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38 headlines
Source-linked reporting
thestar.co.za
The article reports that Bailey Lottering, a Grade 7 pupil at Atholl Heights Primary, had her stolen violin recovered after a home invasion. The instrument was found during a police and security response, and Bailey, her mother Kate van Zyl, and music teacher Anita Blyth attend the recovery at SAPS Pinetown. Bailey plans to resume playing after minor repairs and new strings/bow.
wbur.org
The WBUR News piece discusses A Far Cry preparing to perform Stradivari Serenade with rare loaned violins from Reuning & Son Violins in Brookline. It highlights instruments by Stradivari and other Cremona luthiers and mentions violinists Clara Kim, Annie Rabbat, and Zenas Hsu as they select instruments for the concert.
Christie’s
Christie’s reports on CHRISTIE’S CONTEMPORARY EDITION: LONDON AND PRINTS AND MULTIPLES SALES ACHIEVE £5 MILLION. Its source account states that london – Christie’s Contemporary Edition: London and Prints and Multiples sales realised a combined total of £5,099,850.
alexandra-tirsu.com
Alexandra Tirsu is loaned the 1717 Reifenberg Stradivari violin from the Stradivari Society of Chicago and will perform on the instrument in upcoming engagements. The instrument has previously been played by notable violinists including Jacques Thibaud, Nathan Milstein, Jaime Laredo, Salvatore Accardo, and Dmitry Sitkovetsky.
theviolinchannel.com
The Violin Channel reports that Reuning & Son Violins and A Far Cry will reprise the Stradivari Serenade at New England Conservatory in Boston, featuring 18 instruments from Stradivari, Guarneri, and Amati valued at over $100 million from Reuning & Son’s vault. The concert, titled Stradivari Serenade, will be streamed on The Violin Channel on April 2, 2024, with tickets for the live event at Jordan Hall on March 29, 2024.
artforum.com
Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, St. Francis of Paola Holding a Rosary, Book, and Staff, ca. 1730s, a painting sold at Sotheby’s in 2019 for $100,000, is the subject of a New York court ruling that requires Sotheby’s to publicly name the consignor and buyer; the heirs of Otto Fröhlich seek restitution for looted art lost during the Holocaust.
news.artnet.com
The article reports that three paintings by Peter Paul Rubens should remain in the Courtauld Institute in London, following a decision by the U.K.’s Spoliation Advisory Panel. The works are St Gregory the Great with Ss Maurus and Papianus and St. Domitilla with Ss Nereus and Achilleus (1606-07), The Conversion of St. Paul (c.1610-12), and The Bounty of James I Triumphing Over Avarice (c.1632). The paintings’ ownership traces back to Franz Wilhelm Koenigs, who transferred them to a bank in 1940; they were later given to the Courtauld by Count Antoine Seilern. Koenigs’s heirs have pursued claims against ownership through multiple advisory panels over the years.
nytimes.com
The article reports a New York judge ordering Sotheby’s to disclose the identities of consignors and buyers involved in a Tiepolo sale from 2019, linked to a Holocaust-era claim brought by heirs of Otto Fröhlich. The piece notes concerns about transparency in the art market and ongoing discussions toward resolution.
theartnewspaper.com
The Art Newspaper reports on the Sotheby’s fraud trial verdict against Dmitry Rybolovlev, noting that experts expect little operational change in the art market despite the lengthy dispute. The article mentions four works at the heart of the case, including Salvator Mundi, Klimt’s Wasserschlangen II, Magritte’s Le Domaine d’Arnheim, and Modigliani’s Tête, all purchased for about $2 billion through Yves Bouvier between 2003 and 2014, and discusses the settlements reached with Bouvier in 2023 and Sotheby’s role in the case.
cerncourier.com
The CERN Courier reports that the Extremely Brilliant Source has revealed the secrets of Paganini's favourite violin, Il Cannone, using synchrotron X-rays at ESRF. The study, conducted with the Municipality of Genoa and Premio Paganini, employed 3D X-ray microtomography to examine the violin’s wood and bonding, shedding light on its conservation and history.
artnews.com
Mark Rothko’s No. 6 (Violet, Green and Red) sold for $100 million in a private sale, following a previous $186 million sale to Dmitry Rybolovlev. The piece is highlighted as Rothko’s best work and appears on the cover of the artist’s catalogue raisonné by David Anfam.
artsy.net
Artsy reports that a complete set of Katsushika Hokusai’s Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji sold for $3,559,000, setting a new auction record for the artist. The sale occurred during Christie’s Asian Art Week in New York and was amassed over 11 years by collector Jitendra V. Singh. The article notes related strong results for other works, including The Great Wave print and pieces by Lee Ufan and Hiroshige.
