Cabinet of Curiosities

February 26, 2012

By Mary Jo Gibson

Several weeks have passed since my last Cabinet of Curiosities, a change in work environment and new responsibilities have filled my hours since January.  But I am happy to share that these events have cycled through and I am able to return and share a new cabinet and other changes that will be coming to my blog.

This Cabinet is from the Metropolitan Museum in New York, once owned by Dominique Vivant-Denon, director of the mint and the Musee Napoleon (now the Musee du Louvre), as well as a collector and arbiter of taste during the Napoleonic period.  He accompanied the Egyptian campaign of 1798-99 as a draftsman and published his drawings in 1802.  The pylon at Ghoos, in Upper Egypt, served as the model for the top section of this medal cabinet, which was intended for Napoleon but remained in Denon’s possession.

The front and back panels are inlaid with a silver scarab flanked by uraei (sacred serpents) on lotus stalks.  There are twenty two drawers on each side of the cabinet, all inlaid with a silver bee, and one wing is hinged to provide a pull.  Take a closer look at the craftsmanship to appreciate the beauty of this cabinet.

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John James Audubon

Opening the new Cabinet of Curiosities is the story of John James Audubon’s illustrated “Birds of America”, one of the largest books ever published.  Measuring three feet tall with 400 life size pictures of American bird species, this collection was purchased at auction for $7.9 million through Christie’s auction house.

John James Audubon, 1785-1851

To leaf through the pages of this literary treasure and view the life like illustrations is truly a connoisseur’s dream.   Audubon’s influence on ornithology and natural history was far reaching.  Later ornithological works were inspired by his artistry and high standards.  Charles Darwin quoted Audubon three times in “On the Origin of Species” and in later works.  His significant contribution to the understanding of bird anatomy and behavior is still the highest standard for comparison to date.

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Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allen Poe, 1809-1849

Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) is remembered as a novelist, editor and poet, but in his day, it was conchology that helped pay the bills.  While living in Philadelphia  during 1838, Poe took on the most unusual project of his literary career, acting as a writer for hire to his neighbor, Thomas Wyatt.  The idea was that Poe’s recognizable name on the title page of Wyatt’s edition of Thomas Brown’s “Conchologist’s Text Book” would spur sales.  Poe, who was paid $50 for his efforts, contributed to the preface and introduction.  Wyatt contributed most of the scientific detail (unattributed)  and Brown the bulk of the text (unattributed).  This led to years of mistaken claims that Poe had plagiarized his only published work in the natural sciences.  It was the only one of his works to enjoy a second edition during his lifetime.

Mr. Poe will be the subject of a new movie starring John Cusack, The Raven, a fictionalized account of his final days.  Perhaps the film will renew interest in the career of this celebrated author.

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The Louvre

“Street in Cairo” was part of an 1889 Universal Exhibition at the Louvre, a spectacular project reconstructing architectural elements from houses and monuments of style.   Organized by Baron Alphonse Delort de Gleon (1849-1899), a resident of Egypt for more than thirty years, the Mamluk porch was disassembled and transported by boat from Port Said to Le Havre in order to be included in the exhibition.  The four meter high porch could not be reassembled due to the project’s technical complexity and has remained hidden in the storage of the Louvre for more than 100 years.

The Mashrabiya with stained glass panels comes from the private home of Edmond de Rothschild, who had a Moorish smoking room installed in his Paris mansion.  These wooden elements were very popular in the Ottoman period, located on the facades of the upper floors of wealthy Cairo homes. The stained glass panels are adorned with floral motifs typical of the Ottoman period, tulips, carnations and irises.  Several are from the collection amassed by Baron de Gleon during his time in Cairo.

If these architectural elements are what is to be found in the storage rooms of the Louvre, one wonders what other masterpieces are hidden away, and what stories are waiting to be discovered.

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Walters Art Museum

These lacquered doors come from Iran, produced between 1850-1910, are found at the Walters Art Museum.  Decorated with ornamental, floral and figural motifs that recall the 17^th century Safavid period designs; including men and women from the court, banquet and hunting scenes, animals in combat, and fantastic creatures.  One of the male figures in the lower border of the right door is dressed in Portuguese clothing, demonstrating Iran’s contact with Western cultures in the 17^th century.

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Stearns Collection

A collection of musical instruments that spans centuries and continents, worth an estimated $25 million, are packed and stacked in an out of the way storage room with water stained ceilings.  Not the environment envisioned for them when Frederick Stearns gave the University of Michigan the base of the collection more than a century ago with instructions they be exhibited – not invisible.

“The collection has been in a holding pattern for 112 years.  This is a national treasure – it deserves the dignity of either being properly housed, or dispersed in such a way that it could be,” says Steven Ball, director of the Stearns Collection of Musical Instruments.

