Last Call: Masterpieces from the Scottish National Gallery, February 1st

John Singer Sargent, Lady Agnew of Lochnaw, 1892 

Oil on canvas 49 ½ x 39 ½ inches Scottish National Gallery, Edinburgh 

© Trustees of the National Galleries of Scotland

Acquired in 1925

Doesn't Lady Gertrude [nee Vernon] look delicious!  Better known as Lady Agnew, she was the wife of Lord Andrew, 9th Baronet of Lochnaw,who commissioned the portrait from one of the great society painters of the era.   John Singer Sargent, an "American" artist, was born in Florence in 1856 to an American couple, studied in Paris with Carolus-Duran, and traveled extensively in Europe, the Middle East and the US.  His portraits capture the look and feel of  late 19th High Society (equal to those created in prose by his pal Henry James): at ease, in charge and rich - very rich.

Alas, Lady Agnew will leave us very soon.  The exhibition "Masterpieces from the Scottish National Gallery" closes on Sunday, February 1st.   To see the painted mauve sash alone is heaven. Worth venturing into the deep freeze for the last viewing.

And we mustn't forget the incomparable  El Greco, Velasquez, Ramsay and Reynolds paintings:

El Greco (Domenikos Theotokopoulos), An Allegory (Fábula), c. 1585–95
Oil on canvas 26 ½ x 35 inches Scottish National Gallery, Edinburgh
© Trustees of the National Galleries of Scotland

Diego Velázquez, An Old Woman Cooking Eggs, 1618
Oil on canvas 39 ½ x 47 inches Scottish National Gallery, Edinburgh
© Trustees of the National Galleries of Scotland

Allan Ramsay, Margaret Lindsay of Evelick, Mrs. Allan Ramsay, c. 1758–59 

Oil on canvas 29 ¼ x 24 ¼ inches Scottish National Gallery, Edinburgh 

© Trustees of the National Galleries of Scotland

Sir Joshua Reynolds, The Ladies Waldegrave, 1780–81

Oil on canvas 56 ¼ x 66 ¼ inches Scottish National Gallery, Edinburgh 

© Trustees of the National Galleries of Scotland

Here at the Frick, these masters of the bravura brush techniques inform the study of the Frick's own James McNeill Whistler portraits placed in the oval room outside the Scottish collection, and down the hall.  All the better to admire these "guests" with the local "residents."  

Sandro Botticelli, The Virgin Adoring the Sleeping Christ Child, c. 1485 

Tempera, oil, and gold on canvas 48 x 31 ¾ inches 

Scottish National Gallery, Edinburgh

© Trustees of the National Galleries of Scotland

In this crowd, Alessandro Botticelli's Virgin Adoring the Sleeping Christ Child and John Constable's landscape stand out as consummate examples of controlled delicacy and precision.

John Constable, The Vale of Dedham, 1827–28 

Oil on canvas 57 x 48 inches 

Scottish National Gallery, Edinburgh 

© Trustees of the National Galleries of Scotland

It's bitter cold, I know.  And another snowstorm is on the way.  So - take advantage of the warmth and beauty inside these walls.  You don't want to miss it.

Happy Groundhog's Day,

Beth New York

aka Beth S. Gersh-Nesic

Director

New York Arts Exchange

www.nyarts-exchange.com

November 2012 Newsletters: Thanksgiving Greetings

Dear friends,

We have much to be thankful for during this Thanksgiving and Holiday Season.  For many, it's is having electricity and heat after lengthy power outages due to Hurricane Sandy and Nor'Ester Athena.

However, many people still suffer from losses incurred by these storms and other serious reverses.
While we celebrate our good fortune, please consider those who have lost so much.  Here is a link to a list of several organizations that need our help.

As you know, the New York Arts Exchange had to postpone two tours, because of the storms.
Our next tour will be on Wednesday, November 28:
"Caribbean Art," El Museo del Barrio, 1230 Fifth Avenue at 104th St,  We meet a 1 pm.  $60 per tour.

Our remaining tours for the Fall Season:
November 28 - El Museo del Barrio
December 5 - Private studio visit with Ellen K Levy
December 12 - Matisse at the Met.
December 19 - Bellows and Bernini at the Met
December 26 - Brooklyn Museum

Closing Soon:
The Duchamps, Francis Naumann Fine Arts, closing Friday, November 23.
This show is a must-see this season.  Here is the New York Times review
"Martha Rosler's Meta-Monumental Garage Sale," Museum of Modern Art, through November 30.

Closing in December:
Malcolm  D. MacDougall III, 287 Spring Gallery, through December 8
"Regarding Warhol: Sixty Artists, Fifty Years," Metropolitan Museum, through December 31

Closing in January:
Saika Hoisu, Japan Society, through January 6.
The Quay Brothers, Museum of Modern Art, through January 7
Rosemarie Trockel, New Museum, through January 20
Picasso Black and White, Guggenheim Museum, through January 23
"Mantegne to Matisse: Drawings from the Courtauld," Frick Museum, through January 27
"Faking It: Manipulated Photos before Photoshop," Met Museum, through January 27
Lin Tianmaio, Asia Society, through January 27.


Opening Thursday, December 13: Masako Inkyo's recent work at Onishi Gallery.
Look for an invitation soon.

Best wishes for the Holiday Season,
Beth

Beth S. Gersh-Nesic
Director
New York Arts Exchange
www.nyarts-exchange.com