Cheech Marin Gets Bronze Statue 🏆, Long-Hidden Caravaggio Unveiled 🕯️, The Importance of Sketching ✏️
And other stories from this week in the realism art movement.
🌟 Mainstream
Chicano Art Patron Cheech Marin Gets Life-Sized Bronze Statue
A life-sized bronze statue of actor and Chicano art collector Cheech Marin was unveiled on November 19 outside the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art and Culture in Riverside, California. Titled "Meet Me at The Cheech," the statue, created by artist Ignacio Gómez, depicts Marin with open arms, symbolizing a warm welcome to visitors. The center, which opened in June 2022, houses Marin's extensive collection of Chicano art and celebrates the cultural significance of the Chicano community.
Caravaggio’s Painting of a Future Pope—Hidden for Years—Is Unveiled in Rome
Pope Urban VIII, originally Maffeo Barberini, is the subject of a newly displayed Caravaggio portrait at Palazzo Barberini in Rome. The painting, created in 1598 and unseen for decades, highlights Barberini’s modesty and character through its masterful use of light. The exhibition, Caravaggio – The Portrait Unveiled, runs from November 23 to February 23, with plans for further scientific study to confirm its attribution to Caravaggio.
👩🎨 Artist Features
Anna Weyant - A Rising Star in the Contemporary Art World
Anna Weyant is a contemporary artist recognized for her figurative paintings that merge dark humor with eerie realism. She often depicts young women in unsettling scenarios. Born in Calgary and now based in New York, her work draws inspiration from the Dutch Golden Age and contemporary pop culture, exploring themes of beauty, vulnerability, and identity. With exhibitions at prestigious venues like Gagosian Gallery, Weyant's art has garnered significant attention, reflecting her rising influence in the contemporary art scene.
Barbara Walker's show at the Whitworth makes me feel proud to be Black British
Chibundu Onuzo explores Barbara Walker's major exhibition at the Whitworth in Manchester, departing from London's art scene to highlight the significance of art outside the capital. Walker, known for her detailed portraits, challenges historical narratives by re-centering Black figures in her work, particularly in her series Vanishing Point, where she erases white figures from classic paintings. The exhibition culminates in Walker's politically charged Burden of Proof, which addresses the Windrush Scandal and emphasizes recognizing Black contributions to British history.
🖼 Shows
Salisbury Sees Private Art Collection - Fine Art Connoisseur
The Waterworks Visual Arts Center in Salisbury, North Carolina, is hosting a yearlong exhibition titled “Never Before Seen…Modern Masterpieces,” featuring 40 works from the private collection of philanthropists Julian and Josie Robertson. The exhibition includes pieces by renowned European modernists such as Kandinsky, Monet, Picasso, and de Kooning, highlighting movements from French Impressionism to Abstract Expressionism.
🎨 Learn
Sketching for Success | Artists Network
The article emphasizes the importance of sketching as a foundational step in the painting process, noting that it allows artists to effectively capture and refine their ideas. The author, Yael Maimon, illustrates how her sketches serve as blueprints for her pastel paintings, helping her visualize composition, color, and value before executing the final artwork. Maimon highlights the benefits of sketching from life and using reference photos to enhance artistic skills and create more realistic representations.
How to Identify a Lithograph - Key Techniques for Art Enthusiasts
Lithographs are a unique printmaking technique that emerged in the late 18th century, characterized by their textured surfaces. To identify authentic lithographs, collectors should look for features such as grainy textures, variations in ink density, and the artist's signature, often indicating limited editions and adding value. Understanding the lithography process and its distinctions from other printmaking methods is essential for appreciating these prints' artistic and market value.
📚 History
Here’s What Bothers Me About How ‘Paris in Ruins’ Rewrites Impressionist History
Sebastian Smee's book, Paris in Ruins: Love, War, and the Birth of Impressionism intertwines the lives of Impressionist painters with the tumultuous events of the Franco-Prussian War and the Paris Commune. While Smee argues that these crises shaped the foundations of Impressionism, critics point out that other factors drove the movement. The book's historical inaccuracies and lack of proper sourcing have raised concerns about its reliability in depicting the origins of Impressionism. Follow the link for the full critique.
💰 Auction House
Magritte Painting Becomes Most Expensive Surrealist Work Ever Sold
René Magritte's painting "L’empire des lumières" sold for a record $121.16 million at Christie’s, making it the most expensive Surrealist artwork ever auctioned. The sale occurred during the auction of the late interior designer Mica Ertegun's collection, with two bidders competing fiercely over the phone. This event highlights the ongoing significance and appeal of Surrealism, coinciding with the centennial celebrations of the movement.
A Historic Portrait Recovered by Monuments Men Trounces Estimate, Fetching $550,000 at Auction
A historic portrait by Nicolas de Largillière, looted by the Nazis in 1940, sold for €529,000 at auction, far exceeding its estimated value. The painting, which features in a famous photo of the Monuments Men recovering art from Neuschwanstein Castle, was returned to Baron Philippe de Rothschild in 1946 after being stored in occupied Paris. The sale highlights the significant historical context surrounding the artwork, beyond its aesthetic value.
💼 Opportunities
Perfecting Realism in Portraiture Workshop - Art Renewal Center
The Kline Academy of Fine Art will host a five-day Pixel Glazing Portrait workshop led by artist Lo Chan Peng from December 26 to 30, 2024. Participants will learn techniques to capture skin texture and explore key painting principles, including hue, chroma, and value. The workshop will also cover oil painting materials and various painting methods, providing a comprehensive approach to portrait painting.
I hope you enjoyed this edition of The Classical Realist. If you did, consider sharing it with a friend.
Best,
Fletcher Graham