Hello and welcome to my weekly short commentary on art & architecture in the news.
Today we talk about the current difficult times galleries and museums are facing due to Covid, with lack of visitors and consequent restructuring plans. The news is that the Royal Academy of Arts in London may be forced to sell part of its permanent art collection to survive, including a Michelangelo! It is very uncommon for an European institution to sell its collection, which is part of its heritage and identity. The permanent collection has two functions: to preserve the artwork to the highest standard and to make it available to the audience. After the sale there is no guarantee on the quality of preservation and the artwork can be lost forever.
If you were the director of the RA, would you sell the Michelangelo to help your institution?
We are talking of the so-called “Taddei Tondo”, the Virgin and Child with the Infant St John, the only artwork by Michelangelo in Great Britain. It was made in Florence in the first part of 1500, commissioned by the wealthy merchant Taddeo Taddei for his home. It is an example of sacred art for private consumption and not for a church.
How did it arrive in the Great Britain? It was acquired by the British collector Sir Beaumont in Rome in 1822 and then donated to RA after his death in 1830.
It is a marble relief circular composition, which was a common shape in Italian Renaissance’s art. However, a number of elements make this artwork special: the geometrical composition itself, made by diagonals of the bodies and of the eyes direction, the twisted body of the baby Jesus, the incredibly detailed dress and hair, and the softness quality of the fabric in Mary’s dress. This is one of the unfinished works by M. who soon left Florence for Rome. It is possible he left part of his sacred art works unfinished intentionally, to convey the sense of mystery around the subject.
It is sad the RA may be forced to sell it and we wish its board all the best for the difficult decision. Could perhaps the Royals who already support the RA, and that’s why it is called Royal, help the institution at all for this challenging decision?
And you? What would you suggest to the Royal Academy? Let me know your thoughts!
This is Roby, from ART Tours with a Theme – ART wiT.
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CREDITS - Music: Sergio Camassa, Photos: Royal Academy of Arts.
