A portrait by Sandro Botticelli has sold for $92m (£67m) at an auction at Sotheby’s in New York, breaking the sale record for the Italian renaissance painter. The painting Young Man Holding a Roundel is believed to have been painted in the 1470s or 1480s and is considered one of Botticelli’s finest works. Masterpiece Sotheby’s senior vice president Christopher Apostle described the painting as a “masterpiece” ahead of the auction. He said: “This Botticelli is...
What do collecting art and banking have in common? More than you might think. They bought their first Rubens in 1643. And they’ve been collecting masterpieces ever since. What other proof do you need of a family’s long-standing passion for art? The Princes of Liechtenstein reign over the Principality of Liechtenstein, a semi-constitutional monarchy and microstate situated in the Alps. The family have been art lovers and collectors for more than 400 years, and over...
Guernsey’s Auction House will be conducting the sale of the original and only 21st century bronze cast of the 16th century figure of Leonardo da Vinci’s Horse and Rider on Wednesday October 30th at the Pierre Hotel in New York City. The last occasion that a work of art attributed to the great artist became available was 2017, when Leonardo’s Salvator Mundi brought $450 million at auction. It was the highest amount ever paid at...
Arguably, the world’s two most famous paintings are da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. Certainly these images, and those of the Vitruvian Man, are indelibly etched in the collective consciousness of anyone with an interest in art, science or culture. Though born into an age of great possibilities, da Vinci remained, as Sigmund Freud described him, “Like a man who awoke too early in the darkness, while the others were all still asleep.” His restless mind, forever hopping from one project to another,...
In addition to the Mona Lisa’s eyes, another haunting and much discussed element of the 16thcentury painting is the Mona Lisa’s smile. A research team from the University of Cincinnati, St George’s University of London and Sapienza University of Rome are putting all myths about the Mona Lisa’s smile to rest. Led by Luca Marsili, MD, PhD, from the University of Cincinnati, the study’s findings illustrated the Mona Lisa’s smile was not genuine, as a result...
Sotheby’s Renaissance Revival collection was featured in the Magnificent Jewels auction in spring. Incorporating intricate enamel work, old mine diamonds, delicate seed pearls, ornate filigree and other enchanting details, the value of these pieces is dictated by the craftsmanship, magnificent, detailed designs and their historical significance. Originally popularised during the 19th century by master jewelers and goldsmiths such as Castellani and Giuliano, the collection is inspired by the classical antiquity unique to the Renaissance. These Renaissance inspired...
Unmatched in his ingenuity, technical prowess, and curiosity, Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) epitomises the humanistic ideal of the Renaissance man: a peerless master of painting, sculpture, cartography, anatomy, architecture—and more. Simultaneously captivating art historians, collectors, and the millions who flock yearly to admire his works, Leonardo’s appeal is as diffuse as were his preoccupations. His images permeate nearly every facet of Western culture—The Vitruvian Man is engraved into millions of Euro coins, The Last Supper...
Exhibitions from Uffizi, Partnerships Editions, the Royal Academy are must see events for this Friday’s International Women’s Day.
Through innovative, clean and intricate craftsmanship, Michelozzo carved himself a legacy—one that has reverberated throughout the streets of Italy ever since. Michelozzo di Bartolomeo (1396-1472) was an Italian architect and sculptor. His vast contribution to the early Renaissance movement solidified him as one of the most prolific architects of all time. His ingenuity helped pave the way for the development of the central palazzo configuration that defines the visage of Italy—even to this day. Michelozzo...
Flourishing in the 14th century, the Renaissance movement owes its rapid growth to political stability, cosmopolitanism, economic prosperity and the increasing sophistication of society. Influencing everything from art and architecture to music, politics and literature, this revival of Classical values is widely considered to be a bridge in time between the Middle Ages and modern history. The conceptual basis of the movement was its own adapted version of humanism, which was attained through the rediscovery...
