The article discusses a lawsuit over a Gauguin landscape titled Paysage Aux Trois Arbres, finished in 1892, bought for $11.3 million in August 2000 by Mandarin Trading. The suit claimed the painting was appraised at $15–$17 million by Wildenstein & Co. and alleged fraud, misrepresentation, and breach of duty, but the New York State Supreme Court Justice Emily Jane Goodman dismissed the case and did not void the transaction or award damages.
The Art Newspaper reports that Phillips de Pury plans four back-to-back contemporary auctions on Saturday 13 October during Frieze week, including 138 lots from Marino Golinelli and works from John Stewart’s collection; highlights include Anish Kapoor’s untitled alabaster piece (2003) and Gilbert & George’s Piss on Piss (1996), plus works from Dubossarsky & Vinogradov and Wang Guangyi’s Mao AO triptych.
Georges Jorisch, heir of Amalie Redlich, claims the Klimt painting Blooming Meadow (1904/05) owned by Leonard Lauder. The painting was looted during World War II and is now contested as restitution proceeds, with Jorisch represented by Randol Schoenberg.
Elisabetta Povoledo reports on a facsimile of Veronese’s Wedding at Cana installed on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, created by Factum Arte; the piece is a digital re-creation of the 1563 painting that originally hung in the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore and is now discussed in terms of authenticity and reproduction.
La noticia describe la Escuela Italiana del Violín, enfocándose en los Amati de Cremona y su linaje, empezando con Andrea Amati y continuando a través de Nicola II, Antonio y Girolamo, destacando su influencia en la construcción de violines y violas y su relación con otros grandes violeros como Stradivari y Guarneri.
Carol Vogel reports that a giant blue diamond sculpture by Jeff Koons, titled “Blue Diamond,” installed outside Christie’s in Rockefeller Center, is due to be auctioned at Christie’s on Nov. 13 with an estimate around $12 million. The work is part of Koons’s Celebration series; there are four other versions, including a pink one owned by David Ganek and a green one previously offered by the Gagosian Gallery.
Fred Williams landscape painting Landscape with Water Ponds sold for 1.86 million Australian dollars at auction; the work was originally a gift to John Olsen. Brett Whiteley’s Orange Fiji Fruit Dove sold for 1.92 million and Andy Warhol’s Mick Jagger screenprint sold for 46,800. The auction house Deutscher-Menzies reported strong market results.
Damien Hirst is at the center of a mystery over the diamond-encrusted skull For the Love of God, with White Cube confirming an $100 million asking price and reports that an investment group including Hirst may have purchased it; the article notes the artwork’s cost to produce was $23.5 million and describes the accompanying marketing and reactions
The article reports that Andrew Litton will lead the London Philharmonic Orchestra with soloist Nicola Benedetti in the world premiere of John Tavener's violin concerto Lalishri at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London, on September 26. The work is a co-commission of the LPO and the Southbank Centre and is inspired by the Hindu saint Lalla Yogishwari.
Elisabetta Povoledo reports that two sixth-century B.C. marble acroliths, looted from Morgantina and previously exhibited at the University of Virginia Art Museum, are to be returned to Sicily, with the Vatican constraints and prior ownership by Maurice Tempelsman noted.