Mesopotamian sculpture sells for record 57 million dollars

Wed Dec 5, 8:36 PM ET

NEW YORK (AFP) - A tiny and extremely rare 5,000-year-old white limestone sculpture from ancient Mesopotamia sold for 57.2 million dollars in New York on Wednesday, smashing records for both sculpture and antiquities.

The carved Guennol Lioness, measuring just over eight centimeters (3 1/4 inches) tall, was described by Sotheby's auction house as one of the last known masterworks from the dawn of civilization remaining in private hands.

"It was an honor for us to handle The Guennol Lioness, one of the greatest works of art of all time," Richard Keresey and Florent Heintz, the experts in charge of the sale, said in a joint statement.

"Before the sale, a great connoisseur of art commented to us that he always regarded the figure as the 'finest sculpture on earth' and it would appear that the market agreed with him," they said.

Five different bidders, three on the telephone and two in the room, competed for the sculpture. The successful buyer was identified only as an English buyer who wished to remain anonymous.

The sale easily broke the previous record for the highest price for a sculpture at auction, which had stood at 29.1 million dollars and was set just last month at Sotheby's in New York by Picasso's "Tete de Femme (Dora Maar)."

It also beat the 28.6 million dollars paid for "Artemis and the Stag," a 2,000-year-old bronze figure which sold also at Sotheby's in New York in June and held the record for the most expensive antiquity to be sold at auction.

Described by Sotheby's as diminutive in size, but monumental in conception, The Guennol Lioness was created around 5,000 years ago -- around the same time as the first known use of the wheel -- in the region of ancient Mesopotamia.

The piece was acquired by private collector Alastair Bradley Martin in 1948 and has been on display in New York's Brooklyn Museum of Art ever since.

Keresey described the work before the sale as "one of the oldest, rarest and most beautiful works of art from the ancient world."

"This storied figure, in its brilliant combination of an animal form and human pose, has captured the imagination of academics and the public since it was acquired by the Martins in the late 1940s," he added.

The figure depicts a standing lioness looking over her left shoulder, her paws clenched in front of her muscular chest.

Experts have speculated that the figure may have played a role in some ancient belief system or mythology in Mesopotamia, which today lies in parts of modern day Iraq, Syria, Turkey and Iran.

The proceeds of the auction are to go to a charitable trust formed by the Martin Family.

From Yahoo news

Takashi Murakami Japan famous artist

Takashi Murakami Japan famous artist

My friend just told me about this famous Japanese artist and who is
Takashi Murakami.

He is the hottest famous artist in USA, Europe and Japan.

Here is the web site from his company.

http://english.kaikaikiki.co.jp/artists/list/C4/

Police recover stolen Leonardo painting

Police recover stolen Leonardo painting
2007/10

By JILL LAWLESS, Associated Press Writer Thu Oct 4, 2:21 PM ET

LONDON - Detectives on Thursday recovered a Leonardo da Vinci painting that was stolen from a Scottish castle in a daring daylight raid four years ago.

The painting appeared on the FBI‘s 10 most-wanted list of stolen art and on the Art Loss Register‘s list of stolen masterpieces, where it was valued at $65 million.

The lead investigator, Detective Chief Inspector Mickey Dalgleish, said the painting had been tracked down in a combined operation by Scottish police and national crime agencies, with help from the public.

"Madonna with the Yarnwinder" was stolen from the castle while it was on public display. Two thieves posing as tourists overpowered a guide before escaping with the painting.

Some scholars have suggested the painting is the work of Leonardo‘s assistants, but Scottish experts have said that the central figures of the Madonna and child are the artist‘s own work, and that the overall design is likely to be his.

The painting had been in the Buccleuch family for more than 200 years. Its recovery comes a month after the death at 83 of the ninth Duke of Buccleuch. He was succeeded by his son.

© 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Van Gogh Painting A Fake

Van Gogh Painting A Fake


by The Associated Press A painting attributed to Vincent Van Gogh for more than 70 years was said to be a fake Friday, after art experts found it was probably painted by one his peers.

