Goya and the Colossus

Francisco de Goya was a fascinatingly versatile artist of the late 18^th and early 19^th century, so much so that art historians to this day wade through his works and occasionally wander upon inconsistencies. A Spanish painter, draughtsman and printmaker, Goya worked for a number of Spanish kings and in a number of styles. Beginning his career painting in late Rococo style, he eventually moved on to Romanticism and is credited with helping to initiate the early stages of impressionism. With such a variation of styles and content, it is no wonder that even the most famous paintings attributed to the artist would come under fire eventually, even pieces with a semi-traceable pedigree.

The authorship of several paintings long attributed to Goya have been questioned over the years, even the “black paintings” said to have been executed by Goya in the last years of his life at “the House of the Deaf Man.” These invalidated doubts aside, it has recently been discovered that one of the most loved paintings attributed to Goya, ‘the Colossus’, is in fact a piece executed by one of his assistants. Curators at the Prado in Madrid have long wondered about the authorship of this strange piece. It has been written about at length in even the most scholarly pieces of art history because of its figurative and mythical depths but, as it turns out, this history is in dire need of a revision.

The newly attributed authorship for ‘the Colossus’ is an astounding discovery because of the sheer notoriety of the painting. The Guardian’s Giles Tremelett notes that it was one of the most famous paintings in the whole of the Prado collection and that it has come to be seen as an iconic image of Spanish popular resistance to the Napoleonic army during the Peninsular wars. It remains a striking image, but the separation of the piece from Goya’s name will surely damage its overall reputation. The Prado’s expert curators and researchers drew their conclusions after a recent restoration that exposed a faded set of initials, art supplies of a lower quality than Goya would have used, hesitant brushstrokes and an inferior sense of color exhibited. The painting is now thought to have been executed by Asensio Julia, the main assistant to Goya during the latter years of his life.

This discovery can be a lesson to all art collectors and owners. A long neglected piece could be more important than originally thought or a piece long thought to have been created by a notable artist may not have been after all. This is why seeking an expert opinion is important when it comes to discovering the true value of any long hidden or overlooked treasure. MIR Appraisal Services, Inc. is a great resource in terms of research and consultation, and our staff would be more than happy to help you discover the hidden value or story your piece may be harboring.

MIR Appraisal Services, Inc.

307 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 308

Chicago, IL 60601

Phone: (312) 814-8510

Works cited:

Muller, Priscilla. “Goya (y Lucientes), Francisco (Jose) de,” in Oxford Art Online.

http://www.oxfordartonline.com.flagship.luc.edu/subscriber/article/grove/art/T033882?q=goya&search=quick&pos=1&_start=1#firsthit

Tremlett, Giles. “Goya’s Colossus Actually Painted by his Assistant, Says Expert,”

in Guardian News Online.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/27/goya-colossus-spain-prado

Webb, Jason. “Goya’s ‘Colossus’ Painted by Apprentice, Prado Says,” in Reuters

Online.

http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSTRE50Q2MN20090127

Image Links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:El_coloso.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Goya_selfportrait.jpg

The Fauve Movement: Louis Neillet

The Fauve movement of France was short lived but had a profound impact on the course of modern art of the early 20th century. Extending from approximately 1898 to 1906, the movement was originally given its title by an art critic who was critical of the “wild, beastly” colors and representations seen at an exhibition. The artists exhibiting characteristically bold colors and broad application were grouped together under the umbrella of this derisive title and included Henri Matisse, Andre Derain and Maurice de Vlaminck. The movement reached its creative peak in 1906 with a series of exhibits and acclaim but was abandoned by 1908. The artists moved beyond the shocking array of colors and on to mastering forms suggested by Cezanne, ultimately leading to the development of Cubism. Its relevance to today’s art is reinforced by the newly opened exhibit entitled “Maurice de Vlaminck, a Fauve Instinct: Paintings from 1900 to 1915” at Caixaforum Barcelona.

One of the lesser known but no less remarkable “Fauve” painters is Louis Neillot. Neillot, born in Vichy while the movement was in its infancy, served for France in the First World War and afterwards devoted himself to painting. Taking classes at the municipal art school of Vichy and an art academy of the Clichy Boulevard in Paris, the artist was heavily influenced by the Impressionists and such figures as Van Gough and Cezanne. Living and working in Paris for the rest of his life, the artist drew inspiration from the areas surrounding Paris such as Clamart, Meudon and the Meaux region. His artwork is an expressive bouquet of bold brushstrokes and colors, drawn from his time in the nature outside of the City of Lights. Fauvist in nature, the artist also devoted a considerable amount of time to still life depictions dominated by bold patterned textiles not unlike Matisse.

