Europe

Art dealers slam proposed European Union licence regulations: The European Union is considering stringent new import licence regulations on cultural goods over 250 years old in order to help fight the funding of terrorism through illicit trade. The proposal as it stands is being fiercely opposed by international dealer associations, whose lobbyists argue that it is ill thought out and will damage the market.

15.06.2018, The Art Newspaper: Art dealers slam proposed European Union licence regulations

Top experts dispute Italian police claims about seized ‘antiquities’: Last month, the Carabinieri unveiled a cache of antiquities seized from a Roman property developer, who now faces prosecution for possessing illegally excavated works. The objects, which include two Greek vases as well as a bull’s and a horse’s head, both in terracotta, are worth €900,000, the Carabinieri’s cultural protection squad says. However, five independent experts have questioned the objects’ authenticity.

19.06.2018, The Art Newspaper: Top experts dispute Italian police claims about seized ‘antiquities’

Beatrix Ruf, former Stedelijk Museum director, cleared of alleged conflicts of interest: Beatrix Ruf, the former director of Amsterdam’s Stedelijk Museum who resigned last October, has been cleared of alleged conflicts of interest in a report commissioned by the city council. Ruf stepped down after Dutch press reports suggested that her Swiss-registered private consultancy Currentmatters compromised the modern and contemporary art museum, which accepted works on loan from owners she advised.

13.06.2018, The Art Newspaper: Beatrix Ruf, former Stedelijk Museum director, cleared of alleged conflicts of interest

12.06.2018, Artnet: Embattled Former Stedelijk Director Beatrix Ruf Was Wrongly Accused, Says a New Report

12.06.2018, Artforum: NEW REPORT CLEARS FORMER STEDELIJK DIRECTOR BEATRIX RUF OF WRONGDOING

Rediscovered Canova ‘self-portrait’ of Giorgione which tricked art experts goes on offer in London for nearly £1m: A painting at the centre of a legendary art world hoax has been rediscovered after hundreds of years. The ‘self-portrait’ of Giorgione (c.1477-1510) is actually the work of the Neoclassical artist Antonio Canova (1757-1822), most famed for his marble sculpture. However, he painted the ‘portrait’ as part of an elaborate practical joke staged between him and his patron Senator Prince Abbondio Rezzonico.

14.06.2018, Antiques Trade Gazette: Rediscovered Canova ‘self-portrait’ of Giorgione which tricked art experts goes on offer in London for nearly £1m

Swiss galleries forge ahead despite the global squeeze: Swiss dealers have not been immune to the recent global squeeze on the middle market, with 50 galleries closing in the past five years, according to the Swiss Art Market Association. In a report published earlier this year, the organisation blamed unfavourable economic conditions in Europe and increased running costs, particularly at art fairs, as well as “the growing dominance of international auction houses and online sales”. But galleries at Art Basel and beyond are adapting—in some cases, by setting up new commercial initiatives.

14.06.2018, The Art Newspaper: Swiss galleries forge ahead despite the global squeeze

Newly discovered Michaelina Wautier painting added to first major show on Baroque’s forgotten female master: The discovery of a new work by the Baroque female artist Michaelina Wautier (1604-89) was announced this week, just over a fortnight after the opening of the first ever exhibition of the artist. The painting Everyone his fancy (Elk zijn meug, around 1655) turned up at the Van Ham Auction House in Cologne, where it had initially been consigned as being by the Flemish painter Jacob Van Oost.

20.06.2018, The Art Newspaper: Newly discovered Michaelina Wautier painting added to first major show on Baroque’s forgotten female master

French dealer awarded rights to Chinese artist T’ang Haywen’s work: The High Court in Paris has granted Philippe Koutouzi, a French art dealer based in Hong Kong, the ownership of the copyright to works by the Chinese-born artist T’ang Haywen (1927-91) in a decision at the end of February.

