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Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Jan Van Chelminski (1851-1925)

Jan Van Chelminski was a famous painter of the late 19th and early 20th centuries of Polish origin who was widely collected by the wealthy on both sides of the Atlantic. While little is known about the artist’s personal life or professional development, it is clear to judge from his paintings that he was academically trained and had an interest in military history, gentlemanly leisure activities and winter scenes. Chelminski’s name did not escape the attention of his contemporaries, often appearing in some of the most popular publications of the day. The Burlington Magazine for Connoisseurs of December 1904 remarks in the “Notes From France” section that “at the Gallery of Modern Artists, the Polish painter Jan Chelminski, has been exhibiting some interesting military pictures.” Numerous New York Times articles include mentions of his work and there is even an advertisement in the Chicago Tribune of 1927 that mentions that paintings by Chelminski will accompany paintings by others such as Corot at Grant’s Art Galleries at 21 South Wabash Ave.

Chelminski’s most memorable paintings are of military leaders. French, English, and even American military leaders are either painted alone on horseback or in the midst of their military setting, having with them an entourage of assistants and Generals. These military paintings stretch from subjects of the Napoleonic Wars to the First World War but are always traditional compositions displaying a high degree of skill. Aside from these pictures are his well-known images of animals. A New York Times article from 1887 notes that he is an animal painter of good reputation that is known for his adept depictions of horses.

The paintings of Chelminski have been displayed and owned by famous institutions and people owing to his talent and classic subject matter. One painting, “the Fugitive Nihilist” was displayed at the American Art Galleries and owned by William Shaw. An article from 1890 in the New York Times mentions that this particular painting managed to rise above the rest and earn distinction for Chelminski. Pieces by Chelminski have also been owned by F.S. Gibs, a New York Senator at the beginning of the 20th Century who amassed a sizable art collection that the Times called “one of the finest private collections of paintings in this part of the country.” The fact that wealthy collectors decided to include a piece by Chelminski in their collection speaks volumes about his success as an artist.

MIR Appraisal Services has two exceptional paintings by Jan Van Chelminski in its collection, both inspired by the early 19th century European military conflicts. The first, a smaller piece, depicts elaborately dressed cavalrymen in the midst of a martial maneuver. The second is larger and depicts a remarkably resolute Napoleon fresh from exile on horseback and followed by a line of cavalrymen of high rank stretching to the horizon. This is a remarkable piece both because of its composition and its subject matter. Napoleon’s rise and fall from power are well documented by famous artists such as Jacques-Louis David and Jean-Leon Gerome and has become an almost timeless subject. A human drama of ambition, conquest and defeat, the story of Napoleon ensures that any skilled painting of the General and Emperor is sure to be important. A similar Chelminski piece depicting Napoleon’s entry into the outskirts of Berlin of the same size recently sold at Sotheby’s for $98,000.

The value of the art of Jan Van Chelminski is unquestionable. A popular artist during his lifetime and even today, one can even find art posters depicting some of the artist’s most loved works. Paintings by Chelminski have been sold at auction by Sotheby’s an average of twice a year, many fetching more than their estimate and all managing to sell. The military paintings are very popular, and the paintings featuring Napoleon are among the artist’s most valuable pieces, making the work in MIR’s collection doubly remarkable.




MIR Appraisal Services, Inc.


307 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 308


Chicago, IL 60601


(312) 814-8510


Friday, July 24, 2009

The Art of Peter Max

The art of Peter Max inevitably evokes memories (or daydreams) of the turbulent and liberating era of the 1960s. An iconic figure of the time, the artist created memorable paintings and posters that came to represent the youthful experimentation of the period. Often described as psychedelic or cosmic art, Peter Max is the contemporary of other memorable artists of the era such as Andy Warhol. Peter Max’s art has become so iconic that the artist has appeared on the cover of Life Magazine and on numerous late night talk shows. Max’s artwork has even decorated the fuselage of a commercial airliner. Peter Max’s style is instantly recognizable and instantly grabs the viewer’s attention despite the number of media he employs.

