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You can visit our blog by visiting: http://mirappraisal.com/category/blog/

Resurgence of the Old Masters

It was recently announced that a lost painting by renaissance master, Leonado da Vinci, had been authenticated after resurfacing a few years ago. The painting, “Salvator Mundi” belonged to the art collections of Charles I and Charles II of England, but the piece was lost throughout the following centuries.

So, how did this piece magically appear after all this time?

It was discovered in the private collection of an American art collector who had sent it in for restoration services. The painting was in bad condition and had received many poor restoration treatments in the past. It was suspected that the piece was related to da Vinci, and may have been done by one of his students. After several layers of paint and treatments were removed, experts determined that the painting was in fact an original work by Leonardo da Vinci himself. The painting is oil on wood panel, measuring 26”x18.5”. It depicts Christ with his right hand raised in a blessing and his left hand is on a globe.

It may seem as though paintings from this time period are already hanging in a museum or the private collection of a wealthy investor, however, paintings like this can turn up anywhere.

Recently a family discovered that the dingy painting behind their couch was actually the work of renaissance master, Michelangelo. Although it is possible for a lost painting to be floating around your family’s estate, these types of paintings are frequently discovered in churches.

More hidden treasures…

We currently have a painting sitting in our office that is thought to be from the early to mid 1600’s. The painting is oil on canvas measuring at 40”X52”. The image depicts an adult Christ on his deathbed while the father and cherubs look down on him. The father’s hand is raised in a blessing and a dove is descending from the clouds. The painting was brought over from a church in Europe during the 1800’s; the original frame was replaced upon arrival due to the rolling of the canvas to protect it from tax collectors and thieves during the trip. Eventually the painting sat in storage at a church in the US, until it was given away as a gift.

These stories are interesting, but why are they relevant?

According to a recent news article, sales of old masters’ paintings are skyrocketing as the art market continues to improve. However, it is not only museums and research centers putting up a bid for these types of paintings, as one might assume; private collectors frequently attempt to take the works home.

Question to our readers: Do you think the works of the old masters belong in a museum or should they go to those who can make the highest bid?

Conservation and Restoration

You’ve probably heard these terms used together before, but what’s the difference? Conservation and restoration are similar to one another in that they both work to keep the art work in the best condition possible.

Conservation is a profession devoted to the preservation of cultural heritage for future generations. This includes examination, documentation, treatment, and preventive care. Restoration is the process that attempts to return a damaged work of art to what the restorer imagines as its “original” state.

Whether you have decided to keep your art, sell it or donate it the condition of your pieces should be take into consideration. If your work is in poor condition, conservation and restoration techniques can be applied to better the quality of the piece. A qualified appraiser can help to determine if these services would be financially beneficial to you. Because it is an expensive process,  consultation is suggested as a first step before deciding to go through with these services.

Do you have a piece of art that needs a little TLC? Contact our Chicago office to set up a consultation appointment!

MIR Appraisal Services, inc.

(312) 814-8510

info@mirappraisal.com

It’s Alive!

Our newly revamped website is up and running. We’ve added a few new features to make your experience with MIR as comfortable and easy as possible. One of those features is the incorporation of our blog into our website.

Very shortly this blog page will cease to exist. Don’t fret! You can continue enjoying our art commentary posts at http://mirappraisal.com/category/blog/.

Any questions or concerns can be directed to:

Caitlin Luetger

caitin.luetger@mirappraisal.com

(312) 814-8510

 

Thanks for reading!

C.L.

Our Website

We are very excited to share with you the news that our new company website will launch this week!

We’ve taken our current website and completely re-modeled to give it a more user-friendly appearance and purpose. The new site will be available later this week; no need to worry about learning a new web address as our website will still be located at http://mirappraisal.com!

 

 

Art In The News

Another week, another news update. Here is the recap on recent art news:

 

 

Beatles’ Photos Sell at Auction

In 1964 a teenager from Washington took a slew of photos at the Beatles’ first US tour. Nearly 50 years later, the owner of the photos put them up for auction and received a pleasant surprise at the fetched sum. The images were estimated to gather $100,000 but brought in a whopping $360,000.

Auction in Reno

An art auction held in Reno was highly successful. Among the sales, two oil paintings by Albert Bierstadt were sold for a combined 4 million USD, while two paintings by Charles M. Russel were sold for 1.5 million USD each.

British Painter Lucian Freud Passes

The renowned figure painter has passed away from unspecified health complications. He was 88. Although Freud is considered to be one of the great artists of the 20th century, his paintings were thought of as highly controversial.

Chicago’s Monroe Brings Mixed Reviews

Marilyn Monroe has towered over Chicago’s Michigan Ave. for a couple of weeks now and the general consensus on the statue’s success is mixed. Across the internet are posts bashing the statue, claiming it to be trashy, poorly constructed and a blemish to Chicago’s public art scene. However, recent articles have cited numerous viewers as seeming to enjoy the statue. The drawing point of success? The statue elicits conversation and sparks emotion in viewers. Whether or not they personally like the statue, they are talking about it.

 

Storing Art and Antiques

So you have a nice collection of art and antiques, but you don’t have the means to keep everything on display? Storing art work and antiques can get a little tricky if you are hoping to preserve the quality of your items. Factors such as temperature, light, moisture and, even, insects can affect the quality of a piece over time.

