Yellow Fades To Brown – Light Sensitive Pigments
It appears that some of Van Gogh’s paintings will be changing colors. Recent X-ray analysis (chemical mapping) determined that the artist used two types of chrome yellow paint … one of which is more sensitive to light. Over time, the … More…
The Americans Take Center Stage In New York
Last week, we saw both Sotheby’s and Christie’s take their shot at the American Art market with sales in their New York bases. After seemingly endless sales from the weeks prior, expectations were mixed… and the results were modest at … More…
Told You I Could Sell The Basquiat!
We recently reported on a family squabble that pitted father against daughter. It came to a head over a painting once owned by Dolores Ormandy Neumann (wife and mother) who was a leading figure in the 1980s supporting New York’s … More…
Vodak & Art – A Recipe For Disaster
On May 25th, Igor Podporin, a 37-year-old Russian who had a bit too much to drink, took a metal pole and attacked one of Russia’s most famous works of art, Ilya Repin’s Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan on November 16, … More…
Sanctions Imposed, But So What?
The Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD) announced that they are imposing sanctions on La Salle University Art Museum and the Berkshire Museum for selling works to support operating budgets and/or expansion initiatives. That is all well and good; but … More…
European 19th Century
Sotheby’s 19th-century sale took place on the morning of the 22nd and when the estimates were in line with the quality and condition, all went well; when they were not, they either sold well below expectations or passed. It’s worth … More…
Contemporary’s Upper End Is Still Very Hot!
Is anyone else exhausted by all of this art?? I need a nap. Sotheby’s and Christie’s are at it again with another set of sales… this time we are talking Contemporary art. Up first was Sotheby’s, and after a not-so-impressive … More…
Now We Know When Too Many Picassos Are Too Much
After Sotheby’s uninspiring performance, expectations were a bit tempered heading into Christie’s evening sale of Impressionist and Modern works… that feeling would be short-lived as the sale got off to a hot start and kept it going! The first lot … More…
When Are Too Many Picasso Paintings Too Much?
Another round of sales are underway at the big auction houses in New York this week… Sotheby’s was first to present their offerings of top-level Impressionist and Modern Art in their evening sale last night; Christie’s (and Bonhams) will both … More…
Rockefeller – Another Great Buy And Hold Story
The Rockefeller series of sales are over, and the results were STRONG … even though they did not hit the $1 billion whisper number. But can anyone really complain about a sale of household contents that made over $832 million? … More…
The Americans … We Are Now At $765M And Still Going!
Part two of the Rockefeller sale took place last night, and while nearly incomparable to the night prior (part 1), there were still many incredible works up for grabs and some impressive results in the end. Part two featured an … More…
$1 Billion Is On The Horizon — More Than Half Way There
Last night, Christie’s New York (located in Rockefeller Center) held part 1 of their highly anticipated sale of the collection of Peggy and David Rockefeller. Billed as “the sale of the century,” more than 1,500 lots are to be offered … More…
Something Happened On The Way Back to Church … A Finger Went Missing!
Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s marble statue depicting Saint Bibiana (1626) was recently restored and then loaned to the Borghese Gallery for an exhibition of the artist’s masterpieces. Upon its return to Santa Bibiana, and while being placed back above the altar, the … More…
Ezra Chowaiki Pleads Guilty – More Art World Greed!
The end has come! Manhattan art dealer, Ezra Chowaiki, pleaded guilty to fraud charges and is facing up to 20 years in prison … though it seems that prosecutors will recommend a term of 4 to 5 years. He also agreed … More…
You Cannot Sell The Basquiat … Oh, Yeah? We’ll See About That
A 12 x 12 foot Basquiat painting is at the center of a bitter family dispute. It seems that Dolores Neumann changed her will (on her death-bed) and gave a controlling interest (80%) in Basquiat’s Flesh and Spirit (valued at … More…
Comments on the Art Market – Volume 210
We just released Volume 210 of our Comments on the Art Market. In this issue, we cover the gallery’s hours for the month of June, Stocks, Tales from the Dark Side (there were some good ones this month), Really, and … More…