As expected, Columbia University Professor James Beck's just published book, "From Duccio to Raphael: Connoisseurship in Crisis" (European Press Academic Publishing) takes issue with several high-profile attributions, including, of course, the Metropolitan Museum's Duccio. What I didn't expect was my being cited in the book---Page 169. There, Beck mentions the use in a NY Times … [Read more...] about Beck is Ba-a-a-ck with His New Book (and CultureGrrl Is in It)
Archives for January 2007
Tough Times in the Newspaper Biz: NY Times Hawks Collectibles
I know that newspapers are going through hard times, but this is ridiculous: The NY Times is hawking sports memorabilia on its website, including a Phil Simms Signed Football ($400), Lawrence Taylor Autographed Mini Replica Helmet ($300), Mark Messier Signed Puck ($200). These are not ads for some outside retailer; these are being sold by the Times itself, through its New York … [Read more...] about Tough Times in the Newspaper Biz: NY Times Hawks Collectibles
Rijksmuseum Covets Pricey British Rembrandt
Martin Bailey today reports in The Art Newspaper that the Rijksmuseum is negotiating to buy "one of Britain's greatest privately-owned Rembrandts"---"Portrait of Catrina Hooghsaet." The price was expected to be about £40 million ($78.8 million), he said. The painting, from from Penrhyn Castle in North Wales, is currently on loan to the Amsterdam museum. If the sale goes … [Read more...] about Rijksmuseum Covets Pricey British Rembrandt
Getty Trust Publishes Compensation for New Museum Director and President
I've always felt uneasy about publishing people's salaries and I've generally refrained from doing so: It feels to me like an invasion of privacy, even though this information is publicly available, as it should be, on the annual 990 tax returns of nonprofits. But every time a journalist gets hold of information about the salaries of the top officials of major cultural … [Read more...] about Getty Trust Publishes Compensation for New Museum Director and President
Capital Solution to Broadcast Bozo-ism
Yet another major city has just been rescued from the buffoonery of the Broadcast Bozos: One Washington, D.C. radio station (WETA) took on Bach and Beethoven on Monday, the same day that another (WGMS) dropped them in favor of Sheryl Crow. At least the new classical music outpost, in comparison to the old, has a stronger signal---the strongest in Washington. The recent … [Read more...] about Capital Solution to Broadcast Bozo-ism
Purchasing Turner by the Brushstroke
If you've finished donating to Philadelphia's Eakins campaign and are looking to save another artwork for its homeland, London's Tate Gallery has just the thing: For a mere £5 you can buy a brushstroke of Turner's "The Blue Rigi," as part of the campaign to keep it from going to the private, non-British collector who offered £5.8 million for it at auction last June. The British … [Read more...] about Purchasing Turner by the Brushstroke
CultureGrrl Teaches What She Preaches
I'll be offline for a couple of hours, while I reveal the sacred rites of arts journalism to a class of middle schoolers. I'll be talking about the process of producing my Wall Street Journal article about the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston---from conception to publication. Although this may be of dubious educational value, my classroom stint will allow me to tell the … [Read more...] about CultureGrrl Teaches What She Preaches
All-Star Panel on the Museum Collecting Crisis
Here's a panel discussion, to be held on Feb. 24, 10 a.m. to noon, that I'm sure my NYC-area readers will find interesting: ADAA [the Art Dealers Association of America] will present a Collectors' Forum panel discussion entitled "The Museum as Collector." This historic gathering of museum directors will discuss one of the most critical issues affecting the art world … [Read more...] about All-Star Panel on the Museum Collecting Crisis
What Are the 25 Most Important Paintings Owned Privately in Britain?
A list of works said to be Great Britain's 25 most important paintings in private hands has been published by today's Daily Telegraph of London. This masterpiece roster has been compiled in connection with a campaign by Lord Howarth, a former arts minister, to get the British government "to revive its secret Paramount List--a list of works of art so important the Government … [Read more...] about What Are the 25 Most Important Paintings Owned Privately in Britain?
Hermitage Theft Trial Begins
In the latest development related to one of the sorriest episodes in museum history, Nikolai Zavadsky, husband of deceased State Hermitage Museum curator Larisa Zavadskaya, admitted in court today that he and his wife stole 77 objects from the museum's collection. More than 200 objects from the Department of Russian Culture were discovered missing last summer. Some have since … [Read more...] about Hermitage Theft Trial Begins
New Goudstikker Catalogue to Facilitate Nazi-Loot Return
Forget Nazi-loot databases. Marei von Saher, the daughter-in-law of the Dutch dealer Jacques Goudstikker, is giving her claim a higher profile: She has compiled a catalogue of the works he was forced to sell to Hermann Göring and Göring's dealer in 1940. Goudstikker, who was Jewish, died on a ship while fleeing Amsterdam for Great Britain during World War II. This volume, to … [Read more...] about New Goudstikker Catalogue to Facilitate Nazi-Loot Return
Greeks Announce Possible Claim; Christie’s Hasn’t Received It
UPDATE from Bloomberg: Christie's says the sale will go on. Greek Culture Minister George Voulgarakis sent a letter yesteday to Christie's, London, asking the auction house to halt a planned sale tomorrow and Thursday of 850 lots formerly from the collection of King George I of Greece, according to a report in today's Bloomberg. This is not another Greek antiquities claim: The … [Read more...] about Greeks Announce Possible Claim; Christie’s Hasn’t Received It
Pacino as Dalí?
Imagine the Moustache Sure, I can see that! They've both got a talent for over-the-top flamboyance. "Dalí & I: The Surreal Story" (let's hope they change the title) starts filming in June in New York and Spain, Variety reports. Andrew Niccol directs. But Al, can you do the accent? If not, please don't dilly-Dalí: Just fuhgeddaboudit! Meanwhile, you can start getting into … [Read more...] about Pacino as Dalí?
Mirror, Mirror: Who’s the Most Popular Art Museum of Them All?
Let's get out of Philly and go to Paris. The answer to the question posed in the headline above appears to be the Louvre, which just reported that its total attendance for 2006 was a record 8.3 million, compared to 7.5 million the previous year. If another museum can boast higher numbers, please brag in an e-mail to CultureGrrl. If 8.3 million isn't enough, just think how many … [Read more...] about Mirror, Mirror: Who’s the Most Popular Art Museum of Them All?
More on “The Gross Clinic’s” Swell Party
Rendell Bashing Powell at the Eakins Bash Saturday's "Gross Clinic" festivities at the Philadelphia Museum drew political heavy hitters U.S. Senator Arlen Specter and Governor Ed Rendell, but Mayor John Street was not on hand, nor was the museum told why his plans had changed. No matter. The burly Governor made matters sufficiently interesting with his impolitic remarks … [Read more...] about More on “The Gross Clinic’s” Swell Party