The director of Australia's National Gallery of Victoria, Gerard Vaughan, said a specialist team at the Van Gogh Museum in the Netherlands found the painting had strong stylistic differences from the Dutch artist's other works, and was mostly likely painted by one of his contemporaries.

The painting, "Head of a Man," was brought to Australia in 1939 as part of a contemporary art exhibit owned by Keith Murdoch, father of media mogul Rupert Murdoch.

The piece became stranded in Australia with the outbreak of World War II, and the gallery bought it in 1940 for around $3,500.

"It was purchased as a Van Gogh work, and had been accepted as a Van Gogh for more than a decade before the (gallery's) purchase," Vaughan said in a statement.

He stressed the painting had simply been misattributed to Van Gogh.

"It is very important to make the point that it's not a forgery," he told reporters. "There is no evidence to suggest that someone produced this picture ... to pass it off as a work by Van Gogh."

The painting's authenticity was first called into question last August when it was on show at the Dean Gallery in Edinburgh, Scotland. Critics said the work, dated 1886, was of a different style to other Van Gogh paintings of the same period and was not mentioned in any of the Dutch master's letters.

When the exhibit closed, the National Gallery of Victoria sent the painting - a portrait of a bearded, curly haired man against a brownish background - to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam for verification.

As a Van Gogh, the painting had been valued at around $21 million.

Oil Painting secret from a master, artwork commissioning,

Oil Painting Technique

Oil Painting Technique

Just go to this web sites you can locate the Oil Painting Technique
from eBay sites for dvd, book or even free demo for oil painting technique.

Oil Painting Pictures, Oil Painting Picture, artwork commissioning,

If you need to source any oil painting pictures,
then better to check out one of our sites.

www.1artworkcommissioning.com

Due to copy right issues - please check with individual
artists for the oil painting pictures - allow to download or not.

Austrian Artist Emil Herker in Hong Kong for "The Reappearance of a Blue Sky" Grid Art Oil Painting Project

	Need to check out this interest Art pieces at MegaBox before it ended and will post some photos. "The Reappearance of a Blue Sky" Grid Art Oil Painting Project
	MegaBox devoted to promote environmental protection through various event. Bringing together elements of environmental protection, charity and art, MegaBox has created 4 giant Grid Art oil paintings in the theme of "The Reappearance of a Blue Sky", with the help of the world-renowned Austrian painter Emil Herker, merges 160,000 tiny individual paintings through the use of his grid art technique and computer software. MegaBox invites the public to join with Emil, create these giant paintings together, to awaken people from all walks of life to the importance of environmental awareness, as well as promoting environmental art in an urban setting. The completed work will be put on public display at MegaBox. Kick off ceremony Date: 14 Oct 2007 Time: 4:30pm Venue: G Atrium Guest: Annie Lau Collective Painting Date: 15 - 24 Oct 2007 Time: 12nn - 9pm (Mon - Fri)/ 10am - 10pm (Sat, Sun & PH) Venue: G Atrium Exhibition Date: 25 - 31 Oct 2007 Time: 10am - 10pm Venue: G Atrium For Location - Here is the link to Mega Box. - http://www.megabox.com.hk/eng/intro/intro_2.htm

Classic pop art - Pop Portraits

Just find out following UK's article and want to share with you all.

Pop Portraits includes, of course, the famous names (Warhol, Hockney, Rauschenberg) and faces (Andy, Jackie, Elvis) but the show also contains less renowned, though curiously satisfying, examples of the punchy period on both sides of the Atlantic. There's disconcerting wit from Derek Boshier and the tragically short-lived Pauline Boty as well as the sensory assaults of Allen Jones, whose pin-up girls, once deemed naughty, then degrading, are now ironic. And a secular chapel is dedicated to the great blonde goddess/martyr, Marilyn Monroe, who epitomised the collision of sex, fame, money and violence of that exhausting decade.

Reported by
FIRST POSTED OCTOBER 12, 2007
Rhoda Koenig

Pop Art Portraits, National Portrait Gallery, Oct 11-Jan 20, St Martin's Place, London WC2, 020 7312 2463

Free Link from EzineBlog - Increase your Google Page Rank and Technorati Authority

Just find out this and everyone should link with them...Check it out.

