NGA - Pompeii and Lievens

Fellow Alexandria dealers and appraisers Angela and Maurice Silverman recently visited the National Gallery of Arts Pompeii and Lievens exhibits.

Angela reports the following on the two exhibits:

A very mini review of two don’t-miss shows now at the National Gallery of Art, Washington DC. Appraiser Workshops has already written of the Lievens show (Oct 27 blog), and maybe Pompeii, as well. Dates & times are available at www.nga.gov.

Maurice & I spent time at each of these withing the past two weeks. They are both WORTH SEEING -- an understatement; equal parts enlightening, fascinating, pleasureable and a visual feast. Both are rich with insights into the things appraisers encounter.

Some highlights from Pompeii : Silver vessels documented to the first century CE, with borders which are dead ringers (and obvious models) for American early 19th century holloware. 2000 year old gold jewelry and Victorian copies/interpretations. Greek 400 BC marbles, Roman 50 CE copies, and some with 18th century additions. Much more.

Lievens

: He and Rembrandt were young artists together, when the Dutch, enriched by East Indies trade, were ablaze with art and decoration, cross-polinated by Spanish overlords bringing treasures and news from the just-discovered America, and fertilized by the new-born enlightenment. The influences (Caravaggio was one) that swept Holland and Lievens successively through the 1500’s. Because they were young artists working together, Lievens and Rembrandt posed for each other, and this show includes a number of views of Rembrandt as a young man -- we’ve all seen his self-portraits; interesting to see him through another artist’s eyes.

Thanks for the good work, Appraiser Workshops team...Maurice & I read your postings regularly, although we haven’t responded before.

Angela Silverman, GG, ISA AM, Silverman Galleries