Monthly archive
21 headlines
Source-linked reporting
nomosparis.com
The article discusses Camille Pissarro's painting La Cueillette, looted during World War II, tied to Simon Bauer. After WWII, an ordinance of 21 April 1945 allowed restoration of looted artworks; Bauer's heirs pursued restitution, with a 2017 Paris court ruling applying the ordinance and confirming its jurisdiction, ultimately impacting ownership proceedings and sequestration in France.
earlymusicamerica.org
An article about Catacoustic Consort in Cincinnati acquiring a new theorbo made by Klaus Jacobsen of London. The piece covers the handoff in Europe, the transport journey to Cincinnati, and notes the ensemble’s existing instruments including harpsichord, rental viols, lirone, pardessus, viola da gamba and a baroque harp.
designboom.com
The article discusses Sean Riley, a violinist, and mechanical engineering senior Daniel Goodwin who, with Milton, designed and 3D printed a six-string violin after seeing an electric six-string concept. It mentions UT news and The Foundry, a makerspace in the Fine Arts Library, where the collaboration occurred.
unomaha.edu
The University of Nebraska Omaha announces that the New Alaska Trio, consisting of Kathleen Butler Hopkins on violin, Patrick Hopkins on cello, and James Johnson on piano, will perform on UNO’s campus on Friday, March 18 at 7:30 p.m. in the Strauss Performing Arts Center Recital Hall, and again on Sunday, March 20 at 4 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Council Bluffs. The UNO debut program includes Bach, Cassadó, and Beethoven; admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, and free for UNO students, faculty, and staff with a MavCard.
symphonyparnassus.org
Starla Breshears, cello, and Valery Breshears, violin, are highlighted as sisters who will perform Haydn and Mozart concertos with Symphony Parnassus on January 28. The article notes their competition-winning status with Symphony Parnassus / San Francisco Conservatory of Music and provides details on their studies and performances, as well as mention of their older brother Dustin Jr., the Little Stars Trio.
lexology.com
Art advisor Simon de Pury and his wife Michaela won a US$10 million commission in a dispute over the sale of Paul Gauguin’s 1892 painting Nafea faa ipoipo. The case involved negotiating a sale completed for US$210 million, with Staechelin ordered to pay de Pury US$10 million plus costs and interest.
artlawandmore.com
Art Law & More reports that London’s High Court ruled in favor of a husband-and-wife art advisory team, awarding US$10 million to Simon de Pury and Michaela de Pury after a dispute over the commission for negotiating the sale of Paul Gauguin’s 1892 painting Nafea faa ipoipo. The work, owned by Ruedi Staechelin, was sold for US$210 million in 2014, with Staechelin later refusing to pay the commission under a gentleman’s agreement.
digitalmusicnews.com
The article reports that a rare 17th-century viola de gamba owned by Myrna Herzog, who commissioned two instruments from the early 1660s, was crushed by Alitalia after the airline refused to let it in the cabin and instead checked it. Herzog had purchased an extra seat for the instrument and arrived early, but the instrument was damaged and later released only after signing a waiver.
news.artnet.com
The article reports that Frank Dunphy and his wife Lorna will donate works by Damien Hirst, Rachel Whiteread, Tracey Emin, Gavin Turk, Peter Blake, and Michael Craig-Martin to Pallant House Gallery. Donations include Whiteread Untitled (For Frank) (1999), Tracey Emin’s Roman Standard (2005), Hirst’s Bognor Blue (2008) and Scissors (wallpaper pink) (2004), Michael Craig-Martin’s Scissors (wallpaper pink) (2004), Peter Blake’s Love (2007), and Gavin Turk’s Dump (2004). The gift, announced to accompany Pallant House Gallery’s POP! Art in a Changing Britain exhibition, will underscore the YBA debt to Pop art.
news.artnet.com
Simon de Pury and his wife Michaela de Pury claimed a $10 million commission for helping negotiate the sale of Paul Gauguin’s Nafea Faa Ipoipo? (When Will You Marry?), 1892, which sold for $210 million. The UK High Court ruling discussed breaches of fiduciary duty and the alleged gentleman’s agreement governing the commission.
Tahiti Infos
Tahiti collector Paul Yeou Chichong disclosed a private collection of 350 paintings spanning Old Masters, Impressionism, Pop Art and Aboriginal art, valued it at about $61 million, and said he wanted to lend it permanently if French Polynesia built a secure museum.
artnews.com
Jean-Michel Basquiat’s untitled skull painting sold at Sotheby’s for $110.5 million and is set to headline a Brooklyn Museum exhibition titled One Basquiat. The show opens January 26 and is organized by Eugenie Tsai.
news.artnet.com
Yusaku Maezawa bought Basquiat Untitled (1982) for $110.5 million at Sotheby’s and will have it featured in a Brooklyn Museum show titled “One Basquiat” from January 26 to March 11; the painting’s tour will continue elsewhere after the Brooklyn stop.
antiquesandthearts.com
The painting Blue Nude, created in 1955 by Nicolas de Stael, sold for $84,000 at Kaminski’s New Year’s sale. The work is an oil on paper study that Kaminski suggested may have been a preparatory piece for a larger painting, and the buyer was a European phone bidder.
artnews.com
The article discusses Martin Kippenberger’s posthumous market surge, highlighting a 1988 self-portrait sold by Christie’s to Larry Gagosian for $22.5 million after a $20 million estimate, and noting several top sales through 2014–2015 including a $16.4 million 1988 self-portrait and a $12.5 million Jacqueline Picasso painting. It also covers the “Underwear Paintings” (Picasso Paintings) and the “Hand-Painted Pictures” series, with mentions of Galerie Max Hetzler in Cologne and Skarstedt Gallery’s related show.
secretflying.com
The article reports a 300-year-old viola da gamba worth $200,000 destroyed aboard an Alitalia flight. The owner, Ms Myrna Herzog, claimed she attempted to purchase a seat for the instrument but was told it would go in the hold. Alitalia issued a statement offering guidance on accommodating oversized items and noted no such seat purchase was made by the passenger.
claudiorampini.com
The article reports the death of violist Luigi Alberto Bianchi at age 72 in Rome. It notes his authority on Paganini, his roles as principal viola of the RAI Orchestra, member of the Rome Quartet, and long-time viola teacher at the Milan Conservatory, along with career highlights and instruments involved.
bbc.co.uk
Fiona West, a musician with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, was reunited with her stolen viola after it was recovered in Glasgow. The instrument had been stolen from the RSNO Centre on 30 December, with a colleague's violin also recovered; a £2,000 reward was offered. West, who is nearly 70, has had the viola since 1970 and described feeling relieved and happy to have it back.
dolcevitaonline.it
The article discusses a Macdonald Stradivari viola sold at auction in London for 45 million dollars. It notes that Antonio Stradivari, who crafted the instrument in 1719, is one of the most renowned luthiers and that the viola is one of ten remaining from that era.
theviolinchannel.com
The Violin Channel reports a stolen 2003 modern Chris Johnson violin from London, stolen on December 18, 2017. The instrument is described as pale yellow with a large centre chinrest, labelled Chris Johnson, Loughborough maker, and inscribed with the maker's name at the neck base; it was in a black canvas case with two bows. A reward of £200 is offered for information leading to its recovery, and contact details for London police are provided.
training.unh.edu
Olivia Olbrych reports on the University of New Hampshire Violin Craftsmanship Institute, an enduring luthier workshop founded by Karl Roy in 1974. The program runs June 18 through July 20 and attracts novices and professionals worldwide, with instructors including Lynn Armour Hannings and new teachers Marilyn Wallin and Jay VandeKopple.