- Carmen Thyssen-Bornemisza said crisis was 'also affecting collectors'
- Bought British painter Constable's The Lock for 10.8m in 1990
By Lee Moran
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A cash-strapped Spanish Baroness is hoping one of her prized Constable paintings will fetch 25million at auction so she can 'ease her cash flow situation'.
Baroness Carmen Thyssen-Bornemisza, who founded the Madrid art museum bearing her surname, said her country's recession was 'also affecting collectors'.
It had forced her, she said, to sell British painter John Constable's The Lock - finished in 1824 and the last of The Stour Series, which includes his famous work The Hay Wain, to be privately owned.
For sale: The Lock, by British painter John Constable, is up for grabs at Christie's auction house in London in July
Reluctant: Baroness Carmen Thyssen-Bornemisza said she did not want to sell her Constable painting
'I need the money, I really need it, I have no liquidity,' the owner of an art collection worth more than 800million told Spanish reporters in a staggeringly frank admission.
She added: 'I am very austere with my life, but to maintain the collection requires lots of costs.
'I have had 640million of art work lent for free to the Spanish state over the last 13 years. I did not want to sell this.
'It has given me a lot of pain to lose this painting, that myself and my husband bought at an auction in 1990, but if God chooses I will not have to sell any more.'
Art home: The Thyssen-Bonemisza museum is located in the 19th century Villahermosa Palace in Madrid
Couple: Carmen Thyssen-Bornemisza (left) and her late husband Baron Hans Heinrich (right) build up a formidable art collection which has become the envy of the world
The Lock, to be sold at Christie's auction house in London on July 3, depicts a man operating a wooden canal lock gate in preparation for a boat to pass through.
A rural church is visible in the distance. It was first acquired by 19th century collector James Morrison at the Royal Academy’s summer exhibition in the year it was completed.
WHO EXACTLY OWNS THE LOCK?
Baron Hans Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza was one of Europe's richest men in the latter half of the 20th century - and following in his father Baron Heinrich's footsteps he became one of the world's greatest art collectors.
Using wealth generated from the large industrial conglomerate inherited from his father, he preserved and augmented the outstanding collection of Old Master pictures formed in the 1920s and 1930s.
He also significantly expanded the range through his own acquisitions, most particularly of the work of European and American artists from the 19th and 20th centuries.
His father’s collection included masterpieces by European masters including Hans Holbein the Younger, Albrecht Durer, Jan van Eyck, Domenico Ghirlandaio and Caravaggio.
It was largely displayed at the Villa Favorita, a 17th century mansion on Lake Lugano acquired from Prince Friedrich Leopold of Prussia in 1932.
Baron Hans Heinrich added more than 200 paintings, as well acquiring over 900 more modern works which were completely outside his father’s range of interest.
As his collection increased in scale, he began to focus on the possibility of finding it a suitable, permanent home.
In the mid-1980s, the main body of the collection was placed into a trust and in 1992 the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum was opened in the newly refurbished 19th century Villahermosa Palace in Madrid.
Carmen Thyssen-Bornemisza shared her now deceased husband’s passion for collecting and they spent much of their marriage visiting museums, art galleries and auction houses.
The Thyssen-Bornemisza's bought it at auction for 10.8million in 1990 - at the time a world record price for any British work of art.
It has since been in the collection at the Madrid museum - which the couple opened in 1992 in the refurbished 19th century Villahermosa Palace after placing their collection into a trust some years before.
The Baroness tried to sell it to a British collector last year for 30million, but the deal was never sealed. She also tried to negotiate with the Spanish state, saying: 'I offered it at a special price, to be paid in installments, but we could not reach a deal.'
She also revealed that the museum has been been hit the country's economic crisis, with Caja Madrid recently cancelling its long-standing annual 1.75million sponsorship.
But it is not her most valuable painting, which is the Mata Mua by Gauguin, which has been valued at around 120million.
Constable himself said of The Lock: 'It looks most beautifully silvery, windy and delicious - it is all health - and the absence of everything stagnant, and is wonderfully got together.'
Jussi Pylkkanen, president of Christie’s Europe, Middle East, Russia and India, called the piece 'an outstanding masterpiece of European art'.
He said: 'This superb landscape, coming from the same series as The Hay Wain, represents British landscape painting at its very best.'
Richard Knight, co-Chairman of Old Master and British Paintings Department, and John Stainton, International Director, British Paintings, said: 'The sale of this painting will be a moment of huge significance for the art market, and for that of Old Master paintings in particular.
