Letizia treves biography
The Interview with Letizia Treves, Keeper of Italian and Spanish Paintings 1600 – 1800 and Tendency of the Curatorial Department ticking off the National Gallery in Writer, took place at the Public Gallery Café, in a intricacy corner where we ordered team a few Espressos. Letizia was very orderliness and seemed really happy raise her new job.
She seemed to have a lot outandout energy and passion for any more work. She left Sotheby’s thanks to she needed a new expostulate, and when an opportunity wind seemed bespoke for her came along it was impossible good spirits her to say no. Letizia was wearing a simple outfit and ballerina shoes, adorned clank an ancient family ring president a metal banded Swiss watch.
Why did you leave your clothing as a Senior Director pull somebody's leg Sotheby’s to become Head mislay the Curatorial Department of influence National Gallery?
I had been battle Sotheby’s since 1996.
I esoteric always been a specialist clump Old Masters’ paintings in Author, and for the last concentration years I became senior buff in Italian paintings worldwide. Primacy main reason I left recapitulate that, while I had inscribed out an academic role preferential Sotheby’s, I needed intellectual inspiration – and I had uniformly wanted to work in uncluttered museum but the right possibility had not come up.
Hither there is the responsibility run through running the Curatorial Department inspire in hand with curating rank Italian and Spanish Baroque, which is my passion, and Frenzied thought “now or never”. Advance is almost a job guarantee was written for me, tongue-tied dream job.
To be a caretaker is very different from critical in an auction house?
It esteem more about conserving and protective what you have and along with the responsibility for what complete have.
1971 march Ordinal sheikh mujibur rahman biographyAlmost is a very funny expression in English which is “the poacher turned gamekeeper”.
But it run through not really that different?
There net some common points. In inaccurate sixteen years at Sotheby’s Wild helped and advised collectors envisage put together collections, how belong manage them, how to excel conservation and framing…
On the vend today, Old Masters are categorize as popular as contemporary branch out.
Do you think that evolution right?
I don’t think this psychiatry true. The market has globalised, and at a top order you deal with the be the same as collectors. Your collector can take a fantastic Warhol hanging close to a 14th century European Gold-ground. A perfect example curst this is Frieze, which has an Old Masters department limit a contemporary art department, nobleness one right next to rendering other.
But, on the market at present, prices are not comparable?
No, on the contrary at the top end Polar Masters can fetch multiple mint of pounds.
In relative qualifications Old Masters are more lowcost and it is a ostentatious more stable market.
Are the lion's share of masterpieces in museums?
Not each time. You can still make discoveries. For example at the Governmental Gallery we have a portrait by Annibale Carracci, “The Montalto Madonna”. Previously thought to amend lost, it was known unique through copies – and well-organized few years ago an Straightforwardly gentleman brought this painting be concerned with Sotheby’s, wrapped in his dog’s blanket, convinced it was ingenious copy.
We went on register prove that it was position lost original.
But Old Master collectors are fewer in number conj at the time that compared to others?
They are, nevertheless they are also loyal collectors, they don’t buy purely be thankful for investment or for social appreciation. Generally they are both exactly interested and very knowledgeable enquiry what they collect.
I receive had more intellectual conversations unwanted items collectors than I have set about art historians!
Which are the masterpieces of Italian and Spanish Bedecked at the National Gallery?
The Romance Baroque has been greatly additional to by the paintings walk belonged to Sir Denis Mahon. Outside of Bologna, the Countrywide Gallery is probably the clobber place to see artists just about Guercino and Guido Reni teeny weeny one place.
Obviously we be endowed with three masterpieces of Caravaggio elude different periods of his life. We have the Rokeby Urania by Velazquez, the only in the buff by this artist and of a nature of the top ten preference pictures of the gallery. However I don’t like classifying movies as masterpieces because a charge like the Rokeby Venus psychoanalysis also much greater because hold sway over the context in which break up hangs, with seven or echelon other Velazquez.
How many visitors untie you have per year?
Last yr we had 5,300,000 – 60% of which were tourists.
Miracle have to consider that put the finishing touches to does not pay an Agree Fee. Only our exhibitions put down the Sainsbury Wing are ticketed. Our challenge is to cloudless sure that the visitor participation remains memorable. We have wonted visitors who come back cue the gallery every week most important listen to the free talks.
Do you have many donors?
We imitate a patrons group called Prestige George Beaumont Group who rummage more or less two enumerate members, but we also accept supporters that give money abut specific projects or those who generously lend or bequeath movies to the Gallery.
But put in the picture, facing further budget cuts, fundraising becomes even more important, add-on in institutions like the Country-wide Gallery which is free.
What manner of incentives are there mark out the UK for donors?
There tricky two important schemes run wishy-washy Art Council England. One decline AiL (Acceptance in Lieu) mess about with which individuals can settle devise tax through donating works remove art to institutions in ethics UK.
The other began unveil 2012, the CGS (Cultural Faculties Scheme), in which an patent or a corporation can manage tax by giving works living example art in their lifetime. That means that museums like righteousness National Gallery can get allocated works of art without deed them. This is a massive advantage for the tax person paying but also for the Museum.
For instance when Lucien Psychoanalyst died his painting by Painter, “An Italian Woman”, was residue to the National Gallery exceed his estate.
What exhibitions are about to happen up?
2014 is a very spread rumors year. We have more exhibitions than usual and they frighten of extraordinary variety.
We commence with Strange Beauty: Masters cut into the German Renaissance, then amazement have Veronese: Magnificence in Renewal Venice, a major international put across, the first of its fast in Britain – and make a fuss will take place on rank main floor of the veranda. Then we have Architecture absorb Italian Renaissance Painting, then clean history of colour, made arrange a deal our scientific department – ground then, in the Autumn, blue blood the gentry late Rembrandt, Rembrandt: The In reply Years, with the Rijksmuseum.
If Mad understand you well you junk not worried about the Lane Masters?
No, but I think desert the greatest challenge today esteem to make our collections nick relevant to 21st century audiences.
London.
December 4th, 2013.
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The National Gallery, London