through 18 June. Visit the exhibit's website here: Rembrandt-Caravaggio.

Tom

Getty Villa in Malibu--get tickets in advance

In a previous post on the Getty Villa in Malibu I mentioned that it was re-opened. I was planning to see the exhibit and then give a more detailed report.

However, I have to report first (as I discovered) that you need to acquire free, advance, timed tickets. Unfortunately, trying to do this the same day or day before you want to visit may prove fruitless.

Visit the Getty site for more information and to reserve tickets. Or you can call: (310) 440-7300.

Tom

National Museum in Sana'a, Yemen, reopens

A little visited museum that houses a wealth of archaeological history from ancient times to the near modern.

The museum was originally opened in 1971 but lacked a sufficient number of experts to maintain the collection. In 1977, the Netherlands decided to give assistance in developing the museum and its collections.

By1997 the collections had grown quite large and major renovation was required. Now the museum has finally re-opened.

Read the article in Yemen Observer.

A brief summary of the exhibits can be found on the Yemen Museum site. The collections include Yemeni historical artifacts, pre-Christian artifacts and pre- and post-Mohammedan artifacts. The artifacts include statues, papyrus fragments, coins, weapons and other human remains.

Tom

Massive Greek tomb near Pella in Northern Greece

International News Article Reuters.com

Now there is another great reason to go to northern Greece.

Some of you may recall the tomb at Vergina, believed by many to be the tomb of Phillip, the father of Alexander the Great. (Click to go to the Hellenic Ministry of Culture site about Vergina.)

Well, now another massive underground tomb has been unearthed near Pella, the birthplace of Alexander.

The tomb seems to have been raided a few times, but happy for us and archaeologists great amounts of artifacts were found and the stele still contained the names of those buried there.

Very intriguing are the vibrant colors found painted on the chamber walls, a testament to the bright colors favored by the peoples of this area and period.

Tom

New revelations at Emperor Hadrian's Villa in Tivoli

ANSA.it - News in English - Hadrian's Villa hides more secrets

If you have been to the emperor's villa you know how peaceful it is. As you walk around and find a bit of shade you can also imagine how relaxing it must have been for the emperor. This is true though the villa is really a small city and served as the emperor's place of business away from Rome.

Now there is another reason to go back. Archaeologists have uncovered a staircase under what has usually been called the palestra (or exercise area). It seems that perhaps the area actually marked the original entrance to the villa.

I can't wait to see the new find--open to the public next year sometime.

A time-honored read about Hadrian is Marguerite Yourcenar's Memoirs of Hadrian. For a more academic read try Stewart Perowne's Hadrian. For a discussion of the relationship of the emperor to his favorite, Antinous, read Beloved and God by Royston Lambert. Lambert gives a good analysis of the relationship but also the downturn of Hadrian's character after Antinous' death.



Tom

Two Caravaggio paintings discovered

BBC NEWS Europe: Delight at Caravaggio discovery

It is not completely settled, but the news that two paintings by Caravaggio hung unnoticed in a small church in Loches (in the Loire region of France) for two centuries, is enough to excite Caravaggio enthusiasts.

Some experts argue the paintings, 'Saint Thomas Putting his Finger on Christ's Wound' and 'Pilgrimage of Our Lord to Emmaus' may be copies of Caravaggio's work.

But the majority thinks they are genuine; if so, it is a delight to have these paintings added to the known works of Caravaggio.

Very telling in determining the authenticity and date of the painting is the presence of the coat of arms of Philippe de Bethune a French ambassador and well known art collector and acquaintance of Caravaggio's.

I have linked here M by Peter Robb, an interesting (though sometimes criticized for its straightforwardness and daring) account of Caravaggio's life. It is also helpful in understanding dating and authentication problems. It also explains why a person such as de Bethune would be so willing to intervene on Caravaggio's behalf.


Personally, I can't wait to see the paintings!



