Tag: 04.13.00

British arts minister Alan Howarth announced the creation of a new panel to further investigate the Nazi provenance of art in British collections. But he also tried to defuse the recent publicity, declaring: “In fact, the museums and galleries were simply announcing findings about uncertain provenance. It does not follow that because there is a gap in the recorded history of a particular item it must have been looted. Whatever wrongs were done in the Nazi era, works of art held in our public collections were – we should start by assuming – acquired in good faith and have probably been held for the public benefit.” – The Guardian

In response to the recently filed civil suit alleging price-fixing, Sotheby’s officially denied conspiring with its rival auction house Christie’s to fix commissions and asked a federal judge to dismiss the charges. – New York Times

Five years after French President Jacques Chirac urged the Louvre to create a permanent place for “primitive art,” the museum has opened the doors to its first galleries of African, Asian, Oceanic, and American art. “The idea is that, from now on, the 112 works on display there should be treated as the aesthetic equals of the Egyptian, Greek or Renaissance art elsewhere in the building.” But “a good many unhappy curators” are are grumbling about the shift. – New York Times

About 300 union cartoonists in Los Angeles say they plan to picket KCET-TV, LA’s PBS affiliate, to protest what they claim is increased use of Canadian cartoons on public television. The cartoonists say their jobs are being lost to Canadians “This is sort of the last straw that PBS is giving tax dollars to foreign companies,” says one animator. But a PBS spokesperson says: “Of 17 children’s programs on the air at this point, I believe three are produced in Canada, and none of them have any federal money in them.” – Los Angeles Daily News

“Brixton Breakers was a rubbish-strewn, rat-infested junkyard in south London, over-run by bikers and drug dealers.” Then artists started working in its run-down Minet Road studios – including Damien Hirst, who made all his formaldehyde pieces there –  and “after the artists came the collectors, dragging their Gucci through the mire, and it became a compulsory stop-over on the international collectors’ circuit.” Now Brixton’s the cradle of one of the most exciting new art movements London’s seen in years.  – The Guardian

Lucian Freud’s most recent painting, “Night Portrait, Face Down,” just went on view in New York and has visitors commenting that the prone nude figure seems to be “plunging down through space.” “The idea is that when you stand back from it you feel a little dizzy,” Freud says. (Freud holds the auction record, at £2.8 million, for any living British artist, and the new painting has already been sold for an undisclosed price.) – The Telegraph (UK)

Six years ago thieves broke into Bobby Henderson’s Cleveland home and stole a valuable stained glass window. It was created by English artist William Morris more than 100 years ago, measures 9 feet 9 inches high by 5 feet 6 inches wide, and weighs about 600 pounds. So it was some feat to get it out of the house. Six weeks ago, Henderson’s friends spotted the distinctive piece of art on the Internet auction site, eBay. They contacted Henderson, who contacted authorities. – The Plain Dealer (Cleveland)