Vincent Van Gogh\’s cypress trees to be celebrated at The Metropolitan Museum of Art; Insights from Art world

A SUMMARY OF THE MOST EXCITING ART NEWS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE

While we focus on Indian art, we can’t obviously function in a vacuum. It’s a small world and everything is connected, especially on the web. So, let’s train our spotlight across the world map to see what’s going on — from art trends to socio-political issues to everything that affects the great aesthetic global consciousness. Or, let’s just travel the world and have some fun!

Antiquities worth $24 million seized from Met Trustee

U.S. authorities have seized Greek and Roman antiquities from Shelby White, a New York philanthropist who sits on the board of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.The group of artifacts recovered as part of the seizure are estimated to be worth $20 million. More than 20 works of art were recovered from White’s residence. According to a statement from White’s representative, Fraser Seitel, she is cooperating with the probe and has agreed to repatriate the items to their originating countries, Italy and Turkey. The works include a monumental bronze statue of Roman emperor Lucius Verus that was originally found in Turkey. Details on The Art Newspaper.

Vincent Van Gogh\’s cypress trees to be celebrated at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York revealed it will hold a landmark exhibition of works by Vincent van Gogh next year focused on the sinuous cypresses that dominated the Dutch artist’s compositions in the last years of his life in the South of France, from his first sightings of them at Arles to works he made at the asylum at Saint Rémy. The major exhibition—which will be on view from 22 May until 27 August 2023—is one of several shows worldwide commemorating the 170th anniversary of Van Gogh’s birth next year, but the first ever to closely examine the distinctive trees that became emblematic motifs of his work. The cypresses are the “most famous trees in art history”, which Van Gogh captured with “fierce power and expression, painting them in such a distinct manner”, the Met’s director Max Hollein said in a press conference today (6 December). Read more on The New York Times.

US campaign group sues Smithsonian over returning Benin Bronzes

The New York–based organization Restitution Study Group (RSG) is spearheading a lawsuit against the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. to stop the return of the museum’s 29 Benin bronzes to Nigeria. The group argues that returning the bronzes denies the descendants of enslaved people in America the chance to experience their heritage. On October 11, ownership of the 29 pieces was legally transferred from the Smithsonian to the Nigerian Commission for Museums and Monuments, while nine items are to remain on long-term loan at the Smithsonian. Read more on Art news.