Artemisia painting at auction, Christies January 26th 2011

Artemisia's "The Penitent Magdalene" is coming up for auction at Christies on January 26th 2011. 

We were pleased to see that the estimate is set at $800,000 to $1,200,000. In 2006 we filmed the auction of an Artemisia painting at Christies and that sold for $45,000. During our film screenings people in the audience gasp at that low selling price.

We've heard about the sale from many people. Along with the new signed portrait at Sperone Westwater there is a lot of action on the Artemisia front.

You Will Meet A Tall, Handsome Stranger… On The Bowery

This is an article by David Cohen about the newly discovered Artemisia portrait at Sperone Westwater. It appeared in yesterday's, New York Sun. We were keen to find out further information about the discovery and the future exhibition in Milan.

"The new Artemisia was acquired under a different attribution. During restoration the monogram AG emerged in the trinkets on the young man's chest, and after lengthy analysis experts are agreed now on the portrait being from her hand. It is to be included in a large public exhibition of her work in Milan later this spring. This tall handsome painting is likely from the period just after she gained independence from her father, Orazio's workshop."

Also a nice link to the portrait.

New Discovery! Artemisia Gentileschi rare signed portrait unveiled! In NYC through February 19th!

 (double click to enlarge)

Yes, really, a new Artemisia Gentileschi portrait! We were truly excited when this appeared in our Google Alert a couple of weeks ago. While we have all read that in her time Artemisia was renowned for her portraits - and the Portrait of a Gonfaloniere has been well known - it is really exhilarating when new works appear.

The preview was last night at the recently opened Norman Foster designed Sperone Westwater gallery on the Bowery. The exhibition is presented in partnership Robilant + Voena.

There he is at the far end of the gallery.

His identity is unknown but Artemisia's initials are worked into the jewelry that is at the center of his blouse. 

It is a really beautiful painting. (although this is a bad photograph of it)

This is the gallery's description: ARTEMISIA GENTILESCHI, (Rome 1593 - after January 1654 Naples), Portrait of an Unidentified Man, 1630-1635, Oil on canvas, 204.5 x 109.2 cm / 80.5 x 43 in, Monogrammed AG on the silver trinkets, detail.

"The exhibition is accompanied by a fully illustrated, scholarly catalogue" - Judy Mann, the curator of the Artemisia portion of the 2002 father/daughter exhibition wrote the catalogue entry. Here is a version of Judy Mann's essay - I think that in the catalogue her essay is even more extensive.

I was told by Marco Voena that the painting has already been sold to a collector of contemporary portraits in New York City - so you best go see him now before he disappears behind the closed doors of this private collection. At the front desk you can pick up this great large format postcard to send to your friends or hang on your wall.

 

Marco Voena also confirmed that there is an UPCOMING, FALL 2011,  ARTEMISIA EXHIBITION SCHEDULED IN MILAN - He kindly said he would help us get in touch with the gallery - it would be great to show our film during the exhibition! We will keep you posted as we get more details about that exhibition.