FRONT YARD OF THE MAIN HOUSE WITH SERVANT QUARTERS BY THE SIDE AT THE END OF THE LONG DRIVEWAY. SOME PHOTOS AND VIDEOS ON THIS SITE, I DO NOT OWN. HOWEVER, I HAVE NO INTENTION IN INFRINGING ON YOUR COPYRIGHTS.
FRONT YARD OF THE MAIN HOUSE WITH SERVANT QUARTERS BY THE SIDE AT THE END OF THE LONG DRIVEWAY. SOME PHOTOS AND VIDEOS ON THIS SITE, I DO NOT OWN. HOWEVER, I HAVE NO INTENTION IN INFRINGING ON YOUR COPYRIGHTS.
This is Part 4 of 10 on my series on Art Museums and Historical Landmarks in the US that Macrine (RIP)and I had visited. Enjoy!!
Macrine
(RIP) and I had been residents of Chicago, Illinois during my graduate
school years at the University of Illinois from 1960 to 1964. One of our
favorite recreation on weekends is to visit the Art Institute of Chicago. We have visited the Art Institute four times during our four years residence in the Windy City.
The
Art Institute of Chicago is a world-renowned art museum housing one of
the largest permanent collections in the United States. An encyclopedic
museum, the Art Institute collects, preserves, and displays works in
every medium from all cultures and historical periods as well as hosts
special exhibitions.
With a collection of more than 260,000 artworks and
artifacts, the museum has particularly strong holdings in Impressionist
and Post-Impressionist painting, early twentieth-century European
painting and sculpture, contemporary art, Japanese prints, and
photography. In 2009, the museum completed the largest expansion in its
130-year history, the internationally acclaimed Modern Wing designed by
Renzo Piano.
Incorporating the latest in green museum technology, the
264,000- square-foot Modern Wing is dedicated to modern and contemporary
art, photography, architecture and design, and new museum education
facilities. In addition to displaying its permanent collection, the Art
Institute mounts approximately forty special exhibitions per year and
features daily lectures, gallery tours, and special performances.
Meanwhile enjoy this painting at the Art Institute:
ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR PAINTINGS in the Art Institute
I have been been writing a series on Art museums and historical
landmarks here in the US. This is #3 of 10 articles of the Series.
Enjoy!
The website at the bottom of this page lists the top ten most expensive paintings in the world. The Number #1 is Salvador Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci below.
1. Salvator Mundi by
Leonardo da Vinci (US$ 450.3 million)
Salvator Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci
This piece by Leonardo da Vinci painted in the 1500’s was often put
under the radar for its authenticity. The art world is still divided
whether it’s da Vinci’s real work or the work of one of his skilled
students. Regardless, it fetched a hefty $450 million at a Christie’s
auction in 2017. The piece was bought by the Crown Prince of Saudi
Arabia, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud through his
Minister of Culture. The painting was due to be displayed at the Louvre
Abu Dhabi, however, it was later cancelled. It’s rumoured to have been
held up on a Saudi prince’s yacht and reserved for display at Saudi’s
very own future cultural centre in Al Ula, according to the Wall Street
Journal.
2. Interchange by Willem de Kooning (US$300 million)
de Kooning Interchange
Painted by Dutch American abstract painter, Willem de Kooning,
‘Interchange’ was one of his first abstract landscape works. In
September 2015, it was sold to Kenneth Griffin, CEO of hedge fund
Citadel for US$300 million. It currently is on loan at the Art Institute
of Chicago. Griffin is also reported to have bought a Jackson Pollock
art piece in addition to this one.
3. The Card Players by Paul Cezanne (estimated between US$250 and $300
million)
The Card Players by Paul Cezanne
Paul Cezanne painted the Card Players during the point where he was the
most acclaimed. The buyers of the piece were the Royal Family of Qatar
in 2011. There are 4 other pieces titled the same, but they are placed
at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Musée d’Orsay, the Courtauld, and
the Barnes Foundation.