17th century book of Gregorian chants

Last seen prior to their removal from Hill Auditorium in 1974, the 2,500+ instruments are finally on display again-digitally.  More than 12,000 color photographs are available online in a searchable catalog offering a plethora of never before seen information.    May aficionados and researchers make this unique collection viable again through the digital nomenclature.

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Leonardo Live

I was fortunate to view Leonardo da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan from the National Gallery as a new digital feature at my local theater.  Unable to travel to London, presenting an art show in this medium is a great way to experience the retrospective.  Given the popularity of ballet, opera and symphony performances in high definition theater viewing, this expansion for the arts provides a new revenue stream for museums, bringing a world-wide audience to see these historical paintings.

While I was disappointed the supporting works displayed in the gallery were not shown, the movie centered on the seven paintings featured at the museum.   As the first of what are many more exhibitions to be featured in theaters, I can only hope for better writing and more historical context.  I did learn a bit about Leonardo and his work habits, and a few historical references to his patrons, but I came away with the feeling that the best information had been rejected in favor of interviews with guests.

Christ as Salvator Mundi

The most intriguing aspect of the show is the newly attributed “Christ as Salvator Mundi.”  A proportionate amount of time was spent on comparison with the other paintings, and I found myself agreeing that Leonardo had been involved in the process of this image.  The hands in particular have a grace found in other da Vinci paintings; but to me, the eyes are not by the same hand.  As discussed at length in the movie, Leonardo habitually failed to finish paintings; often completion was only accomplished through his workshop of trained artists.  Leonardo was an industrious individual, producing war machines for Cesare Borgia; a musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist and writer; his work habits are well documented as he moved through the subjects that interested him at the moment.  I invite your comments on comparison of this image to other Leonardo works in the space provided below.

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Thank you for joining me again for my feature, Cabinet of Curiosities.  My site statistics during my absence tell me that history and art are a constant interest to many individuals.  Continuing this dialogue and introducing forgotten artisans to the digital world is my passion.  I will be updating with a Museum Monday, returning again to my regular format now that life has calmed from the recent storm.

Cheers,

Mary Jo

Cabinet of Curiosities

January 6, 2012
By Mary Jo Gibson

Domenico Benotti of Florence, Italy designed this week’s cabinet in 1644; the subject includes ‘Orpheus Playing to the Beasts’ with figures of Juno, Hercules and Jupiter.  John Evelyn, who traveled extensively through France and Italy during the English Civil War, purchased the cabinet.  While in Florence, he ordered the pietra dura plaques directly from Benotti, who was then considered one of the ‘celebrated masters’ of design.  Arriving in England, the cabinet was housed in Dover Street, London, and after Evelyn’s death in 1706, it moved to his country residence, Wotton House in Surrey.

An interesting side note, John Evelyn’s diaries were discovered in an ebony cabinet at Wotton House, in 1813.

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JMW Turner, The Vaughan Bequest
The Piazzetta, Venice

A bolt of lightning flashes across the sky above the Piazzetta viewed from the Grand Canal, illuminating the Doge’s Palace, a dome of St. Mark’s and the arcade of the Marciana Library.  The first patron saint of Venice, St. Theodore and the winged lion of St. Mark tower above people running for cover from the rain.  During his second visit to Venice in 1833, Turner painted the drama of the storm and the beauty of the Piazzetta while scraping off and rubbing paint into the paper’s white surface.

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Race Against Time at the Tate

The Tate Museum has launched an iPhone game where players travel through the history of modern art foiling an evil villain’s plan to remove all the color from the world.  Race Against Time, created by Somethin’ Else, challenges players to defeat Dr. Greyscale as they travel through the major art movements of 1890 to the present day.  Bringing art to new audiences who are interested in a playful experience rather than cultural institutions is the aim of the museum.  The game is available free from the App Store.

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Hatchlands by Neil Fuller

Desktop Calendar from the National Trust

The National Trust released its 2012 desktop calendar with images drawn from their photography competition.  Each month has a theme and is available for free download in several image sizes.  The January picture shows the community kitchen garden of the Hatchlands Estate in Surrey, known as the Grace and Flavor Garden.

This 18th century mansion was built for Admiral Edward Boscawen, hero of the Battle of Louisburg, and his wife Fanny, a prolific letter writer and early member of the Blue-stocking society.  Designed by neo-classical architect, Robert Adam, it is one of his earliest commissions.  At over 400 acres, Hatchlands is one of the largest country estates within the green belt surrounding greater London.  The mansion is set on informal grounds, partly landscaped by Humphrey Repton, with a small parterre garden designed by Gertrude Jekyll.

