World Art Resources

Original Van Gogh paintings are beyond the reach of even the world’s most generously funded museums these days. Art prices have increased significantly across the board, with a quarter of a billion recently being spent on a Paul Cezanne “Card Players” painting in 2011.

As long ago as 1990, Vincent Van Gogh’s “Portrait of Doctor Gachet”, painted by the Dutch post impressionist at Auvers, France in 1890, achieved $75M us (plus buyer’s premium) at Christie’s in New York. Heaven alone knows how much this Van Gogh portrait that refelects the artist’s own melancholy in the subject, would be worth today. Read the rest of this entry »

We usually associate portraits by John Singer Sargent with overdressed, rich ladies whose principal occupations were having tea and going to elegant soirees. So here’s something a little different.

Hand painted oil on canvas reproduction painting, John Singer Sargent, 1900, of Arthur George Maule Ramsay, the 14th Earl of Dalhousie (Lord Arthur Ramsay)

It’s a portrait by Singer Sargent from 1900 of a rather dashing young chap, Arthur George Maule Ramsay, the 14th Earl of Dalhousie. He was born in 1878 making him about 22 when the the Anglo-American portraitist painted him here.

When I read stories of the indulgent lives of today’s priveleged young, it’s sobering to realise that this young man went on to fight in the Boer War in South Africa (the war ran from 1899-1902), and then in the First World War as a Captain in the Scots Guards Regiment. In the painting he looks poised and confident, perhaps a little arrogant. I’d like to think an arrogance born of the need to cope with the duties that befell his “rank”, not that of a modern day spoiled brat. I hope he enjoyed the experience of sitting for one of the most sought after portraitists of his day.

He survived both conflicts, living to the age of just 49; not an unrealistic life expectancy at the time.

Unframed, museum quality reproductions of John Singer Sargent paintings are popular among fine art collectors. They certainly add a certain “gravitas” to a elegant living space, but also, a  glimpse into the lives of late 19th and early 20th century history makers.

John Constable is well known as a quintessential British landscape painter. Sadly, buyers of Constable reproduction paintings nevertheless have to negotiate a bad art minefield, as atrocious Chinese reproductions of his paintings crowd the internet, with especially naff color reproduction and attention to detail.

So I was glad to hear of an opportunity for art lovers to see the real “Constable Country” and appreciate first hand the buildings, landscape and green hues that inspired the artist (not to mention his patrons) with a John Constable guided walk organized by the Visit Withshire tourism people.

The walk takes in some of Constable’s most celebrated views – in particular of the Salisbury Cathedral Close and surrounding countryside. The Cathedral Close itself is little changed from the early 19th century and is worth the trip in its own right. The tour costs just over $6 – if you are fortunate enough to be in the area on March 11, it starts at 11am from the Salisbury Tourist Information Centre on Fish Row, Salisbury.

Oil on canvas reproduction of "Le Cafe" from 1915, one of the Pierre Bonnard original paintings on display at the exhibition. Original size 73 by 106.4 cms.

The Beyeler Foundation in Riehen, Switzerland has some very good news for admirers of Pierre Bonnard, with an exhibition of the “Les Nabis” artist’s works running through till May 13.

I’m have two Pierre Bonnard reproductions at home, I like his home-spun themes, especially the paintings featuring dogs and red-check table cloths. Whilst he’s described by the art cogniscenti as a post-impressionist, Bonnard’s art is somewhat less demonic than that of Vincent Van Gogh. Bonnard’s work features bright color and the exhibition, featuring around 60 Bonnard artworks loaned from museums across the globe, looks set to delight.

Hand painted oil on canvas reproduction painting: “Jeune fille aux cheveux noirs,” Amedeo Modigliani, circa 1918/19

I was a little surprised to see that a gorgeous Amedeo Modigliani painting has just been sold at Bonhams in London for $1.3M. 

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Claude Monet’s “L’entree de Giverny en hiver,” was sold in London last week for just over $14M.

Hand painted oil on canvas reproduction Claude Monet painting, "L'entree de Giverny en hiver" the original was sold at Sotheby's in London last week

The Claude Monet painting was the star of the show at Sotheby’s Auctioneers. Monet painted the winter landscape in 1885 (together with eight others) which are regarded as his earliest important paintings after his move to Giverny two years earlier.

The impressionist Monet was always striviving to capture the effect of weather, climate and light on the natural landscape – his snow effect “effet de neige” paintings are exquisitely detailed studies of the effect of light on snow. Read the rest of this entry »

I recently posted about some of the paintings on display at the Savoy Hotel in London. To be honest I can’t say I was impressed with any of the art on disply in the hotel’s public areas and suggested that the oil rich Qatari chap who spent circa $350 million on the refurbishment might have found some more worthwhile portraits and assorted oil paintings for display. Perhaps investing in some reproduction John Singer Sargent society portrait paintings if funds were a bit bit scarce after ploughing all that money into new marble bathrooms and so on.

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Claude Monet's pastel painting "London Bridge" at the Savoy Hotel in the "Monet Suite", although Monet actually stayed in the room next door.

We’re all familiar with the idea of struggling artists living in garret rooms above abbatoirs as they struggle heroically to create oil painting masterpieces that will never be fully appreciated in their own lifetimes. Chaim Soutine comes to mind, as of course does Vincent Van Gogh, whose penury may have been a contibuting factor to his mental instability. Being poor is no fun. Read the rest of this entry »

Getting the “Old Master” look – without waiting for 200 years!

I’ve just been contacted by a hotelier in Boston, Mass. who saw my last posts on society portraits at the Savoy Hotel in London.

He’s taken my advice on board it seems – after all, if John Singer Sargent style society portraits are good enough for one of the world’s leading hotels, then that’ll do fine for his “historic” twelve bedroom hotel back home.

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John Singer Sargent certainly knew how to paint the rich and famous looking fabulous. "Ena and Betty - Daughters of Asher and Mrs Wertheimer" oil on canvas reproduction painting

As mentioned in my post yesterday, Mrs Sean demanded my presence, not to mention that of my credit cards, for an afternoon tea at the Savoy Hotel in London.

The art deco palace on the Strand has had a major tosh up to bring it into the 21st century, whilst retaining the elegance and glamor of a byegone era. At least that’s what their marketing people say.

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