'In 2006 we combined the forces of our Old Master and Early British paintings departments due to the broadening international appeal for works dependent on their quality, as opposed to the nationality of the artist.
'Since then we have seen British art reach new heights and have broken records for a number of the greatest British artists including Stubbs, Gainsborough and Lawrence.
'We look forward very much to presenting this hugely significant work of art to the world's leading collectors and museums.'
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
Painting teams will turn shabby homes into jewels - Tacoma News Tribune
Today we have one challenge, one happy update and one ending to a gun dispute.
Painting season’s just a few dry days away, and Paint Tacoma-Pierce Beautiful is gathering teams to transform shabby homes into jewels.
Now in its 28th year, the Associated Ministries program has painted 2,031 homes.
That history of beautification is not just about the transformative power of exterior latex. It’s about standards and attitude: Pretty neighborhoods where residents know each other give criminals the feeling that they’re being watched.
Last year, crews repainted 41 homes for senior and disabled people living on low incomes.
This year, they have 153 applications from Tacoma, Bonney Lake, Buckley, Edgewood, Fircrest, Gig Harbor, Graham, Key Peninsula, Lakewood, Milton, Puyallup, Roy, Spanaway, Parkland, Sumner and University Place.
How many they paint is up to us.
“As many teams as we can muster is the number of houses we can do,” said director Greg Newkirk.
Individual volunteers and small groups are welcome.
Newkirk and his deputies have checked out every house and will winnow entries to the 80 most in need of work.
Already, they’re inviting back prior volunteers, but they need scores more to hit 80 homes.
Newkirk, who volunteered 17 years before he accepted the director’s job last year, is a pro at the hard sell and the heart sell.
“We maintain affordable housing. We eliminate blight in our neighborhoods,” he said. “We bring together a sense of community, and most importantly we lift the spirits of those cherished members of our community who really need assistance.”
Teams commit to finish the work on a house – a job that averages about 160 work hours and takes at least two work parties. Team leaders take a training session, meet with a technical adviser and set up work days with the homeowner.
Teams get paint, caulk and technical advice. They round up most of their tools, from rollers to scrapers to ladders. If no one on their team owns a pressure washer, they cozy up to someone who does.
This year, they’re gathering gardening tools, too. “We have yard cleanup opportunities that are new to the program,” Newkirk said.
For that, they’re looking for topsoil, wood chips, plants and landscaping pros, along with their usual painting supplies and ladder jockeys.
Interested? Visit www.paintbeautiful.org. Call 253-426-1505 or assistant Jean Kampen at 253-383-3056, ext. 142, to reserve a place at one of three evening training sessions in June.
Catholic Community Services leaders are thrilled at the speed with which plans for a $13.3 million homeless services center made the short list for funding.
In March, I wrote how local advocates for the chronically homeless were planning to build a much-needed central place for services by 2015, but that the transition period could get rough.
Now they say the new Nativity House will be finished in mid-2014.
That has brought a sigh of relief to the Hilltop, where Tacoma Avenue Shelter and Hospitality Kitchen won’t have to spend three to five years combined or relocated to make way for the new building at South Yakima Avenue and 14th Street.
“We are moving much more quickly than originally planned,” said Jim Anderson, co-director of CCS’s Homeless Adult Services. “We are not going to be combining the Kitchen and Nativity House, or moving the shelter.”
The new Nativity House will combine the kitchen, drop-in center, shelter beds, services and 50 small apartments. CCS is raising additional funds and working with architects and engineers so construction can begin next summer.
Finally, the 253-in-a-gun design that angered many fans of the 253 heart is on its own.
Steve Naccarato had started taking orders for items bearing the firearm logo on the website of his business, Republic of 253. The marketing backfired with a clientele hurt by what looked like a reference to Tacoma’s worst gang days.
“At this point I think Ro253 is going in a different direction,” Naccarato said Tuesday.
Those who still want the gun design can buy it directly from the artist, Jesse Arneson.
Republic of 253 continues to carry Arneson’s other designs, including a native salmon that has gotten tasty reviews from Republic of 253’s virtual visitors.
kathleen.merryman @thenewstribune.com 253-597-8677 blog.thenewstribune.com/streetSource: www.thenewstribune.com
Painting the Express blue - Malaya - Online Edition
Painting the Express blue
By A Web design Company
WHEN everything’s falling into place for Rain or Shine, it is practically unbeatable.
