It was a painting by a mediocre artist. But there was something under the top layers of paint. “What lies beneath is a Titian, a unique double portrait of a mother and daughter whose subjects remain an intriguing mystery. Christie’s yesterday announced it was auctioning Portrait of a Lady and Her Daughter in December for an estimated £5 million.”
Tag: 09.17.05
Naxos Joins The Podcast Parade
Everybody’s getting in to podcasts. The latest is the recording label Naxos. “The label has five free mini-documentaries on classical music already available, and more are on the way. ‘They’re not really sales pieces. We designed them to help people get involved, learn about and appreciate classical music. It gets kids thinking about classical music too, using a medium that younger people are tuned in to’.”
Munch’s Hell
The currently missing Scream may be Edvard Munch’s best-known painting, but the bleak, horrible emotion running through that work is a good representation of the artist’s overall body of work. In fact, Munch was arguably the world’s most skilled artist at inspiring a feeling of utter dread in those who view his work. “His relentless and self-absorbed despair makes everyone else’s spleen look almost kittenish. Hell, you realise, could be defined as being locked in a small room with Edvard Munch for all eternity; and certainly it seemed that way to Munch himself.”