4. Nafea Faa Ipoipo by Paul Gaugain (Almost US$300 million)
Nafea Faa Ipoipo
Translating to ‘when will you marry’, this interesting painting was
completed by Paul Gaugain in post-impressionist 1892. It features two
women from Tahiti, where Gaugain spent some time. It was reportedly sold
to Qatar's royal family in 2014.
5. 'Number 17a' by Jackson Pollock (US$200 million)
'Number 17a' by Jackson Pollock
Jackson Pollock is one of the most famous abstract expressionist
painters of all time. His painting ‘Number 17a’ was bought as part of a
deal with the David Geffen Foundation and Kenneth Griffin, who also
bought Interchange. The total deal cost him US$500 million.
6. 'No 6 - Violet Green and Red' by Mark Rothko (US$186 million)
NO 6 - VIOLET GREEN AND RED' BY MARK ROTHKO
You don’t really need a picture to envision this painting as the title
is self-explanatory. However, it was painted in 1951 by famous
Russian-American abstract expressionist Mark Rothko. It was bought by
Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev from Yves Bouvier, who later
reportedly fell into trouble in a string of international lawsuits due
to misrepresenting the works and subsequently overcharging them. This
painting sold to Rybolev was originally bought for roughly half the
price, with Bouvier pocketing the difference.
7. 'Wasserschlangen II' by Gustav Klimt (US$170 million)
Wasserschlangen translates to ‘water serpents’. Painted by Gustav Klimt,
a popular Austrian painter, it features some gold leaf elements. This
painting was also sold to Dmitry Rybolovlev by Yves Bouvier. Rybolev
also reportedly owned the most expensive painting in the world – the
Salvator Mundi. This painting originally belonged to a Viennese silk
factory owner, but was later seized by the Nazis and then finally to
Gustav’s alleged illegitimate child, Gustav Ucicky before it was sold.
8. Pendant portraits of Maerten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit - Rembrandt
van Rijn (US$180 million)
Rembrandt
The couple portrait of Soolmans & Coppit were painted by Rembrandt
in 1634 during their wedding. These paintings were his first full length
portraiture works. The painting is currently hung at the Rijksmuseum
and is co-owned by it and the Louvre. It used to belong to the
Rothschild family. They are always displayed together and have never
been separated, even though they shuttle between both museums.
9. Les femmes d'Alger (Version O) by Pablo Picasso (US$179.4 million)
This unique painting by Pablo Picasso was bought by the Qatari royal
family in 2015. This version is one in a 15-piece collection owned by
the Ganz family. The picture is representative of Algerian concubines in
their harem with a hookah used to smoke hashish or opium. This
particular painting is considered the masterpiece in the series.
Christie’s calls this painting a phenomenon, with its references to
Cubism, a response to the artist Delacroix’s work as well as an echo of
Matisse’s work. It’s almost considered a new style of painting.
10. Nu Couche by Amedeo Modigliani (US$170 million)
Sold in 2015, this particular nude painting was first shown to the
public in 1917. After a few hours of its debut, the French police had to
intervene as it was termed as obscene by many visitors. It is just one
of a collection of popular nude paintings by Modigliani. It was sold to
the Chinese billionaire Liu Yiqian for $170.4 million in 2015.
Editor's Note: Some of the images of paintings have been excluded as
they do not align with the UAE's National Media Council rules &
regulations.
1. Salvator Mundi by
Leonardo da Vinci (US$ 450.3 million)
Salvator Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci
This piece by Leonardo da Vinci painted in the 1500’s was often put
under the radar for its authenticity. The art world is still divided
whether it’s da Vinci’s real work or the work of one of his skilled
students. Regardless, it fetched a hefty $450 million at a Christie’s
auction in 2017. The piece was bought by the Crown Prince of Saudi
Arabia, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud through his
Minister of Culture. The painting was due to be displayed at the Louvre
Abu Dhabi, however, it was later cancelled. It’s rumoured to have been
held up on a Saudi prince’s yacht and reserved for display at Saudi’s
very own future cultural centre in Al Ula, according to the Wall Street
Journal.
