Yinka Shonibare, “The British Library” (2014), Tate Modern 2019 (© Yinka Shonibare, photo by Oliver Cowling, Tate)
Tate has acquired Yinka Shonibare CBE’s “The British Library,” an installation meant as a celebration of diversity in Britain, with 6,328 books bound in “Dutch wax print,” with the names of first- or second-generation British immigrants who have made contributions to British culture and history printed in gold leaf on 2,700 of the books’ spines. The installation was purchased through the assistance of Art Fund, the Tate International Council, the Africa Acquisitions Committee, Wendy Fisher, and THE EKARD COLLECTION, 2019. “The British Library” is a site-specific installation with a digital platform allowing visitors to discuss the work. The work is now open to the public as a part of Tate Modern’s collection displays.
Antonio Zucchi, portrait of James Adam, architect and designer (1763), oil on canvas, 172.8 x 123.2cm, framed: 195 x 145 x 8cm (image courtesy the National Galleries of Scotland and the Victoria and Albert Museum)
The National Galleries of Scotland and the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) have jointly purchased Antonio Zucchi’s portrait of 18th-century Scottish architect James Adam. The portrait was purchased through a grant from the national charity Art Fund and will be on display at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh first, then at the V&A in their British Galleries in London later this year. Afterwards, the work will go on rotation between the two museums for seven years.
Alfred Stieglitz, “The Rag Picker” (1892), gelatin silver print, 8.5 x 7.6 cm. (image courtesy The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Diann G. Mann and Thomas A. Mann)
The Cleveland Museum of Art has acquired 17 Dutch drawings dating between 1600 and 1710; Louis Hayet’s painting “Banks of the Oise at Dawn” (1888); Jenny Holzer’s sculpture “Laments: Death came and he looked like … v” (1989); and 13 photographs by “modern American masters,” donated by Diann G. and Thomas A. Mann. The Dutch drawings include works by Jacques de Gheyn, Johannes Thopas, Maria Sibylla Merian, Gerrit van Honthorst, Nicolaes Knüpfer, Pieter Fransz, and more. Among the 13 photographs are pieces by Alfred Stieglitz, Edward Weston, Man Ray, Imogen Cunningham, Edward Steichen, Karl Struss, Walker Evans, Weegee, Richard Avedon, and more.
Pair of Rococo consoles from Italy, by Giovanni Battista Foggini, from the second quarter of the 17th century, H.: 34æ inches, L.: 63 inches, P.: 28 inches (image courtesy Christie’s)
Christie’s The Collector: Le Goût Français sale in Paris brought in a total of €2,351,025 (~$2,638,000) on April 18. The sale’s top lot, a pair of Rococo consoles from Italy, by Giovanni Battista Foggini from the second quarter of the 17th century, sold for €175,000 (~$196,000).
Edvard Munch, “Angst, from Album des Peintres Graveurs” (1896), lithograph in red and black, on wove paper (image courtesy Christie’s)
Christie’s Prints & Multiples sale in New York brought in a total of $11,669,625 on April 17–18. The sale’s top lot, Edvard Munch’s “Angst, from Album des Peintres Graveurs” (1896), sold for $831,000.
Album with 118 photographs, 16 attributed to Martín Chambi, depicting different regions of South America, silver prints (1920s) (photos by Chambi, image courtesy Swann Galleries’)
Swann Galleries’ sale of Classic & Contemporary Photographs in New York brought in a total of $1,244,028. The sale’s top lot, an album with 118 1920s silver prints photographs, 16 attributed to Martín Chambi, depicting different regions of South America, sold for $58,750. [via email announcement]