EzineBlog.ORG is a fun site that talks about everything from science to sports. If you review their blog, they’ll link to it and help increase your page rank!

Ohh, and while you’re at it you can browse through the 100% ad-free postings about current events, commentary from posters, and more.

Tips to take care of your oil paintings

Here are just a few basic to care for oil paintings at office or home environment:

For those not familiar for care of oil painting.
It is just a simplistic approach to take care of your collection or home decor pieces.
I have see many people who actually don't know the basic steps to care for their
oil paintings.

1. Location - hanging oil painting or paintings - choose a wall for the work
does not have long hours of direct exposure of sunlight and halogen light.
The oil painting color will fade out same as photograph.
Also avoid extreme heat and cold area.

2. NO cover - glass or plastic sheet on top of the oil paintings.

3. Nothing against the stretched canvas - NO leaning or pointed anything to the canvas.
or it will leave a mark or dent on canvas. Lay flat on floor - safe practice.

4. Dusting so that it does not build up a thick layer of dust
- Use SOFT, Dry cloth to dust off regularly.
Do not spray cleaner on it (like pledge) - you will get cracking and peeling.
If too much of dust then use very mild washing detergent
with water (1:300) to clean it. (Test it on side first.)

5. Painting looks dry and dull -
Varnish is a protective surface which will not only enhance the oil painting.
It also keeps the surface intact and prevents cracking.

6. If something happens to the work - go to local art shop, framing shop
- check any professional conservator to fix it properly.
Bring it to someone who knows what to do (check who you talk to.)
The artist will appreciate it.

7. Trashing the painting - Artist spend so much time on it, offer to give it back
to its creator.
Check with us or it's creator - when you throw away an original work of art.

Note:

1. Permission of Reprinted from url: www.1artworkcommissioning.com who may be reached at: 1artwork@gmail.com

RainBow Painting

Rainbow Painting can be find in this site - www.1artworkcommissioning.com

The University of Hong Kong has an exhibition

Flight II Kwok Mang-ho (b. 1947) Ink and acrylic on paper 2003 154 x 68 cm Narcissus WONG Sau-ching (b. 1954) Oil on canvas 2002 113 x 113 cm Note Book HA Bik-chuen (b. 1925) Ink and colour on paper 2002 148 x 89 cm (Photo courtesy of University Museum and Art Gallery, The University of Hong Kong)

The Norman W. M. Ko Collection of Hong Kong Art 24 October to 9 December 2007 The University Museum and Art Gallery of The University of Hong Kong is pleased to present an exhibition featuring a donation of Hong Kong art to the Museum by Norman W. M. Ko. The exhibition includes over 100 paintings ranging from Chinese ink, oil, acrylic, printmaking to mixed media, by some 60 artists who represent the development of Hong Kong art from the 1960s to the present. On show will be conventional ink paintings by Yang Shan-sum, Cheung Wan, Lo Koon-chiu, Cheng Ming, Liew Come-tong, among others; and works by modern ink artists such as Irene Chou, Kan Tai-keung, Leung Kui-ting, Chui Tze-hung, Raymond Fung and Ng Kun-lun, many of whom are followers of Lui Shou-kwan and Wucius Wong. These two pioneer artists led an innovation in ink in response to Abstract Expressionism in the 1960s, giving rise to the New Ink Painting movement. Modern ink painting has been representative of contemporary Chinese art in Hong Kong ever since. Also on view will be artworks in Western media or manner by Gaylord Chan, John Li, Ha Bik-chuen, Joseph Lee etc. Artists such as Kwok Mang-ho, Ronnie Wong and Wong Chung-yu create works with vernacular themes and whimiscal narratives, drawing on caricature, in Chinese ink and other media. Other artists such as Chu Hing-wah, Jerry Kwan, Wong Sau-ching, Tsang Fan-kwong and Luk Kwok-yuen depict bustling and anonymous city life. Norman W. M. Ko is a former professor in mechanical engineering at The University of Hong Kong. He is also a dedicated artist whose sculptural works are evident in many of Hong KongÕs public spaces.