MIR Appraisal Services, Inc. has recently acquired a remarkable example of Neillot’s work. The painting, an expressive work, captures a beautiful summer day outside of Paris on a country farm. It displays a lush field in the foreground framed by bold trees with a red roofed barn in the background. The colors are not at all subdued and are applied in a very informal, inspired way. Paint does not even cover the entire canvas, and gaps exposing the canvas beneath can be seen between brushstrokes of lime green and cranberry. The influence on the bold simplicity of Matisse and the expressive brushstrokes of Van Gough are clearly visible, as is the uninhibited use of expressive color, distorting the image in an almost primitive way. Created in 1969, it shows the great legacy of the Fauve movement and exhibits its continued beauty.

Neillot’s remarkable career was equally more impressive for its longevity. Born in 1898, the painter lived well into the 1970s, productive for the vast majority of his lifetime. Each of Neillot’s paintings is remarkable for their brilliant colors and their calculated simplicity. The composition and execution of such pieces in his characteristic style exhibit the success of combining inspiration with experience and age. MIR Appraisal Services, Inc. invites you to view this and other remarkable pieces on their website or in person via appointment. We also encourage you to call with any appraisal questions. Each work of art that you own is an investment that must be protected.

MIR Appraisal Services, Inc.
307 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 308
Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: (312) 814-8510

Works cited:

An Heir to the “Fauves,” Louis Neillot.
http://www.neillot.com/LNAnglais/NEILLOT2A.htm

Perez-Tibi, Dora. “Fauvism,” in Oxford Art Online.
http://www.oxfordartonline.com.flagship.luc.edu/subscriber/article/grove/art/T027678? q=fauve&search=quick&pos=25&_start=1#firsthit

Jewish Heirlooms and Bernie Madoff

With the 150 year sentence delivered to Bernie Madoff on Monday comes the conclusion of one of the most devastating ponzi schemes ever. The impact of Mr. Madoff’s actions affected everyone from investors to actors and even inspiring figures such as Elie Wiesel. The repercussions of such a scheme has impacted the Jewish community beyond the loss of foundation funds amassed by award winning author and Holocaust survivor Wiesel. Many of the Jewish investors who lost everything have resorted to selling precious heirlooms that had been in their family for years, leading to a market flooded with Jewish antiques.

One such heartbreaking story is the tale of Elisa Schindler, daughter of prominent Rabbi Alexander Schindler covered by CNN’s Mary Snow. The story relates that Schindler has been forced to sell important and sacred items given to her by her late father because of the destruction caused by the swindle of Bernie Madoff. The items include a silver Torah Crown made in the 20th century and a Yad or Torah Pointer that dates as far back as 1780. The Yad is of particular importance because it is one of the few items of Judaica to survive Holocaust era Europe. These items had been accumulated during Alexander Schindler’s long career as a Rabbi and have recently been auctioned off. Crain’s suggested that the total worth of the items might exceed $30,000, but the auction results have not been disclosed.

This is a familiar tale for the Jewish community as of late, and many instances of similar sacrifices have flooded the news. The deep impact of the investment fraud has resulted in families having to part possessions that are very dear to them. A recent article in Crain’s features Jonathan Greenstein, chairman of an auction house that specializes in antique Judaica (Potkewitz). He notes that from January on he has received an unusually large amount of inquiries into the value of family heirlooms relating to the Jewish culture. Auction houses have seen a high volume of such items lately; a sign of the great desperation that many families are now experiencing. This unfortunate situation gets even worse; since so many have had to resort to selling their items, the market is flooded and their current worth is far less than it could have been prior to the Madoff case.

This unfortunate tale of greed and desperate measures naturally points to the importance of appraising heirlooms- Judaica and otherwise. Families rarely realize the real value of the items that have been passed down to them. Besides the priceless sentimental value there is inevitably a monetary value that changes according to the market. MIR Appraisal Services, Inc. specializes in appraising an almost endless range of items and would be happy to research your items and inform you of their place in today’s market. Establishing the value of your precious items is essential for peace of mind and can be helpful in times of prosperity and hardship.

MIR Appraisal Services, Inc.
307 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 308
Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 814-8510

Works cited:
Elmore, Charles. “Nobel Prize-Winner Elie Wiesel Calls Bernie Madoff a ‘Scoundrel’,” on Palm Beach Daily News.com.
http://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/content/news/2009/01/17/pbpmadoff0117.html
Potkewitz, Hillary. “Madoff Victims Flood Judaica Market with Treasures,” on Crain’s New York.com.
http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20090322/FREE/303229971 Snow, Mary. “Family Caught in Madoff Swindle Forced to Sell Jewish Heirlooms,” on CNN.com. http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/03/13/madoff.victim.heirloom/index.html

Images:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/03/13/madoff.victim.heirloom/index.html