2. Interchange by Willem de Kooning (US$300 million)
de Kooning Interchange
Painted by Dutch American abstract painter, Willem de Kooning,
‘Interchange’ was one of his first abstract landscape works. In
September 2015, it was sold to Kenneth Griffin, CEO of hedge fund
Citadel for US$300 million. It currently is on loan at the Art Institute
of Chicago. Griffin is also reported to have bought a Jackson Pollock
art piece in addition to this one.
3. The Card Players by Paul Cezanne (estimated between US$250 and $300
million)
The Card Players by Paul Cezanne
Paul Cezanne painted the Card Players during the point where he was the
most acclaimed. The buyers of the piece were the Royal Family of Qatar
in 2011. There are 4 other pieces titled the same, but they are placed
at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Musée d’Orsay, the Courtauld, and
the Barnes Foundation.
4. Nafea Faa Ipoipo by Paul Gaugain (Almost US$300 million)
Nafea Faa Ipoipo
Translating to ‘when will you marry’, this interesting painting was
completed by Paul Gaugain in post-impressionist 1892. It features two
women from Tahiti, where Gaugain spent some time. It was reportedly sold
to Qatar's royal family in 2014.
5. 'Number 17a' by Jackson Pollock (US$200 million)
'Number 17a' by Jackson Pollock
Jackson Pollock is one of the most famous abstract expressionist
painters of all time. His painting ‘Number 17a’ was bought as part of a
deal with the David Geffen Foundation and Kenneth Griffin, who also
bought Interchange. The total deal cost him US$500 million.
6. 'No 6 - Violet Green and Red' by Mark Rothko (US$186 million)
NO 6 - VIOLET GREEN AND RED' BY MARK ROTHKO
You don’t really need a picture to envision this painting as the title
is self-explanatory. However, it was painted in 1951 by famous
Russian-American abstract expressionist Mark Rothko. It was bought by
Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev from Yves Bouvier, who later
reportedly fell into trouble in a string of international lawsuits due
to misrepresenting the works and subsequently overcharging them. This
painting sold to Rybolev was originally bought for roughly half the
price, with Bouvier pocketing the difference.
7. 'Wasserschlangen II' by Gustav Klimt (US$170 million)
Wasserschlangen translates to ‘water serpents’. Painted by Gustav Klimt,
a popular Austrian painter, it features some gold leaf elements. This
painting was also sold to Dmitry Rybolovlev by Yves Bouvier. Rybolev
also reportedly owned the most expensive painting in the world – the
Salvator Mundi. This painting originally belonged to a Viennese silk
factory owner, but was later seized by the Nazis and then finally to
Gustav’s alleged illegitimate child, Gustav Ucicky before it was sold.
8. Pendant portraits of Maerten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit - Rembrandt
van Rijn (US$180 million)
Rembrandt
The couple portrait of Soolmans & Coppit were painted by Rembrandt
in 1634 during their wedding. These paintings were his first full length
portraiture works. The painting is currently hung at the Rijksmuseum
and is co-owned by it and the Louvre. It used to belong to the
Rothschild family. They are always displayed together and have never
been separated, even though they shuttle between both museums.
9. Les femmes d'Alger (Version O) by Pablo Picasso (US$179.4 million)
This unique painting by Pablo Picasso was bought by the Qatari royal
family in 2015. This version is one in a 15-piece collection owned by
the Ganz family. The picture is representative of Algerian concubines in
their harem with a hookah used to smoke hashish or opium. This
particular painting is considered the masterpiece in the series.
Christie’s calls this painting a phenomenon, with its references to
Cubism, a response to the artist Delacroix’s work as well as an echo of
Matisse’s work. It’s almost considered a new style of painting.
10. Nu Couche by Amedeo Modigliani (US$170 million)
Sold in 2015, this particular nude painting was first shown to the
public in 1917. After a few hours of its debut, the French police had to
intervene as it was termed as obscene by many visitors. It is just one
of a collection of popular nude paintings by Modigliani. It was sold to
the Chinese billionaire Liu Yiqian for $170.4 million in 2015.
