UN loot expert to examine British Museum collection

Museum extends invite following appointment of Sir Mark Jones as Director

Sep 08, 2023

Also in this edition: Monet masterpieces at Courtauld; viewing platform reopens at Tate Modern, Guernica photo ban lifted, Venice entry charge, Theresa May portrait praised

Happy Friday.

Patience is very much a much virtue. Or at least, a time saver in the long run.

Tate Modern released the final drop of Yayoi Kusama tickets this week, to suprisingly little fanfare. The reason became clear: the demand has clearly fizzled. Seven months of tickets were released, but 24 hours on, barely any days — let alone time slots — have sold out. It’s a stark contrast to previous releases that saw near 90,000 people in online queues willing to snap them up.

None of this is of course unexpected. When it closes in April, Infinity Mirror Rooms will have been on show for three years. A very good run for an art display by any feasible benchmark.

So if you haven’t seen these insta-friendly installations yet, now’s your chance. Not only do you get to pick the day and time of your choosing (rather than picking up any remaining scraps), you have also saved hours of your life by avoiding the online bunfight.

And my advice? Keep that spirit going by avoiding the first Mirror Room in the Tate exhibition. It’s rubbish.

Now onto the news!

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Need To Know

Sir Mark starts

Sir Mark Jones has officially been appointed Interim Director of the British Museum following approval by the UK government this week. He vowed to “restore the reputation” of the museum in the wake of the ongoing theft scandal, adding he was pleased to be able “to ensure the future security of the collections.”

Chair of Trustees, George Osborne, said Jones’ “experience, grip and deep knowledge are exactly what’s needed, and I very much look forward to working together.” New images of Jones and Osbourne at the museum were released by PA to announce his appointment. (Read more)

The news comes as it’s revealed the British Museum has invited a UN expert to audit its collection for looted artefacts. Dr Christos Tsirogiannis, an international specialist in antiquities and trafficking networks has had his invitation to inspect the ancient collections for illicitly traded items accepted. The Telegraph reports that this only happened this week after Sir Mark’s appointment, and that his initial approach to the previous Director Hartwig Fischer went unanswered. If Tsirogiannis discovers any artefact with alleged links to smugglers or notorious dealers, he said he will notify the relevant authorities in the countries of origin as well as the museum. (Read more)

Museums, assemble!

The National Gallery of Ireland, the Ulster Museum, and the National Galleries Scotland are teaming up for a landmark exhibition on modern Irish master Sir John Lavery which will tour the three venues from this autumn.

Dublin is the first stop for Lavery. On Location and its 70 paintings. Remarkably, it’ll be the first major solo exhibition in the National Gallery of Ireland in three decades. A Garden in France (1898) which they have newly acquired will be a highlight. The show will focus on key destinations from Lavery’s art, from Scotland to Palm Springs, Spain to Switzerland.

Speaking to maxwell museums to mark the show’s announcement, curator Dr Brendan Rooney said “Given the high regard in which Lavery is held in his native Ulster, and in Scotland, where he spent his adolescence and established himself as an artist, it made sense to work with the Ulster Museum and the National Galleries of Scotland.” He added that working with the other venues “represented a reunion of friends.” (Read more)

News from the UK

Claude Monet( 1840–1926), Houses ofParliament, Sunset, 1900–1903 Hasso Plattner Collection

Monet Thames masterpieces | Monet’s extraordinary and evocative views of the river in London will be one of the highlights of next year’s exhibition programme at the Courtauld Gallery. It’ll be the first ever UK exhibition dedicated to his ‘Thames series.’ Other 2024 highlights include Henry Moore’s Shelter drawings, a display of Vanessa Bell work, and a major show on Frank Auerbach’s charcoal portraits. (Read more)

Tate reopens platform | It’s been shut for well over three years, but finally Tate Modern have reopened their viewing platform. It’s not a full reopening however, as one side is still off-limits after owners of nearby luxury flats won a privacy case against the gallery. But at least the extraordinary views of the renamed ‘Level 10’ can be enjoyed again. Just a shame Tate didn’t proofread their ‘no photo’ signs. (Read more)

East taps Ace | Tamsin Ace has been appointed the first Director of East Bank, London’s developing cultural quarter at the Olympic Park. Part of the remit will be helping to make the new V&A East a success. Speaking to this newsletter after her first week in the job, she said it’s been a rollercoaster few days but that “it’s been great to meet new people” who are “genuinely excited about the opportunities” East Bank will bring. “My step count has definitely increased working from multiple desks” she told me. (Read more)

PM portrait praised | A new portrait of former prime minister Theresa May has been unveiled in Parliament — and it’s been met with suprising approval. The picture was painted by artist Saied Dai and will eventually hang in Portcullis House, Parliament’s office complex. The Telegraph called it “impressive” while a Guardian columnist suggested it was “so appealing it makes me forgive her faults – almost.” (Read more)

News from around the world

Netherlands | A van Gogh masterpiece not seen in public for over 40 years is going on show in a new exhibition on the Dutch master. 1883’s Landscape with a Farm is a colourful watercolour depicting the Dutch terrain. It’s been in the possession of a Canadian private collection, but will be seen again from Monday. It’s the highlight of the first ever exhibition on Van Gogh's stay in northern Netherlands, opening at the Drents Museum. (Read more)

Poland | Museum professionals have reacted with dismay to the dismissal of the director of Warsaw’s Asia and Pacific Museum. Joanna Wasilewska was fired by regional politicians for alleged financial irregularities. Wasilewska strenuously denies this, saying the move was politically motivated ahead of national elections. Belgium’s head of the Museum for Central Africa called it a “shameful move.” (Read more)

Italy | Venice will trial charging €5 to enter the Italian city’s historic centre in an attempt to reduce tourist numbers. Residents, and tourists staying overnight will be exempt. It comes weeks after Unesco recommended Venice be added to its list of world heritage sites in danger, in part due to the impact of mass tourism. The mayor said regulating day-trippers was “necessary.” (Read more)

Spain | For decades visitors were forbidden to photograph Picasso’s masterpiece Guernica. But now that ban has been quietly lifted by the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid. The change in rules was one of the first decisions taken by Manuel Segade, the museum’s new director, who said it didn’t “make sense for Guernica not to have the iconicity it deserves.” (Read more)

Best of the rest

Four-decade restoration | It’s taken 37 years, but finally the major repair programme to restore Salisbury Cathedral has been finished. Work began in 1986. It means rooftops and parapets accessible for decades due to scaffolding will go undisturbed once more. (More)

Culture of Opposition | Thangam Debbonaire has been appointed the UK's shadow culture secretary as part of a reshuffle carried out by Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the opposition Labour Party. (More)

Warhol’s textiles unveiled | The first exhibition devoted to Andy Warhol’s work in textiles to ever be staged in Scotland will open next year. Over 60 "lost" textiles travel to Edinburgh after a run in London’s Fashion and Design Museum. (More)

Want it all | The first day of Sotheby’s auction of Freddie Mercury’s possessions smashed its £4.8m-£7.2m expectations, making £12.2m. It followed a month-long presale viewing that attracted 140,000 visitors. (More)

Unearthed in Arran | A Neolithic monument used for ancient ceremonies has been discovered on the Isle of Arran. Archaeologists believe it to be the only complete monument of its kind in Britain and could date back to 3500 BC. (More)

By royal appointment | V&A Chair and magazine supremo Sir Nicholas Coleridge has been appointed by the King as the new Chair of Historic Royal Palaces, who look after sites such as the Tower of London and Hampton Court Palace. (More)

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