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Secessions: Klimt, Stuck, Liebermann at the Wien Museum

Secessions: Klimt, Stuck, Liebermann at the Wien Museum

Following its appearance at the Alte Nationalgalerie in Berlin in 2023, the exhibition “Secessions: Klimt, Stuck, Liebermann” will be shown at the newly reopened Wien Museum from May 23 until October 13, 2024

Source: Wien Museum · Image: Gustav Klimt, “Palas Atenea” (detail), 1898

The term Secession relates to an important chapter in art history at the dawn of modernism, and is directly associated with Gustav Klimt in Vienna, Franz von Stuck in Munich, and Max Liebermann in Berlin.

The establishment of Secessions in many European countries in the late 19th century symbolized a break with the prevailing artistic institutions. Rejecting the traditional structures of public subsidies and systems of exhibitions whose juries imposed the criteria of traditional art academies, secessionist artists aspired to freedom. Their objective was vibrancy, and a diversity of forms of artistic expression with an international orientation – a precondition for the emergence of artistic modernism.

The exhibition focuses on the overarching nature of these new ideas in Munich, Vienna, and Berlin. They transformed a formerly academic system into an artist-driven scene characterized by new exhibition formats and novel locations. The changes also resulted in a new relationship between artists, collectors, dealers, and critics.

The exhibition combines modern masterpieces with a new account of Central European modernism at the intersection of local specificity and international significance.

Mary Magdalene: Raphael’s Forgotten Masterpiece Valued at 300 Million Euros

Exhibition of Raphael’s forgotten masterpiece “Mary Magdalene”
Mary-Magdalene, Raphael, circa 1505

Raphael’s “Mary Magdalene” raised more than 200,000 euros in a month.


By Hervé Montois and Nathalie Popis Gadeau

Today marks the end of the exhibition of Raphael’s forgotten masterpiece, “Mary Magdalene,” organized by the Department of Var with support from the Ministry of Culture. Exhibited since April 20 in the Sacristy of the Basilica of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, the third most significant tomb in Christianity after those in Jerusalem and Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome, where Mary Magdalene’s tomb is located. Mary Magdalene is considered the apostle to the apostles of Christ.

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More than 80,000 visitors from all over the world came to admire this highly secured masterpiece, which generated incredible enthusiasm. This number represents four times the population of this town in Var, located 15 minutes from the main residence of actor George Clooney.


The work is currently estimated to be worth between 300 and 350 million euros.


Exhibition of Raphael’s forgotten masterpiece “Mary Magdalene”
Exhibition of Raphael’s forgotten masterpiece “Mary Magdalene”

Admission was 3 euros, benefiting the Basilica. The owners aimed to help restore this magnificent 13th-century Gothic monument and share the work with the public. The emotional impact was profound, with the portrait’s finesse and incredible gentleness. People have described the painting as “More beautiful than the Mona Lisa… The Mona Lisa of Raphael.” The public was deeply moved by its grace and beauty.

In the presence of Vice-President for Culture Serge Loudes, Director of Culture of the Var Department Ricardo Vasquez, several mayors of neighboring towns, and the President of the Friends of the Basilica association, Françoise Sur, this unique exhibition was organized by Vesselina Garello, advisor of the Var Department. It featured a “Sound and Light” show on Saturday, May 18, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. inside the Basilica.

Exhibition of Raphael’s forgotten masterpiece “Mary Magdalene”
Exhibition of Raphael’s forgotten masterpiece “Mary Magdalene”

A candle-lit path led to the work installed near the central Altar, accompanied by an organ performance by Tristan Faustt, a very talented musician specializing in exhibitions. Under a starry vault, the fusion of electronic music with the bieral sounds and the masterpiece evoked many emotions.

The President of the Var Department, Mr. Renaud Muselier of the Renaissance political party, pledged to work with the government to make this initiative an example to follow and to spread it throughout France.

Exhibition of Raphael’s forgotten masterpiece “Mary Magdalene”

The exhibition of a work of art in a place of worship is a first in France and aligns with the policy set by the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, who announced a plan to safeguard religious heritage in September 2023. Raphael’s “Mary Magdalene” raised more than 200,000 euros in a month, and the city’s businesses saw their turnover increase considerably, which is spectacular.

Without being desecrated, churches could in the future serve other purposes and become places where art and beauty shine.