The Elasto Painters showcased this anew by coasting to a 102-96 victory over Air21 last night to solidify their hold of the top spot in the PBA Governors Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The victory, Rain or Shine’s third, came because the team is clicking on both ends of the court, according to coach Yeng Guiao.
“We’re playing the kind of game we want,” said Guiao after his team matched its best-ever start under him in last season’s Commissioner’s Cup.
“We had balanced scoring, good ball movement and switching well in defense,” he added. “The only thing I’m not happy about is we missed a lot of free throws. But aside from that, I’m happy with the result.”
So sharp were the Elasto Painters they bucked 10 missed charities to post as much as an 84-64 spread in the third quarter and went into the last 5:07 of the game with a very comfortable 98-80 cushion.
Air21 was in the game only in the first 25 minutes. Once Rain or Shine’s sizzling game kicked in for a 71-53 difference, there was very little doubt right of the coming outcome.
Import Jamelle Cornley scattered 21 points and 14 rebounds. The markers were five below his average, but he had plenty of help this time.
Jeff Chan wound up with 16 anchored on a 5-for-9 three-point shooting, Gabe Norwood added 13, all in the second half, and Ronjay Buenafe 11 despite going 0-for-7 from beyond the arc.
Import Zachary Graham led everybody with 37 points and 20 rebounds but only Paolo Hubalde was the lone other double-digit scorer for Air21 with 10 and all were made in the first half as the Express dropped to a 1-2 win-loss slate.
“Their import is a fantastic scorer, one who carried the team on his shoulders with his scoring ability,” noted Guiao. “But the gameplan was really to shut down Ren-Ren Ritualo and (Mark) Isip, who always played well against us. We really prepared in defending (against) those two.”
The strategy was carried out to the letter as Ritualo was held to only nine points and Isip just two after notching 17 in a 97-86 win over Talk N Text last Saturday.
Guiao said the lopsided outcome is no real gauge of the kind of game Air21 is capable of.
“Air21 is a deceivingly strong team,” pointed out Guiao. “One would think they’re an easy team to play, but when you play them papahirapan ka.”
It was therefore imperative for his team to keep its focus. “One thing we hand in mind was that nobody relaxes, mentally, even if we had a good lead. We should achieve what we’ve set out to do.”
Norwood was at the forefront of that crucial third quarter assault, when he scored nine of his points, including a picture-perfect alley-oop dunk and a triple.
Ryan Arana, Jervy Cruz and Chan also lent big hands, with the latter completing a four-point play and nailing a shotclock-beating triple for that 20-point spread, 1:21 left in the period.
Cornley’s twinner sandwiched three-point plays by Jireh Ibanes and Buenafe that spelled a surge that plucked the E-Painters from a 78-90 count and into that 98-80 lead.
Source: www.malaya.com.ph
South Africa deal not to show 'rude' Jacob Zuma painting - BBC News
A South African art gallery has agreed not to display a controversial painting of President Jacob Zuma with his genitals exposed after reaching a deal with the ANC.
The painting has sparked fierce debate about the balance between freedom of expression and the right to dignity.
Hundreds of ANC supporters protested outside the gallery on Tuesday.
The painting, The Spear, was defaced last week. It will also be removed from the Goodman Gallery's website.
Under the deal, the ANC has agreed to drop its legal action demanding that the gallery remove the painting from its exhibition and the website.
The red, yellow and black acrylic painting showing Mr Zuma echoing Soviet images of Lenin was taken down after it was covered in red and black paint.
On Monday, South Africa's City Press newspaper said it was removing the image of the painting from its website following threats by the ANC.
In a joint news conference, ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu said: "Maybe we should not have gone to through lawyers, we should have talked directly."
Goodman Gallery director Liza Essers said: "I believe in the right to freedom of expression and the South African constitution."
"Brett [Murray, the artist] is very saddened by the hurt that the painting has caused," she said.
The ruling party said the painting was "rude, crude and disrespectful" towards President Zuma and wants all images of the painting online and elsewhere taken down.
In an affidavit served on the City Press newspaper, Mr Zuma said: "The portrait depicts me in a manner that suggests I am a philanderer, a womaniser and one with no respect."
President Zuma, who has four wives, has previously sued local media companies 11 times for defamation.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
. "When the crashes, she will need to learn very quickly how to survive and live rough. There is more to life than baubles. David Mills, Altea Spain, 30/5/2012 15:15" Even if the euro collapses her art collection will be worth the same or more in $$ or . Art is the best investment in hard economic times you ignorant.
- john span, london, 30/5/2012 19:11
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