Max is a German born American artist who is formally trained as a realist artist in Paris and New York. There was little interest in this form of art at the time, and the artist lived a life of meager means in New York City occasionally creating art for album covers. This all changed in the 1960s when the artist combined his interest in astronomy with his youthful zeal, creating a new kind of art in his free time that would eventually envelope his whole life. These early works were instantly popular, and in a matter of years, his artwork could be found everywhere, embraced by the counter culture movements.

The association with the 1960s has not limited his creative output, however. Throughout the artist’s long career Max has constantly revised and reinvented his style, passing from one medium to another, always managing to turn out engaging, vibrant images that portray a false sense of effortlessness. Starting with images that relied heavily on planets and space, the artist has moved beyond these colorful celestial compositions to an almost limitless supply of fantasy inducing subjects. The ease of his work is what is most appealing; the images seem to have sprung from his head fully formed and without any hesitation.

Perpetually active, the artist has kept a rigorous schedule of speaking engagements across the country, having just recently visited a gallery in Chicagoland. Max has retained his style and playfulness and often applies it to creating images of well known political figures and American icons such as the Statue of Liberty. The artist, far from being a relic from the past, is an artist entirely in tune with the social, artistic, and social climate of the time.

Max is well known for his innovative use of print technology, examples of which MIR Appraisal Services, Inc. has in its collection as shown on the online gallery. These pieces of art vary in terms of size, style and subject matter, but all possess the essence of Max’s creative energy. Highly collectable, the pieces are strong on their own but even stronger in groups and add a great deal of interest to the space they inhabit. Energetic, dynamic, simple and thought provoking, pieces by Peter Max never disappoint.

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

Works cited:
Cox, Ted. “Artist Peter Max to Appear at Woodfield Gallery,” in Daily Herald.
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=306093&src=1

Kociela, Ed. “Return to the Pyschodelic (sic.) Art of the ‘60s at The Art of Peter Max,”
in The Spectrum.
http://www.thespectrum.com/article/20090710/ENTERTAINMENT05/907100325/Return+to+the+psycahelic+art+of+the++60s+at+The+Art+of+Peter+Max

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Antiques Roadshow- Record Appraisal

A popular show on PBS, Antiques Roadshow is a program in which fortune always seems to be just around the corner. Keeping afternoon television viewers occupied for hours, the program leaves most with a sense of curiosity about the value of the objects that surround them. On the air for 13 years, the program appears in different towns and allows locals the opportunity to have their family heirlooms or recent acquisitions appraised by experts. Many seem to be shocked at the value given to an object that has spent so much time in their china cabinet or on their wall while all are amused by the prospect at learning more about the background of their mysterious piece of art.

The program recently made headlines with its most recent visit to Raleigh, North Carolina. Although the program has been on for so long and visited so many locations, the show has never given a value of one million dollars or more to a piece, until now that is. The program, filmed on June 27th and airing on January 4th on PBS, features a collection of small jade objects with an appraised value of $1.07 million. This value, appraiser James Callahan calmly noted, was conservative, and many others have predicted that if the objects were to be sold they could fetch far more.

The lucky owner of the pieces had gotten them from her late father, a military liaison in China during the 1930s-1940s. Little did he know that these moderately priced souvenirs were from the 18th century and that one of the pieces had been made for the Chinese emperor himself. The owner and her husband have now placed these objects in the care of their bank vault as they contemplate just what to do with the pieces now known to be too valuable to be left out in the open.
This revelation is one much anticipated by Antiques Roadshow Executive Producer Marsha Bemko. Interviewed after the appraisal, Bemko noted that such an outcome was the “Great White Whale,” much anticipated but ever elusive. With a veritable army of appraisers, the staple television program has been on the air for 13 years and has visited more than 100 cities. These experts have seen pieces that they have valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars but never such an astounding find as this.

Even though we will have to wait until January to witness the moment of the million dollar surprise, the Antiques Roadshow’s website has a strong collection of items recently featured on the show, enough to keep you occupied until the winter. The website features pictures of the items, their appraised values and even the person responsible for suggesting the value. It is an interesting site to visit but lacks the personal stories and expectation experienced in the television version.

