Maurice Denis, “Motherhood (Vierge au baiser)” (1896–97), oil on canvas, 79.5 cm x 64.5 cm (image courtesy Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, purchased with support from the BankGiro Loterij)
The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam has acquired Maurice Denis’s “Motherhood (Vierge au baiser)” (1896–97). The painting has been part of a private collection for years and has never before been on display in the Netherlands. The work is currently being exhibited in the museum’s permanent collection on the third floor.
The Oklahoma City Museum of Art (OKCMOA) has acquired Kehinde Wiley’s “Jacob de Graeff” (2018) and Jan van Kessel the Elder’s “Still Life with Fruits, Flowers, Game and Fish (Vase of flowers, furred and feathered game, fruit cups with a guinea pig and a parrot)” (mid-17th century). Wiley’s painting will go on display March 1, with Kessel’s being shown later in the spring. “Wiley’s ‘Jacob de Graeff’ adds a significant work by one of America’s most prominent young artists,” said E. Michael Whittington, president and CEO of the museum. “With our 2017 special exhibition, Kehinde Wiley: A New Republic, we immediately set our sights on acquiring a work for our collection. When we saw this painting, it was love at first sight.”
Richard Bosman, “Crazy Cats 9” (2017–18), oil on canvas, 18 x 24 inches (image courtesy San Antonio Museum of Art)
The San Antonio Museum of Art has received three gifts of contemporary art. The Dallas Consortium has gifted Nic Nicosia’s “Space Time Light” (2008–2009), a series of 10 large-scale archival inkjet images on canvas. In addition, the Alex Katz Foundation has donated Katherine Bernhardt’s “Untitled” (2017), Richard Bosman’s “Crazy Cats 9” (2017–18) , Juan Gomez’s “Flower 2” (2015), Lauren Nickou’s “Unicorn from Tapestry” (2017), and Virginia Overton’s “Untitled (Quartered Pine)” (2016). Finally, an anonymous donor has given a large-scale bronze sculpture, “Steel Clad” (2008) by Catherine Lee, to the museum. Several of the newly acquired pieces are already up on display in the newly reinstalled galleries of contemporary art. [via email announcement]
Unknown Artist, “Rest in the Flight into Egypt” (Bolivia, 18th century), oil on canvas, 32.06 x 69.69 inches (image courtesy the Blanton Museum of Art, The University of Texas at Austin)
The Blanton Museum of Art at The University of Texas at Austin has acquired the collection of Roberta and Richard Huber, consisting of 119 works of art from the Spanish and Portuguese Americas. The work ranges from paintings and sculpture to furniture and silverwork and has been accumulated by the Hubers for the past 45 years. “My wife, Roberta, and I couldn’t have hoped for a better steward for our collection than the Blanton, an institution with a long legacy of leadership in the field of Latin American art,” said Richard Huber. “We’re thrilled for the Blanton to present the works to audiences from Austin, the rest of the country, and abroad, and for them to be used in the museum’s robust teaching program on campus and in the community.”
Georgia O’Keeffe, “Ritz Tower” (1928), oil on canvas, 40 1/4 x 14 inches (image courtesy Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, Museum Purchase, © Georgia O’Keeffe Museum)
The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum has acquired Georgia O’Keeffe’s painting “Ritz Tower” (1928). The painting was acquired through the Owings Gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico and will be on view in the Museum’s galleries beginning March 1. On February 28, a special museum members-only preview event celebrating “Ritz Tower” will take place. “This is a painting as dazzling as the modern city itself,” said Ariel Plotek, Curator of Fine Art at the O’Keeffe Museum.
Giovanni Antonio Canal, called Canaletto, “A capriccio with an ancient tomb monument to the left, and a watermill to the right,” black chalk, pen and brown ink, grey wash heightened with white, 9 3/4 x 14 5/8 inches (image courtesy Christie’s)
Christie’s sale of Old Master & British Drawings in New York brought in a total of $2,671,875 on January 31. The sale’s top lot, Giovanni Antonia Canal’s (called Canaletto) “A capriccio with an ancient tomb monument to the left, and a watermill to the right,” sold for $396,500.
George James Frampton, “Peter Pan” (1987), bronze, mid-brown and green patina, 120 1/2 inches (image courtesy Sotheby’s)
Sotheby’s The Fine Art Society: 142 Years on New Bond Street sale in London brought in a total of £2,692,695 (~$3,486,000) on February 5. The sale’s top lot, George James Frampton’s “Peter Pan” (1987), sold for £346,000 (~$448,000).
William Bouguereau, “Le Livre De Prix” (1901), oil on canvas, 45 1/2 x 22 1/8 inches (image courtesy Sotheby’s)
Sotheby’s sale of 19th Century European Art in New York brought in a total of $16,099,125 on February 1. The sale’s top lot, William Bouguereau’s “Le Livre de Prix” (1901), sold for $1,275,000.
Follower of Leonardo da Vinci, 17th century, “Mona Lisa,’ oil on canvas, unframed 29 x 21 inches (image courtesy Sotheby’s)
Sotheby’s Master Paintings & Sculpture Day sale in New York brought in a total of $10,826,500 on January 31. The sale’s top lot, “Mona Lisa” (17th century), by a follower of Leonardo da Vinci, sold for $1,695,000.
