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Old Masters
Books: Venetian Finds
Perhaps it is just coincidence. Or maybe deeper forces are at work to cause two novels built around paintings by Giovanni and Gentile Bellini to be published at the same time—and by the same publisher. It’s not entirely baffling, though; if one were writing a novel about the fate of an Old Master painting, one would do well to pick a Venetian one.
Today's Masters: Sublime Wilderness
The large painting on the easel is still somewhat inchoate. But it already evinces an impressive form and scale. It is the jagged outline of a majestic summit in the Himalayas. “I was trekking for several weeks last November in Nepal and Bhutan,” says Richard Estes in his matter-of-fact way, not acknowledging that such vigorous activity is at all out of the ordinary for a 72-year-old.
Ancient Art, New Rules
The field of antiquities—the art of ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt and the Near East—has had some hard knocks lately. A spate of lawsuits and even a headline-grabbing criminal trial have focused the public eye on the pitfalls of the trade and on the international debate over whether or not it is ethical to collect ancient cultural objects. Yet demand and prices for antiquities remain strong. In part this trend is a testament to the fact that there’s no such thing as bad publicity—due to the news stories, more people than ever before are aware that antiquities exist, are beautiful and desirable and are for sale—but also, it reflects the fact that the antiquities trade has made important alterations in the way it functions.
In a Nutshell: Up to Snuff
Some objects that modern collectors regard as works of art were not seen that way by the people who originally made and bought them; so it is with snuff bottles. Tobacco reached China in the 16th century, but the use of snuff, its powdered form, became fashionable in the Qing dynasty (1644–1911). Its wealthy inhalers carried their personal rations in bottles rather than the boxes their European counterparts favored.
Collecting: Premium Blend
For 40 years London dealer Indar Pasricha has been collecting Indo-European furniture, a hybrid genre that was a byproduct of the spice trade that brought the Portuguese, and later the Dutch, French and English, to the Indian subcontinent and its island neighbor, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). “The ebony furniture, with its low-relief carving, looks extraordinary in a modern setting,” says Pasricha.
Shining On
The light seems to come from nowhere and everywhere. As the sun suffuses the haze and shimmers on the surface of still waters, the atmosphere holds a glow that might be silvery, bluish or fiery red. The view recedes gradually into the distance, passing through several distinct planes. The overall impression is one of silence and deep peace.
Market: A British Assortment
By: Sallie Brady Remember when London in June was a must-do? And when the annual season of top-quality antiques fairs and gallery exhibitions meant serious shopping? That was before the British pound hit the two-to-one mark against the dollar, and Americans in the English capital became as rare as sunshine. This summer, however, the forecast…
Gathering of the Tribes
By: Robert Ross From June 3–7 Brussels is once again the locus of excitement for connoisseurs of all things tribal and ethnographic. Now in its 19th year the Brussels Non-European Art Fair will turn one of Europe’s major tribal art cities into a hub of activity, with world-class dealers featuring African, Oceanic, Indonesian, pre-Columbian, Asiatic…
Market: Still on Top
By: Sheila Gibson Stoodley Few art fairs that focus on modern and contemporary art remain vital long enough to mark their 40th editions; Art Basel is one of those few. The 2009 fair will take place June 10–14 in Basel, Switzerland and will feature more than 300 exhibitors, including 11 first-timers. Art Basel has felt…
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