8 novembre 2009

A German silver-gilt cup formed as a rearing horse. Mark of Erhard Ellers, Torgau, circa 1670 Realistically modelled, with detachable head, the base cast and chased with foliage and rock-work, marked on base and on cover bezel - 8¼ in. (21 cm.) high - 16 oz. (497 gr.) Est. £20,000 - £30,000 ($33,220 - $49,830) Notes: The tradition of offering a guest a "Willkommen Pokale", or welcome cup, of wine was long established in Europe and culminated, in the 16th and 17th centuries, with the production of charming cups in... [Lire la suite]

A rare blue and white jar for the Portuguese market. Ming dynasty, circa 1610-30. photo courtesy Sotheby's the straight-sided octagonal body rising from a tall spreading knopped stem to a short flaring neck and everted rim, applied and painted in rich cobalt-blue tones to the shoulder with four cherub heads above a leafy pendent garland, divided by four images related to the Denial of St. Peter, all above lotus-lappet, floret and lotus scroll bands, the neck with a floral band - 13.2cm., 5 1/4 in. Est. 60,000—80,000 GBP. Sold... [Lire la suite]

Anthonis van Dyck (1599-1641) Självporträtt / Self-portrait. c.1620-21.Olja på duk, 119,7 x 87,9 cm. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Jules Bache Collection, 1949 © The Metropolitan Museum of Art STOCKHOLM.- In a one-off exchange this fall, two of Sweden’s largest and most famous baroque paintings have been taken to Munich to star in a major exhibition of works by Peter Paul Rubens, the 17th-century Flemish master. In return, Nationalmuseum will receive 20 spectacular paintings from Munich next spring. These will go on show... [Lire la suite]

Sandro Botticelli, Idealized Portrait of a Lady (Simonetta Vespucci), 1480. Mixed technique on poplar, 82 × 54 cm. Inv. No. 936. Städel Museum FRANKFURT.- The Städel Museum will show the first monographic exhibition on Sandro Botticelli (1444/45–1510) in the German-speaking world from 13 November 2009 to 28 February 2010. Taking the artist’s monumental Idealized Portrait of a Lady, one of the Städel Museum collection’s highlights, as its starting point, the exhibition presents numerous works from all productive periods of this... [Lire la suite]