Editor's Note: Some of the images of paintings have been excluded as
they do not align with the UAE's National Media Council rules &
regulations.
This piece by Leonardo
da Vinci painted in the 1500’s was often put under the radar for its
authenticity. The art world is still divided whether it’s da Vinci’s
real work or the work of one of his skilled students. Regardless, it
fetched a hefty $450 million at a Christie’s auction in 2017. The piece
was bought by the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, His Highness Sheikh
Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud through his Minister of Culture. The
painting was due to be displayed at the Louvre Abu Dhabi, however, it
was later cancelled. It’s rumoured to have been held up on a Saudi
prince’s yacht and reserved for display at Saudi’s very own future
cultural centre in Al Ula, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Photo Credit: Luxhabitat: Salvator Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci (US$ 450.3M)
The three videos are worth your time if you want more details.
This piece by Leonardo
da Vinci painted in the 1500’s was often put under the radar for its
authenticity. The art world is still divided whether it’s da Vinci’s
real work or the work of one of his skilled students. Regardless, it
fetched a hefty $450 million at a Christie’s auction in 2017. The piece
was bought by the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, His Highness Sheikh
Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud through his Minister of Culture. The
painting was due to be displayed at the Louvre Abu Dhabi, however, it
was later cancelled. It’s rumoured to have been held up on a Saudi
prince’s yacht and reserved for display at Saudi’s very own future
cultural centre in Al Ula, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Visiting
museums are some of the highlights of our 12 years residency in the
Washington DC area. We resided in Colesville, MD -( a suburb of
Washington DC-only 30 minutes to the National Mall) from 1990 to 2002.
One of our favorite recreation is to visit the museums in the Mall and nearby areas. There are 15 most popular museums in the Mall. Several of the museums we have visited more than 3 times.
One of Macrine(RIP) favorite is the Museum Of Natural History that had a collection of Gems and Jewelry including the Hope Diamond. In one of our visits she purchased a simulated Hope Diamond in the Museum gift shop that she treasured during her lifetime.
This
is the simulated Hope Diamond(cubic zirconia) that Macrine purchased in
the Museum Gift shop that she treasured very much. In 1992 she paid
$100 for it. She had worn it several times during our Filipino- American
Ball and Parties in the several cities that we had resided here in the
US.
For the history and mystery of the real Hope Diamond visit this site:
The Hope Diamond is renowned for its rare color and rich history. It was
formed more than a billion years ago at a depth of about 150
kilometers. The diamond was brought to the Earth's surface by a volcanic
eruption. The rare blue color of the jewel is attributed to light
interaction with an impurity in the diamond's atomic structure. As the
diamond grew, a few atoms of boron entered the crystal structure and
substituted for some of the carbon atoms.
For a list of 15 most popular museums in the mall visit the following site.
Note: I
found that a cheap imitation of the Hope Diamond is advertised in FB
today as Heart of the Titanic. It sells for 0nly $27.95 plus shipping.
However, this could be a scam. I have been scammed in FB ads once and I
am suspicious of buying on FB again.
The other day, I posted the top ten most popular or visited art
museums in the world. Today I am posting the top 100 and top ten most
famous and known paintings. How many of these paintings have you seen
or are you aware of ?
Photo Credit: Pinterest Original Mona Lisa at the Lourve- #1 most Famous Painting
I
was looking at a video listing 100 famous paintings in the world. I was
surprised that none of Gaugin's painting was listed, but happy that one
of Juan Luna's painting(#67) titled Las Damas Romanas was in the
list (see description at bottom of this article). Juan Luna is one of
Filipino most famous painter during the Spanish occupation of the
Philippines.
The "Mona Lisa" was exhibited on January 8, 1963 at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, the Mona Lisa, was exhibited for the first time in America on January 8, 1963. Over 2,000 dignitaries, including President John F. Kennedy,
came out that evening to view the famous painting. The next day, the
exhibit opened to the public, and during the next three weeks an
estimated 500,000 people came to see it. The painting then traveled to New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it was seen by another million people.