There are a few things to keep in mind when planning to store art work and/or antiques:

• Acid Free/Archival Paper Products. Storing antiques in acid free boxes, wrapping them in acid free paper or using acid free folders can help to preserve the current state of these objects. Books can be wrapped in acid free paper and then stored in a box, bag, or shelf. Textiles should be wrapped in acid free paper and stored flat in a plastic container or acid free cardboard box.
  
• Keep a record of what you have. Before putting everything away into storage, create a list of each piece you have. You should be sure to include the name of the artist and piece, as well as a short description of the piece. Keeping a record not only helps you to stay organized, it will also serve as a reminder down the road if you have forgotten what has been put away.
• Temperature. If you do not have space in your home, seeking out a storage facility with temperature control can help you maintain proper temperature and monitor humidity levels for your property.
• Bugs. These pests can do more than just give you the heeby jeebies. They can eat through storage containers and permanently damage your property. Where ever you choose to store your work, consider placing bug traps and having the area sprayed for pests on a regular basis.  
• Storing Art Work. Framed art work should be stored vertically, while unframed pieces should be stored flat in the proper containers. Framed pieces can be stored together in a cabinet, but you should be sure to include a foam or felt board in between each piece. Unframed pieces can be stored together as well. Items of similar size can be stacked in acid free boxes or drawers, but should maintain a light level of pressure from weight. Slip papers should be inserted between each piece. Items such as newspapers should be stored separately because they can damage other works.

Following proper storage protocol can preserve the quality and longevity of your art work and antiques. Even if it is an item you don’t plan to keep, preserving the quality will come in handy if you decide to sell the item.

Do you have tips and techniques for storing art? Let us know in the comments section!

Art in the News

Over the past few weeks, and even months, a few stories in the news have stuck out and continued to make headlines. Here is a recap of Art in the News over the past week.

 

Ai Weiwei in Berlin

The recently released artist has accepted a position at the Berlin University of the Arts. Weiwei has said in the past that he planned to open a studio in Berlin. Although it is uncertain when he will be able to make the move, the university is hopeful that it will be soon. The offer was made in April of 2011.

Found Art Work

The recently discovered da Vinci painting “Salvator Mundi” will be going on display at the National Gallery in London beginning Novemeber 9^th. The painting was thought to be the work of one of da Vinci’s students and has previously sold for as little as $70. The painting has been examined by experts and has been determined to be a piece that was once part of King Charles I art collection. It is valued at roughly $192 million.

San Francisco Picasso Was Not His First Theft

Mark Lugo who brazenly picked up a Picasso off the wall of a San Francisco gallery and walked out is pleading not guilty. Police discovered the missing Picasso in Lugo’s hotel. According to police reports, Lugo has been involved with 8 art thefts since June. After police raided his New Jersey home they discovered seven missing paintings which were displayed in his home. He is also facing charges for allegedly stealing $6,000 worth of wine in April. Lugo’s bail is set at $5 million, although his lawyer is pushing for this to be lowered.

 

What to do with Newly Found Art

We recently discussed different spots around the house that may have unknown works of art. If you went on the hunt and found something new, or if you already had some pieces lying around, there are two options of what you can do with your artwork. Keep it or get rid of it.

There are numerous factors that will go into this decision, such as:

• Does the piece fit your home? You may have found a piece that was handed down or gifted to you that portrays images or messages that contradict the views and image of your house hold. Similarly, you may have a beautiful piece of art that you just don’t like or want.
• Is there space to display these pieces? Art work ranges in size and your home may not have enough space to keep these pieces on display.
• Does you have the resources to keep these pieces? Depending on the availability of storage spaces, there may not be room for these pieces.
• Do these pieces have significant personal value? Monetary value is an obvious factor in your decision to keep or get rid of an item, however, certain pieces may have sentimental or personal value that can influence whether or not to keep them.

Proper storage and care is necessary if you decide to keep the newly found art work.

A professional appraiser can help determine the retail value, fair market value, condition of the piece, suggest conservation and restoration services, and help point you in the right direction if you are hoping to sell or donate your art. Please be wary of appraisers who offer to purchase your pieces.

Art In The News

Picasso Thief Caught

Last Tuesday the unthinkable occurred. A San Francisco gallery showing an original Picasso pencil drawing for around $200,000 was stolen during open hours. A security camera showed a man walking down the street with the picture before getting into a cab. Mark Lugo of Hoboken, NJ has been charged with a felony for grand theft, possession of stolen property, and 2^nd degree burglary. His bail is set at $5 million.

One liners

• A George Stubs horse painting sold for 35.9 million USD last week.

• American Artist Cy Twombly passed away last Tuesday at the age of 83; he was a celebrated postwar painter.

• Curator of modern art at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston will be taking to position of senior deputy director of the Kimbel Art Museum in Fort Worth, TX.

Stolen Art…Again

11 paintings were stolen from a Toronto art center on Monday. The theft was caught on camera and a silent alarm was set off during the break in. The paintings amount to around $400,000; unfortunately for the thieves, it will be difficult to sell these items even at a significantly lowered price due to the high profile nature of the paintings. It was reported that the robbery was carefully orchestrated, rather than a random break and enter.

The Royal Visit

Prince William and Catherine spent time at Inner City Arts in Los Angeles last week. The art center is a non-for profit organization that works to help homeless and disadvantaged youths gain support through the visual and performing arts.