A scientific publication will soon appear in Open Science “ART ET SCIENCE,” entitled “Mary Magdalene, the Forgotten Work of Raphael.” The authors are Dr. Stefano Fortunati, an expert in ancient documents who discovered Raphael’s “Mary Magdalene” in the archives of the states of Florence, in the collection of the Duke of Urbino; Nathalie Nolde, an art historian at the Chantilly Cultural Center and art restorer; and Professor Emeritus scientist Jean-Charles Pomerol.

Exhibition of Raphael’s forgotten masterpiece “Mary Magdalene”

Another version of this painting exists in the Palatine Gallery, attributed without factual basis to the painter Perugino. Historical research and scientific imagery provided by the restoration service of the Uffizi Museum revealed that it is a copy of Raphael’s work.


Also Read

Raffaello Sanzio’s Mary Magdalene has been Found!


The World Art News (WAN) is not liable for the content of this publication. All statements and views expressed herein are opinions only. Act at your own risk. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission. © The World Art News

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Salvator Mundi Museum of Art Acquires Peculiar Mechanical Bank Linked to Da Vinci’s Masterpiece | VIDEO

© Salvator Mundi Museum of Art

The Salvator Mundi Museum of Art is thrilled to announce its recent acquisition of a never-before-seen mechanical metal bank linked to the iconic Salvator Mundi painting attributed to Leonardo da Vinci. The painting made global headlines in 2017 by becoming the world’s most expensive artwork when it sold at auction for a staggering $450 million. The extraordinarily novel mechanical bank gained public attention when it surfaced and was acquired at this year’s Ponchatoula Antique Trade Day flea market, as reported by local Louisiana press outlets in early April.

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Upon realizing its potential significance, the original Ponchatoula buyer reached out to several antique experts and art institutions specializing in the area, including the Salvator Mundi Museum, seeking assistance in unraveling the object’s origins.

© Salvator Mundi Museum of Art

Although initial research was inconclusive, the speculation and intrigue surrounding the item’s history and creation—ranging from a contemporary artist’s clever April Fool’s joke to a rare da Vinci original—has added an intriguing new layer to the legacy of the Renaissance genius known for his groundbreaking inventions centuries ahead of his time.

Resembling the antique mechanical banks commonly found from 1870 to around 1910, the enigmatic bank features a unique mechanism. Placing a coin in the figure’s left palm and pressing the lever at the back causes Jesus’s right arm to make a blessing motion as the coin drops into the bank’s base. It is unknown whether religious commentary was intended.

© Salvator Mundi Museum of Art

Dabora Choi, Director of Curatorial Affairs for the Salvator Mundi Museum, expressed immediate interest in this unique discovery. “We are exceptionally fortunate and honored to add the Salvator Mundi mechanical bank to our collection. Regardless of its ultimate origin, it stands as a testament to human ingenuity and artistic innovation,” said Choi.

The Museum plans to unveil this captivating historical object in an upcoming summer exhibition, celebrating its connection to the world-renowned Salvator Mundi painting.

© Salvator Mundi Museum of Art

In conjunction with this acquisition, the Museum is delighted to announce the production of a limited edition of working bronze copies of the mechanical bank. These meticulously crafted renditions, numbered and authorized by the Museum as official items of the Salvator Mundi® brand, will be available for purchase by discerning art collectors and patrons.

About Salvator Mundi Museum of Art: Taking its name from the world’s most expensive work of art, the purported lost masterpiece by Leonardo da Vinci, the Salvator Mundi Museum of Art is dedicated to exploring every facet, implication, and historical context of the Salvator Mundi narrative and art history.

© Salvator Mundi Museum of Art

The museum houses one of the largest private collections of art and ephemera surrounding the Salvator Mundi story and regularly mounts exhibitions on a wide variety of related subjects. The Salvator Mundi Museum of Art is also a component of the Real Salvator Mundi contemporary art project, established in 2017. The Salvator Mundi continues to be a subject of immense interest, intrigue, mystery, and debate. However, there is only one Real Salvator Mundi®.


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New Book ‘Hearth’ by Corten Caisson: Discover the Stars in Da Vinci’s ‘Salvator Mundi’


Story submitted by Salvator Mundi Museum of Art. The World Art News (WAN) is not liable for the content of this publication. All statements and views expressed herein are opinions only. Act at your own risk. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission. © The World Art News

The post Salvator Mundi Museum of Art Acquires Peculiar Mechanical Bank Linked to Da Vinci’s Masterpiece | VIDEO appeared first on World Art News.