Leonardo da Vinci, one of the great Italian Renaissance painters, completed the Mona Lisa, a portrait of the wife of wealthy Florentine citizen Francesco del Gioconda, in 1504. The painting, also known as La Gioconda,
depicts the figure of a woman with an enigmatic facial expression that
is both aloof and alluring, seated before a visionary landscape. First
Lady Jacqueline Kennedy and Andre Malraux, the French minister of
culture, arranged the loan of the painting from the Louvre Museum in
Paris to the United States.
Meanwhile,
here's my painting by an unknown artist titled Morion. I purchased this
for $5 in 2010 during our stay at our second home in Boac, Marinduque,
Philippines.
The following video list 100 popular paintings and 30 honorable mentions. I am pretty sure you recognize the top ten most popular art work as shown in the 2 videos below.
Here are the videos for your viewing pleasure: I have seen four of the top twelve in the museums where they are exhibited. Enjoy!!
This is #10 on the List- Creation of Adam- Macrine(RIP) and I saw this at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel during our tour at the Vatican Museum in 1990
Artist: Michelangelo Date: 1508 to 1512 Where to see it:Sistine Chapel (Vatican City)
The
most famous work by renowned artist Michelangelo covers a section of
the Sistine Chapel's ceiling -- you have to look up to view it. The
scene depicts God and Adam with outstretched arms, their fingers nearly
touching. It is one of the most replicated images in history. Adam's
muscular form hints at Michelangelo's other talent -- his "David" is
possibly the world's most famous sculpture. You can see the towering
marble statue at the Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence.
Photo Credit: Wikipedia Juan Luna Las Damas Romanas #67 in the List of 100
Las Damas Romanas (literally, "The Roman Dames"), also known as The Roman Maidens, The Roman Women, or The Roman Ladies, is an oil on canvas painting by Juan Luna, one of the most important Filipino painters of the Spanish period in the Philippines.It was painted by Luna when he was a student of the school of painting in the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando (Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando) in Madrid, Spain in 1877. Alejo Valera, a Spanish painting teacher, took Luna as an apprentice and brought him to Rome where Luna created Las Damas Romanas in 1882. Luna spent six years in Rome from 1878 to 1884.
Description: The concept for the 100 cm x 170 cm size painting was based by Luna on ancient Romanhistory. It depicted a domestic scene in ancient Roman life, portraying two women lying on the steps of a house. The hand of one woman was holding the reins of two pet dogs or hunting dogs, in order to prevent them from scaring away some doves.The doves symbolized divinity. The background of the painting presented a shelf of artifacts. To the left of the shelf was a shrine with a pediment shaped like a triangle. In front of the pediment was a burner with a smoking incense.
There are three major elements of Las Damas Romanas,
namely the women, the dogs, and the doves. Roman life involved having
dogs because they were employed by the ancient Romans for hunting
activities, guardians of the home and their property, and as pets. In
Luna's painting, the leashed pet dogs were acting as companions of
women. Doves, on the other hand, were animals that connote eroticism.
In relation to one of the women, there was a suggestion that the woman
on the right with dark hair could be Maria de la Paz Pardo de Tavera.
The notion was discarded because Luna was unmarried when he painted Las Damas Romanas.
Luna finished Las Damas Romanas after winning a silver medal for The Death of Cleopatra painting in 1881 and before obtaining a gold medal for the masterpiece Spoliarium
in 1884 (both were presented during the Madrid Exposition during the
years mentioned). In 1886, Luna was awarded a Diploma of Honor at the
Munich Art Exposition (also known as the Munich Salon) for painting Las Damas Romanas.
The masterpiece was a classic work painted in the highest conventions
of the academic style, and it was a representative of the "abundant
richness of life, with humankind", represented by women in the painting,
being "in harmony with Nature"
Valuation: Long
thought lost or missing, the painting emerged in an estate sale outside
Paris, France, before 2008. During this art auction, the painting was
originally priced between 10,000 and 20,000 euros (₱623,000
and ₱1.3 million), a range that rose to greater than 200,000 euros
(₱12.4 million) when the painting was bought by a French art dealer.