Opening Hours:
The opening hours of the Museum are daily from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sundays. Closed on university and public holidays. Admission is free. All are welcome.

For more information, please visit this site - http://www.hku.hk/hkumag/exhibition3.html

Test: US/UK Exposure in Several Categories such as Art, Collectible

Starting in the next few days, ebay will be running a test in many collectible-oriented categories such as Art. When your items meet ebay's eligibility criteria, they will appear on ebay UK site by default (assuming you've indicated you're willing to ship to the UK). Similarly, items listed in the UK will be shown here on eBay.com, as well.

ebay's Sellers have been asking how they can better reach potential buyers who rarely leave their local sites. ebay's believe this test will be good for the sellers, whose items will be available to a bigger pool of buyers – and for our buyers, who will have access to a wider array of unique items they're interested in from other countries.

To be eligible, ebay's sellers must have 100 feedback with at least 98% positive. To be included in this test, your items must meet the following criteria:

• Be listed in the Collectibles, Antiques, Stamps, Coins, Art, or Pottery & Glass categories
• Offer PayPal to ensure easy Cross-Border payments
• Specify global or UK shipping options and pricing to help our buyers see the full cost of your item
• Be located in the US

eBay will have this test to last until early next year.

ARTPRICE IMAGES NOW AVAILABLE FROM ARTPRICE.COM

ARTPRICE IMAGES NOW AVAILABLE FROM ARTPRICE.COM

Posted September 3, 2007:

Online art auction price database provider artprice.com eliminates a significant shortfall in their arsenal of available client services with the introduction of artprice Images, a searchable database containing the complete contents of 290,000 auction catalogues dating from 1960 to the present, totaling several million images of individual works of art. Previously, artprice users had to research auction selling prices and related data without access to corresponding images of art by the artists they were researching. That is no longer the case-- images are now available.

As an aside, the reason access to images is so important in art price research is that when researching a particular work of art by a particular artist, the prices that are most relevant to the value of that work of art are those of works similar in size, subject matter, composition, and so on. Without images, you can only guess at the degree of similarity with respect to subject matter and composition between a work of art you're researching and the art whose auction price records you're accessing, but with images you can assess that degree of similarity instantly and accurately.

The best part about artprice Images is that artprice.com is offering the service as an add-on to its current database subscriptions for a remarkably low price of only $69 per year-- with combined auction price database & image subscriptions starting as low as $118 per year-- and making artprice.com by far the most affordable of all comparable art price database services (competing database services as comprehensive as artprice.com typically cost anywhere from hundreds to several thousand dollars of dollars per year). Visit the artprice.com website to learn more.

I recently took the new artprice Images service for a test drive, and can report that it's quick, easy to use, and interfaces nicely with corresponding price results. Images are viewable in two sizes, the larger being more than adequate in color, clarity, and detail for the majority of research purposes. Each image is reproduced exactly as it appears on the page of its corresponding auction catalogue-- in fact the entire page of that auction catalogue is reproduced-- the occasional problem with this method of reproduction being that some auction catalogue pages show more than one image, and those individual images are not always clearly identified. Seasoned art researchers familiar with the artists whose art they're researching can usually figure out which painting is which on a page with multiple images, but that's not always easy for amateur researchers who may not know that much about particular artists or their oeuvres. It's a minor drawback, but worth noting.

The upshot? artprice.com continues to be my first choice for comprehensive art price research-- it always has been, but now it's even better.

Please visit the artprice.com website for complete information and subscription options on all database products.

This article post by http://www.artbusiness.com

Art Work Commission thru eBay and Internet E-shop

Art Work Commission thru eBay and Internet E-shop

- Article coming soon.

Buying Artwork thru eBay

Buying Artwork thru eBay

This information will help you purchase Artwork or Art on eBay.

There are many good Artists (Professional, Students, Amateur) who sell their Artwork online thru eBay.

They are dedicated to creating high quality artworks and to providing excellent customer service, as well either by artists themselves or thru an agents.

You can even order custom work (Commission Artwork) to them directly around the Globe.

Check it out and you will be surprise what you will find on eBay.