Tag: 11.15.00

“Britain, the first country to take the photograph seriously, now gives it the shortest shrift in its national art museums. There is no central, authoritative public photography collection.” Maybe the time has come to create one. – The Guardian

The British Museum is reportedly holding on to a report about the fiasco surrounding the use of the wrong stone for the museum’s new portico. “Although it was supposed to provide transparency and soothe anxieties over the portico affair, informed sources say its disclosures are so embarrassing to the museum that the museum’s chairman will not countenance its appearance until well after the Queen opens the Great Court on 6 December.” – London Evening Standard

Recently discovered Roman frescoes by Pietro Cavallini have thrown into question the entire history of Western art, beginning with who actually painted the Assisi basilica, long considered Giotto’s masterwork. “Even in Italy, a country where it seems a priceless work of art is uncovered every other week, Dr Strinati’s discovery was something of a surprise. The fragments found so far have been enough to cause the first tremors of what could turn out to be an earthquake in the history of art, dethroning Giotto from his time-honoured position as the creator of the realistic tradition of painting in Western art and replacing him with an obscure Roman artist.” – The Telegraph (UK)

A federal judge in Manhattan ruled yesterday that a proposed $512 million settlement of the antitrust lawsuit against Sotheby’s and Christie’s could be submitted for consideration to the more than 100,000 buyers and sellers affected by the companies alleged collusion and price-fixing. – New York Times

Eleven records were set at Sotheby’s New York sale of contemporary art this week. “On offer was consistently high-quality art from all periods – everything from Abstract Expressionist and Pop art to some 1990’s artists new to the auction rooms. Of the 62 lots, only 12 failed to sell. The sale totaled $43.1 million.” – New York Times

The elderly retired school teacher who defaced a Chris Ofili painting in last year’s “Sensation” show at the Brooklyn Museum, gets a $250 fine for the act. Says the judge: “So long as he has paint in his hand, he is to stay away from the Brooklyn Museum.” – New York Daily News

The Las Vegas Venetian Hotel is spending $20 million on its share of the new Guggenheim project that brings the museum to the hotel. “The 63,000-square-foot hall, being built between the Venetian and its parking garage, is slated to open in spring 2001.” – Las Vegas Sun