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Bridgeman Collection in Book Cover Art

Publishers have taken advantage of the Bridgeman’s cultural image resource for a myriad of book covers.  From educational to classic literature, modern fiction and coffee table art books, a diverse range of images from the spectrum of art history capture the imaginations of readers of the thrilling tales and visual splendor that lie within.

Every month the Bridgeman creates new features that highlight the archive.  Character sketches from the stories of Charles Dickens, the Race to the South Pole, and an in-depth study of Renoir’s ‘Luncheon of the Boating Party’ are available on their main page.

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Teaching Galileo? Get to know Riccioli!

Christopher Graney at Jefferson Community and Technical College in Louisville, KY has posted an in-depth teaching guide to a forgotten member of the scientific community; while Galileo is called the “Father of Physics”, who has heard of one of his most ardent critics, Giovanni Battista Riccioli (1598-1671).  Riccioli mapped the moon establishing the modern system of lunar nomenclature, a Catholic priest and member of the Jesuits, known for his experiments with pendulums and with falling bodies such as lead and wooden balls.

Riccioli described himself as a theologian, but one with a strong and ongoing interest in astronomy.  His enthusiasm for astronomy was one he could not extinguish, officially assigned to the task of astronomical research, he built an observatory in Bologna at the College of St. Lucia.  He collaborated with others in his work, including Grancesco Maria Grimaldi (1618-1663) and keep voluminous correspondence with others who shared his interests such as Hevelius, Huygens, Cassini and Kircher.  Louis XIV awarded Riccioli a prize in recognition of all his activities and relevance to contemporary culture.

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Before restoration

Salvaged – Restoring the Sirens and Ulysses

The Manchester Art Gallery has an ambitious restoration project currently documented on their web page, The Sirens and Ulysses by William Etty.  Exhibited by the Royal Society in 1837, the subject of Homer’s Odyssey, Etty researched the subject matter thoroughly, even studying corpses for the figures of the dead sailors.

Bought unseen by Daniel Grant in a deal over dinner, paying about 250 pounds, he soon gave the picture to his brother William, who presented it to the Royal Manchester Institution in 1839.  It was exhibited in the “Art Treasures of the United Kingdom” in 1857, soon after going in to long term storage, the condition of the painting considered “too poor” for display.

Deteriorating for nearly 200 years, Etty’s experimental technique meant the picture began to fall apart as soon as it was painted.  Converting gallery space into a public conservation studio, the Manchester began the restoration process with visitors able to watch.  Now fully restored and back in the original frame, the painting is on permanent display.

After restoration

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Photoshopping Edward VIII

When Edward VIII abdicated in 1936, he had already posed for his Coronation picture for the Illustrated London News.  Drawn in advance of the ceremony for a special edition of the News, but discreetly shelved when he gave up the throne, the picture recently emerged from the archives of the magazine.

The painting of the king before he was formally crowned came from the Royal artist of the day, Albert H. Collings.  Instead of a new painting for his successor George VI, the artist simply painted over the face.

Edward sat for the portrait wearing the Imperial Robe of purple velvet, the cape of ermine and silk worn at the conclusion of the ceremony on the exit from Westminster Abbey.  Edward became King in January 1936 on the death of his father, George V, but was not due to be formally crowned until May 1937.  Torn between his love for Wallis Simpson and the crown, he eventually abdicated.

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Locating London’s Past

Launched at the end of 2011, Locating London’s Past is an interactive website using the overlay of historical data onto maps of the city.  Allowing the amateur access to research methods in the expanding field of digital tools that would previously involve multiple trips to the library.

The website uses two historical maps, the standard by John Rocque from 1746 and the first accurate map from 1869, both rendered in astonishing detail.  Datasets include a wide range of subjects: parish registers, plague deaths, tax records, court sessions from the Old Bailey, and archaeological records from the Museum of London.

Plague map of City of London, 1666

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Oxford Dictionaries

Looking to expand your vocabulary or add some color to your written words?  The Oxford Dictionaries has a wonderful blog, and the recent post on eponyms will show you just how simple it is to create a new world with just a few words.  Using slang or historical verbiage, the links between real life and the English language become a connection point.  Orwellian to Darwinian, Guinness or Pimms, allow descriptives to make these connections between words and people.  Known by the name or the originator, eponyms have become generic descriptors for everyday objects-sufficiently well known to pass into everyday speech and subsequently into language dictionaries.

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Thank you for joining me for this week’s Cabinet of Curiosities!   If you have any comments or suggestions of interesting sites, please feel free to mention them in section below.  I will see you next week for Museum Monday.

Cheers!

MJ