Art Industry News is a daily summary of the most important developments in the art world and the art market. Here’s what you need to know this Wednesday, July 5.
NEED TO READ
Entire city discovered in northern China – Dating back to the Bronze Age around 3,000 years ago, the city is the largest of the period to be found in China. It was also a burial place for the region’s elite, and among the ruins are hundreds of ancient artifacts, ornaments, vessels, carved bones, jewelry, and a small bird figurine encrusted with pieces of turquoise. (Live Science)
Turner’s painting exceeds one million at auction – The watercolour, believed to depict a sunrise over the coastal town of Margate, beat its high estimate of £800,000 ($1m) to sell for over £1,032,200 ($1.2m) yesterday ) at Christie’s. The work once belonged to the artist’s landlady and is particularly well preserved. (Independent)
Switzerland returns a fragment representing Ramses II – A 3,400-year-old stone statue of Ramses II, also known as Ramses the Great, which was looted in the 1980s or 1990s, has been returned to Egyptian authorities after being seized in a criminal case in Geneva . (Bundesamt für Kultur)
Max Pechstein hits auction block after settlement with Jewish heirs – The Lempertz auction house in Cologne is still considering selling the self-portrait, which had to be removed from the June 6 sale after it was shown to belong to a Jewish doctor who sold it in 1936 under Nazi persecution. The house reached a second settlement with his heirs to have the work removed from a German database of Nazi-looted art. (The arts journal)
MOVERS AND SHAKERS
Austria appoint Ralph Gleis as Albertina manager – The Austrian Ministry of Culture has appointed Ralph Gleis, director of the Alte Nationalgalerie in Berlin, general director of the Albertina in Vienna. He will succeed Klaus Albrecht Schröder, who will step down at the end of 2024, after 25 years at the head of the museum. (TANNING)
National Galleries of Scotland buy painting by Henry Raeburn – The UK once kept a historic masterpiece within its borders, by having the National Galleries of Scotland purchase the portrait of 18th century painter Henry Raeburn, Patrick Moir. The deal was made as part of the National Private Treaty Sales Program, designed to encourage people who own culturally significant works to sell directly to museums, rather than at auction. (evening standard)
The Rijksmuseum buys salt cellars from Jewish heirs – The Amsterdam Museum has acquired four exceptional salt cellars, two of which had already been part of their collection for several decades. They were returned to the heirs of Jewish collector Emma Budge earlier this year after the proceeds of their 1937 sale were proven to have gone to the Nazis but were immediately redeemed. (Art addiction)
National Gallery London exhibition in Shanghai sets record – Some 420,000 visitors viewed “From Botticelli to Van Gogh: Masterpieces from the National Gallery, London” at the Shanghai Museum. The previous attendance record for the National Gallery in London was 323,827 guests at a Leonardo da Vinci show in 2011. (TANNING)
FOR ART
Hurry up! Pergamon Museum closes for 14 years – The ongoing renovation of the Berlin museum, which began in 2013, is moving up a gear and the museum will close its doors to the public next October for at least three and a half years. The south wing of the building will be closed until 2037. Yes, you read that right. (The Journal of the Arts)
The Roman-era Market Gate of Miletus at the Pergamon Museum in Berlin, Germany. The Pergamon is set to close to visitors for a sweeping renovation from October 23, 2023 and is expected to partially reopen by 2027. Photo: Emmanuele Contini/NurPhoto via Getty Images.
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