The program, besides being entertaining and surprisingly suspenseful, highlights the important but often overlooked service of appraisal. Much research goes into the values and historical significance of what the appraisers highlight on show. There is no need to travel to their latest shoot or wait for the Roadshow to appear in your town. MIR Appraisal Services, Inc. can offer expert appraisal advice five days a week with a scheduled appointment. The recent Antiques Roadshow find is an inspiration to all who seek out the hidden value of their objects that they have almost forgotten about.

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


Works Cited:
Steiner, Ina. “Antiques Roadshow Records Highest-Value Appraisal in 13 Year
History.” Auction Bytes Online.
http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abn/y09/m07/i01/s02

Thomas, Mike. “ ‘Roadshow’ Appraisal Finds Million-Dollar Trinkets.” Chicago
Sun-Times
http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/1664088,CST-FTR-antique14.article

Related Websites:
Antiques Roadshow Online
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/index.html

Images:
http://blogs.ublabs.org/fromthestorageroom/files/2009/06/trunkclosed.jpg
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/bts/raleigh_2009_ss.html#1

Friday, July 17, 2009

The Boysen Family Silver

MIR Appraisal Services, Inc. has a number of interesting and historic items in its collection. Many are objects are most notable for their obvious visual beauty, but some are infused with a deep history that is beyond total comprehension. One such piece is a large tiered silver centerpiece presented to the German Boysen family of the 19th century on the occasion of their 25th wedding anniversary. This piece, however, would not be as exceptional had it simply been an elaborate and beautiful anniversary gift. This piece is doubly interesting not only because of its obvious physical beauty but also because of the mist of history it is veiled in. The gift has deep roots in the catastrophic German experiment with colonialism in South West Africa, present day Namibia.


The story of the German protectorate of South West Africa is one fraught with hardship and despair. Originally acquired by German merchants during the last quarter of the 19th century, it became clear that these forces alone were unable to properly manage the territory, and it was thus taken over by the German government. The German nation had only recently been formed at the conclusion of the Franco-Prussian War and was attempting to assert itself as a nation by engaging for the famous “scramble for Africa.” To European nations at the time, colonial gains were the newest and most fashionable source of displaying power and increasing wealth. The German colonial experiment started and ended before other European nations and after their defeat in the Great War and after a notorious attempt to wipe out the indigenous population of South West Africa, said to be the German nation’s first attempt at genocide.

With such a background, the origin of this grand silver piece becomes much darker. The centerpiece features two engravings on either side of the gift, concretely connecting the piece to this unfortunate chapter of history. The first indicates that it is for the Boysen family, residents of Windhoek of German South West Africa, and in celebration of the years 1875-1900. The second is a list of German colonial officials starting with Governor Leutwein, indicating that it is a gift presented on behalf of the colonial government. Whether or not the piece was actually presented by the Governor himself will never be known, but what is obvious is that only a prominent colonial family would receive such a beautiful and expensive gift.

The nature of this presentation reveals the great importance of the Boysen family in colonial South West Africa. Although the first names of the couple have yet to be discovered, the history research into the Boysen name has revealed that they were indeed a family of much local power. One Lieutenant Boysen died in South West Africa with a clash with the native population, and the Boysen name appears on a storefront in a postcard from Windhoek. With either a mercantile or military background in that region and era, it is clear from this gift that their contributions were valuable to the ruling German government.

MIR Appraisal Services, Inc. specializes in revealing the fascinating history that accompanies beautiful artwork. Our team of seasoned researchers specializes in discovering the interesting stories regarding clients’ artwork; stories of provenance that can potentially increase the value. Many art collectors without an abundance of research tools may not have the means of accessing these captivating stories and that is part of what makes a skilled appraisal service so essential.

