Milo Dickinson

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A Jam Tart and the Queen of Hearts

December 7, 2020by milodickinsonLeave a Comment on A Jam Tart and the Queen of Hearts
A Jam Tart and the Queen of Hearts

This wonderful and rather playful Pre-Raphaelite picture has recently caught my eye. I had never seen it before this week, which is hardly surprising as for the last fifty years it has been in the private collection of Joe Setton and then his children, who are now selling his whole collection at Christie’s on the [...]

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Lucas Cranach is one of the giants of art history. He was court painter to the Electors of Saxony for most of his career and was a close friend of Martin Luther. He was at the forefront of the Protestant Revolution but this did not stop him producing paintings that would appeal to Catholic collectors (we can all guess why). This picture hasn’t been seen by almost anyone for over half a century but will soon be on view as part of our NY sales. Don’t you think that landscape, inspired by Durer, is just to die for…?
I am always excited ahead of our New York April auctions – what re-discoveries have been made and what masterpieces are coming out of hiding and onto the market? There are plenty of both this year. The only downer is that I am not going to be able to visit, which is gutting because it’s always such fun (the New Yorkers actually talk to you, whereas most clients in London just nod). One of the few lots I have seen in the flesh is an exceptional painting by Veronese, which was in the National Gallery exhibition a few years ago. Here we have the symbolic angel of Saint Matthew, and perched next to him are Saints Mark, John and and John in lion, eagle and bull form. More to come
Happy Easter everyone! The papal legate Altobello Averoldi commissioned this amazing Resurrection triptych from Titian to piss off a hated arch-rival. It was an extraordinary success, so much so that Alfonso d’Este asked Titian to secretly remove the figure of Saint Sebastian (pic 2), sell it to him and replace it with a copy. Titian agreed to this skullduggery; ‘although I would not carry out this swindle for any other man, I would do so if His Excellency were to pay me 60 ducats’! Alfonso d’Este wisely backtracked before the Pope got wind of the deception and the triptych is still in its full glory in Brescia
Rubens is an artist many love to hate, like Renoir, but how can you not love him?! The concept of this picture is brilliant, the contrast of Venus’ almost spontaneous encounter with the mirror and the portrait-like reflection, with Venus calmly looking out at us the viewer, inviting us to appreciate her beauty. Genius
Michelangelo lived to the ripe old age of 88, Titian 86, Leonardo 67, but Raphael was just 37 when he died in 1520 at the height of his powers. This wonderful drawing at Wilton House shows his extraordinary prowess. What could he have achieved if he had lived a full life?
I’ve been reading a fantastic biography of Titian, and it has really brought to life Titian’s close relationship with Pietro Aretino. Aretino was huge in his day - a sort of cultured version of Piers Morgan - a writer and critic who would openly mock popes and kings in his public missives and then suck up to them sanctimoniously when he wanted money or favour. A notorious blackmailer, he kept all famous men in Italy in a kind of state of siege.
Of all the Sassoferrato’s, this is my favourite. Longing to be back in the National Gallery now. Only 3 months to go...(3 months!)
I know this is not an easy image, but is it not the most extraordinary painting? Titian always stands out because of his ability to recreate flesh and blood. How did he do this? At one point Titian discovered that painting a layer of white over flesh tones and then scrubbing the white into the paint layers below produced the same effect as powder on a woman’s face, that is it made the texture of flesh appear softer, more tangible. Is there anyone else who did it better?
I didn’t include this in the list of great portraits of children because he is shown as a man but isn’t it wonderful? Ranuccio Farnese was 11 years old when Titian began to paint him. Grandson of the ever so slightly nepotistic Pope Paul III, Ranuccio was made archbishop of Naples aged 14 and a cardinal aged 15, putting most teenage CVs in the shade. I love how Titian conveyed the cloak of office, too large and heavy, sliding off the boy’s small shoulders

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