“Degenerate” Reunion
“Degenerate” was a term used by the Nazis to describe most modern art. The Nazis were vocally opposed to many modernist styles and schools since their streetfighting days in the 1920s. They preferred strict realism that elevated German ideals and … More…
Christie’s 20th Century Evening Sale
Following the success of the Newhouse collection, Christie’s New York continued on Thursday evening with their 20th Century evening sale. This consisted of fifty-four lots from various collections, including that of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. Christie’s sold most of the … More…
Christie’s Newhouse Collection
On Thursday, May 11th, Christie’s New York held some of the biggest sales so far this year. Before they could start their 20th Century evening sale, they first offered the works from the S.I. Newhouse collection. Samuel Irving Newhouse, Jr. … More…
Rejects: The Salon That Changed the Art World
For nearly a century and a half, the Paris Salon stood as the most esteemed art exhibition in the world. Though it was originally established as a show for the recent graduates of the Académie des Beaux-Arts, over time, it … More…
Victory For KAWS
Over more than twenty years, the artist Brian Donnelly, professionally known as KAWS, has become one of the world’s most popular contemporary artists. He is primarily known for creating distinctive characters throughout his work, portraying them through paintings, sculptures, and … More…
Olympia’s New York Debut
Édouard Manet made a name for himself in the 1860s by becoming one of the biggest names in the burgeoning modernist movement. His works shocked audiences for several reasons, one of which was nudity. Nude figures were nothing new to … More…
Mona Lisa’s Bridge: A Fake Historian’s Latest Claim
Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa has captivated viewers for many reasons. There’s the enigmatic smile, Leonardo’s sfumato technique on full display, and the subject’s mysterious identity. But few people concern themselves with the background of the work. The Mona Lisa … More…
Beth Ann Sistrunk (1978-2023)
It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of beloved artist Beth Ann Sistrunk. Beth was born in Wheeling, West Virginia to Jerry and Beverly Grubb, and was raised in south-east Ohio. Growing up in the rural Midwest, … More…
Dorotheum 19th Century Paintings
I normally don’t cover sales from continental European auction houses. However, when I saw the results from Dorotheum’s sale of nineteenth-century paintings, I knew I had to write something about it. On May 2nd, Dorotheum’s Vienna saleroom offered one hundred … More…
BUT … It Can Impact A Work’s Salability
The word “but” is a conjunction that is often used to introduce a contrasting or conflicting statement. It is commonly used to indicate a shift in thought or a disagreement with a previous statement. People who have worked with our … More…
Going Bananas: Artwork Eaten By Museum Visitor
For years, I’ve been hearing the pros and cons of having breakfast. But this may be the first time one of the benefits of having breakfast in the morning includes that I’m less inclined to destroy an artwork at the … More…
Christie’s New York Modern American Art
On Friday April 21st, Christie’s New York held its Modern American Art sale, consisting mostly of paintings by American masters. These included American impressionists like Edward Henry Potthast and William James Glackens, members of the Ashcan School like Robert Henri … More…
Pitfalls Exposed In The Met’s Indigenous Art Collection
New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art has not had a good year. The Manhattan District Attorney’s office and third-party investigators have found that many works in their antiquities collection were previously stolen or looted from their places of origin. I … More…
Turner: The Father Of Modern Art
Joseph Mallord William Turner is probably one of the most beloved of Britain’s artists. He created works of art which are now recognizable symbols of the British artistic tradition, as well as pioneered techniques that would become the basis of … More…
Bernini At The Airport
Fiumicino is a small town located about 45 minutes west of the center of Rome. To Romans, Fiumicino means one of two things: the beach or the airport. The Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino is where nearly 30 million … More…
The Mo Ostin Collection at Sotheby’s New York
Christie’s and Sotheby’s sometimes mirror each other. That fact was more apparent during Sotheby’s sales on Tuesday, May 16, which came shortly after a pair of very successful Christie’s sales the previous Thursday. On Tuesday, Sotheby’s started with the collection … More…