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


Works Cited:
http://www.windhoekcc.org.na/default.aspx?page=30

Further Reading:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3565938.stm

Images:
http://www.postcardman.net/namibia/151340.jpg

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Art, Technology & The Tour de France 2009

The Tour de France is Europe’s most famous platform for professional cyclists, a competition held annually since 1903 and interrupted only by the First and Second World War. Covering almost 3,000 miles in around three weeks, the competition is the most important summer sporting event for many in Europe. The attention the race gets in the United States pales in comparison to the great excitement it is met with by our Atlantic neighbors, but that has changed a bit since Lance Armstrong overcame cancer and broke the record number of Tour de France victories in the early 21st century. Ending on July 26th this year, many wonder if Armstrong will again be able to overcome the odds and cycle through Paris to victory.

Artists have had a long fascination with the bicycle. Marcel Duchamp’s famous bicycle wheel mounted on a stool and the groundbreaking bicycle advertisements of the late 19th and early 20th centuries by Ferdinand Lunel and Choubrac have imparted mystical qualities to this conventional vehicle. The most famous Avant Garde bicycle enthusiast of the early 20th century has to be the writer Alfred Jarry, forefather of the Surrealists and all around provocateur. Jarry frequently rode his touring bicycle through Paris, clearing traffic with his pistol (a pistol Picasso reportedly claimed after Jarry’s untimely death) and even wrote a short story entitled “The Crucifixion Considered and Uphill Bicycle Race.” The simple mechanics coupled with the liberating sense of mobility and speed a bicycle provides have enchanted every generation since its invention in the early 19th century.

Today, the race receives a great deal of publicity, especially in a year when Lance Armstrong is competing to increase his lead in overall titles. The attention it is receiving has compelled racers, advertisers and artists alike to engage in the race in new and interesting ways. Besides the conventional coverage of the various stages, leaders, and teams, news agencies of the United States and Europe have also covered a range of interesting topics beyond simple statistics.

CNN reported earlier this week on how the recent phenomenon Twitter has crept its way into the famous race. Lance Armstrong is Twittering daily on his reaction to the day’s stages, updating his fans and the public on his health and mindset. Chalked messages, traditionally written along the route by enthusiasts, offering messages and encouragement, are now being written by a robot who receives those messages from all over the world. The “Chalkbot” is the last in an interesting line of technological developments that afford humans the ability to make their presence and ideas known even from the opposite corner of the globe.

Interest in this year’s race extends beyond the technically inclined and to the peaks of the art world. Damien Hirst, Britain’s premier contemporary artist and supporter of Armstrong’s cancer charity Livestrong, has announced that he has designed the bike the American athlete will use during the last stage of the race. The bike, said to be a Trek, will apparently feature the butterflies that appear in a number of the artist’s works. Few details beyond that are available, but Bloomberg reports that Armstrong recently Twittered that he was “speechless” after seeing the bicycle. As the sports world waits for the outcome of the race, the art world looks forward to seeing this masterpiece in action.

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

Works cited:
Duff, Alex. “Armstrong Gets Tour de France Bike Designed by Hirst,” on
Bloomberg.com.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601088&sid=apEaLAac8xRo

Sutter, John. “Robot Chalks Tweets on Tour de France Route,” on CNN.com.
http://vzw.cnn.mlogic.mobi/cnn/ne/tech/detail/331439;jsessionid=16E9A4F9478C33CA417F433B11608EA9.live5i#___1__

Images:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lance_Armstrong_MidiLibre_2002.jpg
http://jean.dif.free.fr/Textes/VELO.jpg

Friday, July 10, 2009

Goya and the Colossus

Francisco de Goya was a fascinatingly versatile artist of the late 18th and early 19th 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


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    Welcome to our blog site! MIR Appraisal Services, Inc. is a fine art and personal property appraisal company dedicated to serving clients throughout the United States and abroad since our incorporation in Chicago in 1994. We specialize in the multi-faceted field of appraising fine art, jewelry, antiques, and decorative items. We also provide professional fine art restoration and conservation treatment for various media, including but not limited to, artworks on canvas, board, masonite, and paper. We offer professional and precise appraisal services carried out by our team of accredited appraisers for the purposes of insurance coverage and claims, charitable donations, estate planning and probate, equitable distribution and fair-market value. We started our art commentary blog site as a venue for colleagues and fellow art enthusiasts to share their experiences within the art community.