artnews.com
Peter Paul Rubens paintings titled St Gregory the Great with Ss Maurus and Papianus and St. Domitilla with Ss Nereus and Achilleus (1606–07); The Conversion of St. Paul (1610–12); and The Bounty of James 1 Triumphing Over Avarice (ca. 1632) will stay with the Courtauld Gallery in London according to the UK Parliament’s spoliation advisory panel. The report discusses provenance, including ownership transfers involving Franz Wilhelm Koenigs and subsequent loans and sales, and notes the panel rejected three separate restitution claims.
earlymusicamerica.org
The page reports that Alan Choo, concertmaster and assistant artistic director of Apollo’s Fire, has had his 2018 Jason Viseltear Baroque violin stolen from St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. A cash reward of $2,500 is being shared publicly to aid in recovery; the post also mentions a Louis Begin Baroque bow and a blue BAM contoured violin case.
cleveland19.com
The owner, Alan Choo, said a 2018 Jason Viseltear baroque violin was stolen from St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Cleveland Heights. The instrument was taken during a rehearsal lunch break and was in a blue BAM contoured violin case with a Louis baroque bow; Choo’s AirPods were also stolen. The reward, which started at $400, was increased to $2,500. Contact 216-536-9852 with any information.
limelight-arts.com.au
Niccolò Paganini’s 1743 Giuseppe Guarneri violin, known as Il Cannone, is analyzed by scientists at ESRF in Grenoble to uncover details of its sound. The study aims to generate a precise 3D rendering to aid future repairs, with an estimated insurance value of nearly AUD 50 million.
Christie’s
Christie’s reports on NEW YORK MARCH CONTEMPORARY ART SALES TOTAL $39,131,579. Its source account states that new York - Friday, March 15, 2024, Chirstie’s New York concluded a successful series of contemporary art live and online sales: Latin American Art live and online, Post-War to Present, and Contemporary Edition: New York.
jordantimes.com
The article reports that French experts used X-rays on the 18th‑century violin known as Il Cannone to understand the source of its renowned sound. The piece is from AFP and covers the Grenoble, France event where the instrument’s mystery was explored.
classicfm.com
The article discusses the 18th-century Guarneri violin nicknamed Il Cannone, crafted by Giuseppe Guarneri in 1743 and insured for €30 million. French scientists using non-destructive X-rays at ESRF aim to understand what makes its sound extraordinary and how to preserve the instrument for centuries.
phys.org
Paganini's Violin, known as Il Cannone and made by Giuseppe Bartolomeo Guarneri del Gesu in 1743, is being X-rayed by French experts at ESRF in Grenoble to help create a detailed 3D model and study why its sound is so exceptional. The analysis aims for conservation and to understand the instrument’s sound, with the process expected to take several months and valued at about 30 million euros.
wkyc.com
Allen Choo, a musician with Apollo's Fire Baroque Orchestra, is asking for the return of his custom-made baroque violin that was stolen from St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Cleveland Heights. The violin, made in New York City and one-of-a-kind, has a $2,500 reward offered after an initial $400 reward.
Christie’s
Christie’s reports on CHRISTIE’S IMPRESSIONIST AND MODERN ART DAY AND WORKS ON PAPER SALE ACHIEVED £16.8 MILLION. Its source account states that london – Christie’s Impressionist and Modern Art Day and Works on Paper Sale achieved a total of £16,878,456 / $21,587,545 / €19,714,037, with strong sell-through rates of 92% by value and 88% by lot.
news.artnet.com
The Christie’s London 20th/21st Century Evening Auction in March 2024 brought in £196.7 million ($251.8 million) including fees, with 87 works offered in the 20th/21st Century sale and a 79-percent sell-through rate. The leading lot was Francis Bacon’s Landscape near Malabata, Tangier (1963) at £16.8 million ($21.5 million), while David Hockney’s California (1965) hammered at £16 million ($20.3 million).
christies.com
René Magritte’s L’ami intime (The Intimate Friend) sold for £33,660,000 to lead the London Evening Sale. Francis Bacon, David Hockney and Claude Monet each surpassed £10 million, with notable performances for women artists such as Cecily Brown and Agnes Martin. The 20th/21st Century: London Evening Sale totalled £137,699,300 / $175,291,209 / €160,557,384, with strong demand and high sell-through.
heni.com
Francis Bacon’s Landscape near Malabata, Tangier (1963) led Christie’s 20th / 21st Century: London Evening Sale in London, selling for $25m as part of a $177.3m total. The star lot was backed by a guarantee and the sale included 70 works sold across 87 announced lots, with a buy-in of 10 works and 7 withdrawn prior to the sale.
news.artnet.com
William Kentridge leaves Marian Goodman Gallery to join Hauser & Wirth, while continuing to show with Goodman Gallery in Johannesburg and London and with Galleria Lia Rumma in Naples. Hauser & Wirth will host a solo show in New York next year after earlier exhibitions in Gstaad and Hong Kong.
