Mapping Paintings launched to trace painting migration
A new open-source, searchable platform titled Mapping Paintings has been launched by Boston University professor Jodi Cranston in order to trace the complex migration of paintings through the compilation and visualisation of provenance data for individual artworks — detailing past and present owners, along with locations and sales details.
The unique platform was created by Cranston in an attempt to aid art historians in unifying, compiling and distributing the data. Mapping Paintings allows you to filter through its database and overlay the paths of selected artworks on one map — allowing for the comparison of many different pieces by the same artist, revealing the paths they have traveled along with where current works owned by the same museum have come from. Funded by Boston University and the Kress Foundation, the next collection of data to enter the platform will be the 3,000 works of European art from the Kress Collection. Details via Hyperallergic.
CRAMUM 2017 finalists revealed
Selected by the director of the fifth edition, Sabino Maria Frassà, the ten finalists of the CRAMUM 2017 Award are: Alessio Barchitta, Alessandro Boezio , Francesco Casolari, Andrea Fiorino, Marco La Rocca, Giulia Manfredi, Dario Picariello, Pamela Pintus, Diego Randazzo, Sally Viganò.
Works by the ten finalists will feature in an international exhibition "LIMITI-CONFINI" — alongside the works of 12 internationally renowned artists: Magdalena Abakanowicz (Poland) , Zolt Asta(Hungary) , Ivan Barlafante, Carlo Benvenuto, Laura de Santillana, Matteo Fato, Daniele Fissore, Ivan Grubanov (Serbia) , HH Lim (China) , Franco Mazzucchelli, Francesca Piovesan, and Daniele Salvalai (Italy). At the inauguration of the exhibition, on September 21 at the Grande Museo del Duomo in Milan, the name of the winner will be revealed by the jury composed of journalists, curators, critics, collectors and intellectuals: Matteo Bergamini, Ettore Buganza, Leonardo Capano, Giovanna Calvenzi, Julia Fabenyi, Maria Fratelli, Giuseppe Iannaccone, Rose Ghezzi, Angela Madesani, Michela Moro, Iolanda Ratti, Alba Solaro, Alberto Puricelli, Carlotta Gaia Tosoni, Nicla Vassallo and Giorgio Zanchetti. Details via Ama nutri cresci.
Mano (NOI) - Francesca Piovesan, vetro e argento, 2017. Winner 2015
Institutional stability in 2017 Salary Survey
According to the American Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD) and the global strategy consultancy firm Stax Inc, the 2017 Salary Survey, released on June 29, revealed that institutional jobs are, for the most part, stable positions. Surveying 291 museums across the US, Canada and Mexico (with a 94% response rate) the study showed that museums spend between 41% to 60% of their budget on payroll expenses.
With an average median salary rise of 3% in 2016, institutional jobs experienced a greater growth rate than the US economy last year. Curatorial staff, in particular, between 2011 and 2016, enjoyed an average salary growth of around 4.6%, though museum director salaries rose by just 1.6% in median salaries. The breakdown also allows museums to compare salaries based on geographical areas, budgets and size. Details via The Art Newspaper.
Lawsuit exposes $300 million Gauguin sold for $90 million less than reported
A legal battle in UK High Court has revealed that the 2015 sale of a Paul Gauguin painting — Nafea faa ipoipo (When Will You Marry?) (1892) — actually sold for $210 million, $90 million less than initially reported.
The suit, brought by art world impresario Simon de Pury, is for a $10 million commission owed as part of a “gentleman’s agreement” for helping negotiate the sale between the Staechelin family and Guy Bennett, on the behalf of the Emir of Qatar as director of collections and acquisitions for the state’s museums. At the time, the piece was billed as the most expensive artwork ever sold — owned by the family foundation of Rudolf Staechelin, a childhood friend of de Pury and former Sotheby’s executive, for more than 100 years. Details via artnet.
Paul Gauguin, Nafea Faa Ipoipo (When Will You Marry?). Photo: Artothek.
