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something only an art historian could get confused about
Post #482 • February 28, 2005, 7:26 AM • 13 Comments
While we're all relieved, I'm sure, to hear that Michelangelo's David hasn't been deprived of anything, this is something only an art historian could get consfused about: a regular-to-generous endowment applied to 14-foot statue would be of disconcerting proportions, especially given the pose. Also, Michelangelo made many drawings in which otherwise naturalistic figures had smallish heads, feet, hands, and genitals, a trick of the sculpture trade that emphasizes the limbs and torso for increased heroic effect. I'm a little sorry to hear that aesthetic considerations don't make it into studies like this.
2.
February 28, 2005, 5:04 PM
I was under the impression David was out of proportion, especially his huge hands.
3.
February 28, 2005, 7:14 PM
The ARTSJOURNAL has some other interesting articles available at the link Franklin gave above,
one about insidious threats to academic freedom and another about collectors who have to stand lin line to buy art, poor souls. At the end of the latter there is a feature on "Artists on the Verge of a Breakthrough" - the usual grim stuff, but it shows you what is hot in NY. All worth reading.
The David article says the sculpture was brought inside in 1873, but I saw it standing outside in the plaza in the late 1950s.
4.
February 28, 2005, 7:50 PM
Oldpro - I think you saw a full-sized replacement created about 40 years after the move. (more pix here)
5.
February 28, 2005, 7:52 PM
Oldpro, you might have seen a copy of the original, which I believe is still out in the open.
6.
February 28, 2005, 8:26 PM
Thanks for the correction, guys. I don't remember the circumstances that clearly, but as dumb kid tourist I apparently never found out any different. Better late than never.
7.
March 1, 2005, 2:37 AM
Just to let everyone know that:
THE BEAKER GALLERY announces:
RAUL J MENDEZ (Miami)
Minor Transgressions
ELISABETH CONDON (Brooklyn/Tampa)
Musings of a Wanderer
PEG TREZEVANT (Tampa)
The Blessing
Opening Reception: Friday, 04 March, 5-9 pm
Exhibition Dates: 04 March - 09 April 2005
The Beaker Gallery is excited to announce the opening of 3 new solo exhibitions on Friday, 04 March 2005, 5-9 pm.
Raul J Mendez's small drawings and paintings capture the moment of confusion between dreaming and consciousness bounded by intellectual analysis and boyhood wit.
Elisabeth Condon's new works were created during a recent residency in Taiwan. She uses her Western eye to monumentalize and restroke the traditions of Eastern calligraphic landscape painting.
Whether in Acrylic or Crayola on panel, Peg Trezevant's methodical representational paintings expose our attraction to the beauty of the Obsessive and the Sinister.
The public is invited to a free opening reception on Friday, 04 March 2005 from 5 - 9 pm.
The 3 exhibitions will be on view at The Beaker Gallery from: 04 March - 09 April 2005. Our gallery hours are: Wed - Sat 11-4 & by appointment. There is no charge for the reception or exhibitions.
The Beaker Gallery is located in the Park Tower Building at the NE corner of Kennedy Blvd & Ashley Drive in Downtown Tampa. Parking is available at a meter or across the street at the Tampa Museum of Art.
Press contact: A.A. Rucci, Curator tel: 813.843.3985 email: info@beakergallery.com
8.
March 1, 2005, 2:37 AM
Just to let everyone know that:
THE BEAKER GALLERY announces:
RAUL J MENDEZ (Miami)
Minor Transgressions
ELISABETH CONDON (Brooklyn/Tampa)
Musings of a Wanderer
PEG TREZEVANT (Tampa)
The Blessing
Opening Reception: Friday, 04 March, 5-9 pm
Exhibition Dates: 04 March - 09 April 2005
The Beaker Gallery is excited to announce the opening of 3 new solo exhibitions on Friday, 04 March 2005, 5-9 pm.
Raul J Mendez's small drawings and paintings capture the moment of confusion between dreaming and consciousness bounded by intellectual analysis and boyhood wit.
Elisabeth Condon's new works were created during a recent residency in Taiwan. She uses her Western eye to monumentalize and restroke the traditions of Eastern calligraphic landscape painting.
Whether in Acrylic or Crayola on panel, Peg Trezevant's methodical representational paintings expose our attraction to the beauty of the Obsessive and the Sinister.
The public is invited to a free opening reception on Friday, 04 March 2005 from 5 - 9 pm.
The 3 exhibitions will be on view at The Beaker Gallery from: 04 March - 09 April 2005. Our gallery hours are: Wed - Sat 11-4 & by appointment. There is no charge for the reception or exhibitions.
The Beaker Gallery is located in the Park Tower Building at the NE corner of Kennedy Blvd & Ashley Drive in Downtown Tampa. Parking is available at a meter or across the street at the Tampa Museum of Art.
Press contact: A.A. Rucci, Curator tel: 813.843.3985 email: info@beakergallery.com
9.
March 1, 2005, 5:17 AM
The ArtsJournal-linked story about frustrated rich collectors and trendy artists with waiting lists was most interesting, if vaguely distasteful. Some of the stuff that apparently goes on routinely should clearly be illegal, but the collectors are partly to blame for taking way too much BS from patently dubious and puffed up gallery people.
This is what happens when you MUST be part of the "right" herd and you HAVE to have the "right" artists. No wonder the gallerists can manipulate, dominate and humiliate these world-beaters. Thanks, but I'll pass. If you mistreat or don't respect me, I'm sure as hell not greasing up your cash register. It's hardly as if galleries have a monopoly on good art, assuming they even sell really good work. Of course, if you need the hot signature, the "right" brand name, that's a different game.
10.
March 1, 2005, 7:52 AM
I've seen this happen in person. The description of these captains of industry and finance grovelling in front of the dealers is accurate. It is grotesque and mystifying. There is one born every minute, as barnum said.
11.
March 1, 2005, 5:01 PM
Well, Oldpro, this may or may not be germane, but when a PC monitor I'd ordered from Best Buy was delivered to the store instead of my house, through their mistake, and I was told I now had to go there to pick it up myself, I simply canceled the order. There are other monitors and other sources for them. If people want my money, they need to treat me right.
That rich chump in the article who got totally screwed out of some Matthew Barney photo he was panting for, and ultimately wound up trying to make nice with the offending dealer so she wouldn't blacklist him, is really, really sad. But that's exactly why such dealers get away with it.
12.
March 1, 2005, 7:20 PM
Actually, Oldpro, this is fascinating as psychosocial pathology. These rich collectors, who are used to having their way and walking all over people, somehow become meek and pliable sheep in the hands of dealers who handle trendy artists. Why? Well, these collectors ARE sheep when it comes to art, and they've bought into the art-as-religion and dealers-as-priests nonsense. No doubt there are great dealers, but most are just merchants who talk a more or less good game. The needier the collector appears, the more they're going to abuse him.
13.
March 1, 2005, 9:10 PM
It is pure psychosocial pathology, like hiring a dominatrix to whip you or some such (which of course would be far cheaper). I have always thought that the art market should be studied by social scientists and psychologists, not art critics and literary people.
Art is useless. It has no utilitarian function. You can't eat it, drive it or live in it. You can't even wear it. It is usually made of cheap ,materials. And yet pound for pound, inch for inch, it is one of the most valuable and revered products of the specias.
When you get that kind of dichotomy there is room for plenty of lunacy in between.
1.
Franklin
February 28, 2005, 4:16 PM
Link via Artsjournal.