artnews.com
The Sotheby’s London sale of modern and contemporary art, including The Now auction, brought in $126.6 million (including fees) with a presale low estimate of $95.3 million. The evening featured record-setting results for women artists such as Takako Yamaguchi, Jadé Fadojutimi, and Etel Adnan, and included notable performances by George Condo, Victor Man, and Mohammed Sami; five works sold for over $6 million.
theartnewspaper.com
The Louvre has raised the final €1.3m needed to acquire Jean Siméon Chardin's Basket of Wild Strawberries (1761), funded by almost 10,000 donors contributing over €1.6m. The painting, sold for €24.3m at Artcurial in 2022, will tour France before being exhibited at the Louvre-Lens, the Museum of Fine Arts Brest, and the Roger-Quilliot museum in Clermont-Ferrand.
Sotheby’s
Sotheby’s assembled an editorial package on Impressionism’s impact, featuring a discussion with curator Christopher Riopelle, Signac scholar Charlotte Hellman Cachin, artist Erik Madigan Heck and Sotheby’s Helena Newman. The package accompanied London Modern and Contemporary auctions held on 6–7 March 2024.
euronews.com
The article describes Gianandrea Noseda conducting the U.S. National Symphony Orchestra at Milan's Teatro alla Scala using nine historic Italian stringed instruments dating from 1686 to 1835, including seven violins, one viola, and one cello. Noseda loaned the instruments to the orchestra to infuse an Italian influence into the American ensemble.
news.artnet.com
The article discusses the March auction previews in London for Impressionist, modern, and contemporary art with presale estimates around £321 million ($407 million). It compares current estimates to previous years and notes changes at Christie’s, Sotheby’s, and Phillips, while revealing consignors for top lots including Francis Bacon, Landscape near Malabata, Tangier, 1963 from Christie's, with an estimate of £15 million–£20 million ($18.8 million–$25 million).
violinsonsale.com
The page discusses the Maple Leaf Strings Master Linn Collection Viola 15.5 in, sold by Violinsonsale.com. It includes the model MLS3100VA 15.5 and notes features such as extra select woods, precise craftsmanship, ebony tailpiece, and D Addario Helicore strings.
violinsonsale.com
The page discusses the Cremona SV-500 Series Violin Outfit in 1/4 size, available from Orchestral Oasis in Nevada, United States. It lists the instrument features, including solid spruce top, figured maple back and sides, ebony fittings, D’Addario Prelude strings, a horsehair bow, hardshell case, and that sizes range from 4/4 to 1/4.
violinsonsale.com
The page discusses Cremona SVA-500 Premier Artist Viola Outfit 16 In. available at Orchestral Oasis. The instrument is described with features such as flame maple, Aubert bridge, Prelude strings, a Stradivarius-style chinrest, Brazilwood bow, ebony fittings, and a lightweight tailpiece.
theartnewspaper.com
Egon Schiele, Russian War Prisoner, 1916 is involved in a restitution dispute at the Art Institute of Chicago, which is accused by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office of willful blindness regarding Nazi-looted provenance. The investigation and filing relate to the drawing purchased in 1966 for $5,500 and valued by investigators at upwards of $1.2 million, with heirs of Fritz Grünbaum asserting a claim.
news.artnet.com
Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin, Le Panier de fraises des bois. Courtesy of ArtCurial. The Louvre Museum raised funds to acquire Le Panier de fraises (Basket of Wild Strawberries) (1761) by Jean Siméon Chardin, after it was auctioned by Artcurial in 2022 to the Kimbell Art Museum for €24.4 million. A public campaign, including support from LVMH, donors, and the Society of Friends of the Louvre, enabled the Louvre to reach the sale price and keep the work in France; the painting will be shown at the Louvre Lens and then tour to other French museums.
flyinginkpot.com
Derek Lim reviews PRODIGIOUS: The Trout & Four Seasons at Victoria Concert Hall, featuring Edward Tan, Martin Peh, Lin Juan, Julian Li, Shaun Choo for Schubert’s Trout Quintet and Yuto Lim, Sophia Fang, Jacob Cheng, Mark Chia with Yang Shuxiang leading re:Sound for Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons.
planethugill.com
Planet Hugill reports on the London Handel Players under Adrian Butterfield performing Bach, Vivaldi and Telemann concertos in a multi-instrument format titled Six Concerts avec plusieurs instruments. The Wigmore Hall concert on Friday 1 March 2024 featured six concertos for varied instrumental combinations including Telemann’s concerto in E, Vivaldi’s Il Proteo, o il Mondo al Rovescio, and Bach’s oboe, violin and strings concerto in C minor.