A show at Vienna’s Albertina reverses the more commonly held belief in art history that drawings are merely preparatory to paintings.
Olivia McEwan
London based Olivia McEwan is a trained art historian with BA and MA degrees from the Courtauld Institute, now a freelance writer focusing on the London art world; this academic background contributing to a writing style that — positive or negative — is argued with crucial fairness and balance. Combined with curatorial awareness, she is also a practising painter of predominantly figurative work, lending a keen eye and understanding of painterly technique which powerfully informs her criticisms of historical and emerging arts.
Posted inArt
What Happened When a Long-Lost Michelina Wautier Painting Failed to Sell at Christie’s
A recently discovered work by a long-overlooked Baroque painter didn’t attract the interest that Christie’s prestigious Old Masters auction seemed to expect.
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The Baroque Violence of Jusepe de Ribera
The UK’s first show of the famously gruesome seventeenth century Spanish painter places his monumental works in historical context.
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This Year’s Frieze Masters Signals the Changing Identity of the Art Fair
Frieze Masters, where art from before the 20th century is for sale, raises questions about the sociopolitical role of art fairs and what small galleries gain by participating.
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Exploring the Noteworthy Treasures of the Inconspicuous Wallace Collection
The collection is not widely recognized as a trove of ancient art and artifacts, but hosts a rich collection with an occasionally troubled history.
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Deciphering the Genius of Artemisia Gentileschi During the #MeToo Moment
The Dorotheum auction house will sell the Baroque painter’s “Lucretia,” heavily advertising the artists traumatic past as a 17th-century woman.
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The Criminally Overlooked Talent of Baroque Painter Michaelina Wautier
Michaelina Wautier’s artistic talent was on par with that of her famous male contemporaries, like Rubens and Van Dyck. The first-ever retrospective of her work offers long overdue recognition.
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Encountering Christo’s Massive Sculpture on the Serpentine Lake
Christo’s giant floating sculpture, “The London Mastaba,” sits on the Serpentine Lake in Hyde Park as tourists on paddle boats circle around.
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Newly Discovered Painting by Michaelina Wautier, “Baroque’s Leading Lady,” Added to Retrospective
In May, a Cologne auction house sold a painting that is believed to be by one of the foremost female painters of the 17th century.
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Plumbing the Depths of Rodin’s Classical Influences
Rodin’s work is currently on display at the British Museum, with a number of photographs and sculptures included in the exhibition, the main draw being the Parthenon marbles.
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Victoria Beckham Spices Up Her Mayfair Boutique with Old Masters from Sotheby’s
Former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham’s London shop is hosting an art display of paintings from Sotheby’s Old Master sale.
Posted inBooks
Linda Nochlin’s Lifetime Insights Continue to Amaze
Published after her death, this succinct volume draws important art historical connections pointing to longstanding struggles with depictions of misery.