The painting was auctioned once again on November 30, 2008, at Christie's in Hong Kong with an estimated value ranging from $1 million to $1.2 million, the equivalent of HK$8,000,000 to HK$10,000,000. The work sold for far less than the estimate, however, achieving $609,193, or HK$4,700,000, including buyer's premium.
Macrine(RIP) and I visited four of the museums listed here, #2, #4, #7 and #10. This is #2 of 10 on the Series, I am writing on Art Museums and Historical Landmarks in the US.
The following list was compiled based on traffic to the attractions by Tripadvisor.com and is not endorsed by Reuters:
The Art Institute of Chicago- We Have visited this museum several times during my Graduate School years at the University of Illinois, Chicago from 1960 to 1964
1. Musee du Louvre, Paris, France
Once
a fortified palace that was the home to kings of France, the Louvre is
now the world’s most famous museum, renowned for some of the finest
pieces of art in the world, including the Venus de Milo and the Mona
Lisa.
Macrine (RIP) and I during our tour of the Vatican Museum in 1990
2. Vatican Museums, Vatican City, Rome, Italy
Spanning
nearly nine miles, the Roman Catholic Church’s Vatican collection is
one of the largest and most stunning in the world. Estimated to have
more than four million visitors annually, the Vatican museums feature
the art of Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael and, of course, Michelangelo’s
ceiling in the Sistine Chapel.
3. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York
From
Picasso to Pollock, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, on New York City’s
Museum Mile, is one of the world’s largest museums with over two million
pieces of artwork and enough variety for any enthusiast. Peruse the
Greek sculptures, admire the armory or browse the 2,000 European
paintings, all contained in a magnificent Beaux-Art facade building.
Photo Credit: Wikipedia Aerial View of Paul Getty Museum/Center
4. J. Paul Getty Center, Los Angeles, California
The
Getty features a remarkable collection, including the works of Van
Gogh, Monet and Cezanne. The museum’s structure is a piece of art in
itself, and the grounds also feature beautiful gardens, and views of Los
Angeles.
5. Musee d’Orsay, Paris, France
Enjoy
Van Gogh’s “Starry Night,” inside the Musee D’Orsay, a former train
station built for the Universal Exhibition of 1900, with a dramatic
glass roof. Specializing in 19th and 20th century artwork, the museum
displays a striking collection of Impressionism, including famous works
by Monet, Manet, Renoir, Van Gogh and Degas.
Photo Credit: Facebook
6. Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy
Experience
(or at least admire) Botticelli’s “Birth of Venus,” in the Uffizi
Gallery, one of the oldest museums in the world featuring works from
Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci in the heart of Florence.
7. Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
Located
on Chicago’s Loop, The Art Institute of Chicago boasts extensive
Impressionist and Post-Impressionist collections, including more than 30
pieces by Monet. Visit France from afar through Monet’s “Haystacks” and
spending time “At the Moulin Rouge,” one of Henri Toulouse-Lautrec’s
famous paintings.
8. Tate Modern, London, England
Enjoy
the electric art at the Tate Modern, displayed in a former Bankside
Power Station, with views of the Thames River and Millennium Bridge.
Remember the “Forgotten Horizon,” one of Dali’s many masterpieces and
part of one of the largest collections of Surrealism in the World.
9. Prado Museum, Madrid, Spain
One
of the largest and most impressive collections in the world, not
surprisingly, the Prado Museum is most famous for its assortment of
works from Spanish artists such as Goya, Velasquez, Murillo, and El
Greco.
10. National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Located
on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the National Gallery of Art
is comprised of an east and west building, and features a sculpture
garden surrounding a large fountain. Modern art fans should head to the
east building, where works by Jackson Pollock, Roy Lichtenstein and Andy
Warhol are displayed.
Personal Note: Other popular museums that Macrine and I had visited and not in this list are: De Young Museum of Fine Arts in San Francisco and the Nelson-Atkins Art Museum in Kansas City, Missouri