Tom

PS. I listed two other blogs that have information on Caravaggio. They don't seem to have published on this new find yet. They are:

Caravaggio Gallery
Art Muses

Getty Villa in Malibu, California

Villa's Reopening a Low-Key Marvel - Los Angeles Times

The famous reconstruction of a Roman villa from Herculaneum is now reopen.

Tom

Visiting Italy? Here Is A List of Exciting New Exhibits

Are you planning a trip to Italy?

If so, here is a list of exciting new exhibits in Italy: Arts guide: exhibitions in Italy (Ansa.it).

This article lists a number of exhibits that will be open around Italy - some run as late as June.

The list includes World War II era anti-war art by Picasso, Warhol, Dix and others in Bergamo: Galleria d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea di Bergamo (ends February 15).

In Codroipo-Udine, photography as a field of Italian art (ends March 5): Villa Manin Centre for Contemporary Art.

In Florence at the Archivio di Stato di Firenze: documents on the life of Leonardo da Vinci, including the only record of his birth (ends March 5).

In Milan, Keith Haring (ends January 29) at the Triennale and Caravaggio (ends February 6) at the Palazzo Reale.

In Turin there is an exhibit of the Papyrus of Artemidorus, the world's oldest map (opens February 8 and ends May 7) at the Palazzo Bricherasio.

There are many more from the article. If you would like to have weblinks to others, let me know.

Tom

Painter Fra Angelico and Venice

Guardian Unlimited Arts features Almost a saint

Interesting article about Fra Angelico's art in Venice. The man has been dead for over 500 years. His art endures. His tomb is in Rome at Santa Maria sopra Minvera (near the Pantheon). The small church where he took his vows is San Domenico outside Florence on the road to Fiesole.


The Metropolitan Museum of Art has a special exhbition running until January 29, 2006. To see a great representation of the exhibition click Metropolitan Museum of Art's special exhibition book.

For the museum's page about the exhibit, click Metropolitan Museum of Art Fra Angelico Special Exhibition.

Tom

'Elgin marbles' controversy continues

Winds change in the battle over ancient artefacts

The arguments continue on where the 'Elgin Marbles' should be. This article discusses some of them and the balance of arguments. The marbles, showing a peaceful procession in celebration of the Panatheneia, a religious festival held in Greece in midsummer, have been little focus of peace since about 1801. At that time, Lord Elgin (Bruce Thomas, 7th Earl of Elgin) removed a portion of the frieze from the Parthenon to Britain. This was done under authority of the ruling Ottoman Empire. Lord Elgin then tried to sell the Pentelic marble pieces (the 'marbles') to the British government, but the government was unwilling to accept terms. Finally in 1816 the British government agreed to purchase them. This was only after one Sir Joseph Duveen built a special gallery at his own expense in the British Museum to house the marbles. Greece began regularly to demand the return the marbles.




There are about 200 pieces of the frieze in the
British Museum. The other pieces are housed in
the Acropolis Museum in Athens.

For an interesting look at the story behind the marbles, check out the book Mistress of the Elgin Marbles by Susan Nagel.



Tom

Taj Mahal now among 7 wonders (updated link)

Taj among the seven wonders of modern world - Newindpress.com (This link is for archives only and requires a registration.)

Taj Mahal in the list of wonders

An updated list of the 'seven wonders'. Can you recall the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World? Look for the list in a later post.

Tom

Rare bronze horse, chariot unearthed in SW China

People's Daily Online -- Rare bronze horse, chariot unearthed in SW China

An exciting find that adds to the famous 'buried army' of 7500 terracotta figures carved to lifesize. More on those in a later post.

Tom

Buying antiquities- exercise caution

Grave tale of pensioner 'tomb-raider' - 29 Dec 2005 - World News

Trade in antiquities continues every day. Make sure what you are buying is legitimate, but also make sure that you are not violating any laws by making the purchase.

Gone are the days when the likes of Getty, Rockefeller and others could simply outfit their largest room with their f