News in Brief – including an Old Master self-portrait blocked from export

The 17th century Pier Francesco (il Morazzone) work subject to a temporary UK export bar.

22 Aug 2022

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Lombard knight UK export on hold

A 17th century Lombard painting has been blocked from leaving the UK in the hope an institution can raise the £2m to keep it here.

Self-Portrait as a Knight, with a horse, an easel with painter’s palette and a page by Pier Francesco (il Morazzone) was offered at Bonhams in 2020 with an estimate £40,000-60,000 but was withdrawn and sold privately.

The current owner applied for an export licence but the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), on advice of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest, has placed a temporary export block which runs until November 8.

It is an example of Lombard art, which has its origins in Lombardy in northern Italy during the early 17th century and remains a relatively unexplored field in art history. It is the only known surviving self-portrait by the Lombard baroque painter.

According to DCMS, a work by il Morazzone is rare outside northern Italy and this painting was presumed lost until its appearance on the London art market at Bonhams.

Duo join up with Catherine Southon

Catherine Southon Auctioneers has appointed two new members of staff. Joining the team based in Chislehurst (the firm holds its sales at the Farleigh Gold Club, Surrey) are valuer Hans Pugh and office manager Joanne Barber.

Pugh started his career with Sotheby’s in 1994, working in its Bond Street galleries, in Baden Baden (working on the 15-day house sale) and latterly as a furniture and works of art cataloguer at Sotheby’s Sussex and Sotheby’s Olympia. He later worked as a dealer and freelance valuer.

Barber previously worked at Sotheby’s Bond Street, and Bonhams in both New York and San Francisco.

LAPADA role has members in mind

LAPADA, The Association of Art & Antiques Dealers, has appointed a new membership and marketing officer, Talia Kozielek.

Following a degree at The Courtauld Institute of Art, Kozielek has worked in both galleries and at a digital art business. The role is a newly expanded position, supporting the marketing and communications activities of LAPADA as well as leading initiatives to grow and look after the membership.

Game fair delay

LAPADA has put on hold its involvement with The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) Welsh Game Fair.

The association had been due to make its debut at the event this September, creating a LAPADA Village featuring dealers in fine art, furniture, jewellery and antiquities.

Meanwhile, it has confirmed a strong re-booking rate at the summer edition of The Game Fair in Warwickshire, which takes place during the summer.

Packed programme from BADA Friends

Tom Edwards, managing director of Abbott and Holder which BADA Friends will be visiting as part of its autumn events.

BADA Friends has announced its autumn events calendar.

Among the highlights is a day in Bloomsbury visiting works on paper specialist Abbott and Holder and The British Museum.

Other events include tours of Charleston, home of the painters Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant, Turner’s House and the Kennel Club.

A military jewellery masterclass at Armoury of St James’s and another event hosted by David Foord-Brown Antiques are part of BADA Week.

Several online talks take place on subjects such as the unfinished Victorian home Woodchester Mansion and the Kroller Muller Museum.

Finally, there is a Young Friends drinks on September 20 at Reindeer Antiques.

More information on booking and membership is available on bada.org

In Numbers

The number of years since Sotheby’s last held an auction in Singapore. While it has since held selling exhibitions in the city state, on August 28 it will hold a sale of 50 Modern and Contemporary artworks by Asian and international artists. The overall estimate for the sale is in the region of Sin$18m/$10m.

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