12.06.2018, The Art Newspaper: French dealer awarded rights to Chinese artist T’ang Haywen’s work

12.06.2018, Artforum: FRENCH DEALER GRANTED COPYRIGHTS TO LATE CHINESE ARTIST’S WORK

United States

Anish Kapoor Sues the NRA for Featuring ‘Cloud Gate’ as the Backdrop for a Pro-Gun Ad: Anish Kapoor is going after the National Rifle Association (NRA), filing a copyright infringement lawsuit in the US in response to a 2017 NRA ad featuring Cloud Gate, his famed public sculpture in Chicago’s Millennium Park.

20.06.2018, Artnet: Anish Kapoor Sues the NRA for Featuring ‘Cloud Gate’ as the Backdrop for a Pro-Gun Ad

20.06.2018, The Art Newspaper: Anish Kapoor sues NRA for copyright infringement

Getty says it will appeal Italian court order to return Victorious Youth: The J. Paul Getty Trust will appeal an Italian court’s order, issued on 8 June, directing it to turn over one of its key and long-contested antiquities: the Statue of a Victorious Youth, dating to the second or third century and one of the last remaining examples of ancient Greek bronze sculpture.

14.06.2018, The Art Newspaper: Getty says it will appeal Italian court order to return Victorious Youth

14.06.2018, Artnet: The Getty Will Fight to Keep the Victorious Youth in Los Angeles

13.06.2018, The New York Times: Italian Court Says the Getty’s Prized Ancient Bronze Should Be Seized

New York judge orders two Schiele works sent to Christie’s, where they could be auctioned: A New York judge has ordered that two watercolours by Egon Schiele that were seized at an art fair in 2015 be sent to Christie’s, from where they are due to be auctioned. The works, however, are at the centre of a restitution lawsuit.

12.06.2018, The Art Newspaper: New York judge orders two Schiele works sent to Christie’s, where they could be auctioned

11.06.2018, New York Law Journal: Judge Orders Nazi-Looted Paintings to Be Sent to Auction House

Shane Campbell Looks to File a $15 Million Class Action Lawsuit Against Frieze for ‘Unbearable’ Heat: One day after Frieze organizers sent an email to the nearly 200 exhibitors at its recent New York edition offering refunds of up to 10 percent due to the excessive temperatures in its bespoke tent, Shane Campbell fired back, saying, in effect, “not good enough.” A lawsuit filed by the Chicago gallery seeks a full refund of its fair costs. The claim, for which the plaintiffs hope to achieve class action status, requests judgment of $15 million, plus damages.

11.06.2018, Artnet: Shane Campbell Looks to File a $15 Million Class Action Lawsuit Against Frieze for ‘Unbearable’ Heat

World 

Banksy print snatched from Toronto show: Banksy’s work has always been hot property, with some eager collectors going to extremes to take his street art off public walls. Now the print Trolley Hunters has reportedly been snatched from a newly opened exhibition of his work in Toronto, The Art of Banksy (until 11 July), and police have opened an investigation into the alleged theft.

14.06.2018, The Art Newspaper: Banksy print snatched from Toronto show

15.06.2018, The Guardian: Banksy print stolen from unauthorized exhibit in Toronto

Contested Asante trophy head to shine in Wallace Gallery’s new room: The largest surviving gold work of art from Sub-Saharan Africa is to be highlighted in an exhibition at London’s Wallace Collection this month. The golden head from Ghana—nearly life-size and weighing three pounds—was seized by British troops during the Anglo-Asante (or Ashanti) war in 1874 and eventually became the subject of restitution claims.

18.06.2018, The Art Newspaper: Contested Asante trophy head to shine in Wallace Gallery’s new room

Indian supreme court verdict could spark new wave of sectarian riots between Hindus and Muslims: The newly elected president of a powerful Hindu organisation in India has threatened nationwide protests if the supreme court, which is currently hearing a highly contested case over the ownership of a site claimed by both Hindus and Muslims, issues a ruling that “goes against Hindus’ faith”. At the centre of the dispute is the pilgrimage town of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state and one of its poorest.

11.06.2018, The Art Newspaper: Indian supreme court verdict could spark new wave of sectarian riots between Hindus and Muslims