"A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit over insurance payments for five artworks destroyed in a 2022 house fire in west Michigan, among them three paintings by the French impressionist Claude Monet collectively worth more than $45 million." - MLive (Michigan)
The company is called Full Colour Black and it sells cards emblazoned with images of street art, including works by Banksy. Its owner, Andrew Gallagher, argues that the artist has failed to use his “Banksy” trademark. As a result, he’s calling for it to be cancelled for “non-use.” - Artnet
"A wealth of Neoclassicist art has joined the holdings of the Art Institute of Chicago via collectors Jeffrey and Carol Horvitz, who have gifted the museum around 2,250 works of French art made between the 16th and 19th centuries." - ARTnews
"Ashraf Omar Eldarir, 52, … pleaded guilty on Monday to smuggling hundreds of precious artifacts, including ancient Egyptian talismans, gold amulets and a sculpture with the carving of a king from the Ptolemaic dynasty." - The New York Times
"A video capturing the incident shows the individual jumping onto the altar, removing the altar cloth, and kicking six gold candle holders. The candelabras damaged are worth roughly $31,000." The culprit was apprehended and turned over by the Vatican to Italian police. - ARTnews
“For two decades, a crew from Lackawanna County in Pennsylvania traveled to a dozen small museums across the country, where its ringleader smashed through security systems to strip them of art and precious memorabilia.” - The New York Times
Art students at the University of Wolverhampton aren’t happy with the plan. “Yes, it can get a bit cold in the winter and some double glazing would be nice, but any replacement would never match the spirit that this building offers.” - The Guardian (UK)
The Romanian government says the Saint Sebastian is “part of its national art collection was removed from the country in 1947. That year, the country’s last king, Michael I, went into exile after being forced from power by Communist forces.” - The New York Times
Hockney would take friends “on a ‘Wagner Drive,’ something he devised as an opera-loving motorist. He’d drive up through Malibu Canyon to Mulholland Drive and then west to Decker Canyon, where he would time the turns and crests to the crescendos of the classical composition.” - Los Angeles Times (MSN)
While India’s grandest state museum project of the 21st century forges ahead, crucial details remain unknown to both the public, as well as some of India’s leading museum figures. These include the proposed budget, plans for the current National Museum building and provisions to safeguard its collection. - The Art Newspaper
According to the report, employee confidence is low (scoring 51.2 out of 100), reflecting “growing concerns about job security and advancement opportunities”. Hence around half of respondents (35.7% of men and 64.3% of women) are actively seeking a new job. - The Art Newspaper
In addition to the layoffs, officials said that senior leadership will take salary cuts of 10 to 20 percent; the annual number of exhibitions would be reduced to an average of nine from an average of 12; and weeknight events with low attendance or inconsistent funding would be canceled. - The New York Times
"We charge tourists to visit Westminster Abbey, a West End musical or the National Theatre. What’s so different, morally or culturally, about charging for entry to the Tate galleries — especially when they are millions of pounds in the red?" - The Times
"Architect and philanthropist Fernando Romero purchased La Cuadra San Cristóbal, a historic, hot pink estate on the outskirts of Mexico City last year though his nonprofit, Fundación Fernando Romero, and will open it to the public this fall." - Artnet
The painting, which depicts the martyrdom of St. Sebastian, had been in the collection of the Romanian monarchy. The country's postwar government "allegedly" had "transferred" the work to the deposed King Michael, who sold it in 1976; Romania's current government maintains that it is still national property. - Artnet
