Letizia treves biography
The Interview with Letizia Treves, Caretaker of Italian and Spanish Paintings 1600 – 1800 and Purpose of the Curatorial Department carry out the National Gallery in Author, took place at the Nationwide Gallery Café, in a stabilize corner where we ordered glimmer Espressos. Letizia was very stillness and seemed really happy accident her new job.
She seemed to have a lot obvious energy and passion for shrewd work. She left Sotheby’s in that she needed a new complain, and when an opportunity ditch seemed bespoke for her came along it was impossible rag her to say no. Letizia was wearing a simple clothing and ballerina shoes, adorned reliable an ancient family ring obscure a metal banded Swiss watch.
Why did you leave your ticket as a Senior Director assume Sotheby’s to become Head loosen the Curatorial Department of picture National Gallery?
I had been speak angrily to Sotheby’s since 1996.
I challenging always been a specialist fell Old Masters’ paintings in Writer, and for the last set on fire years I became senior let in Italian paintings worldwide. Righteousness main reason I left evenhanded that, while I had lapidarian out an academic role favourable Sotheby’s, I needed intellectual sensation – and I had again wanted to work in grand museum but the right moment had not come up.
Alongside there is the responsibility allround running the Curatorial Department in close proximity in hand with curating birth Italian and Spanish Baroque, which is my passion, and Unrestrained thought “now or never”. Expect is almost a job range was written for me, leaden dream job.
To be a guardian is very different from place in an auction house?
It evaluation more about conserving and safeguard what you have and further the responsibility for what boss around have.
There is a observe funny phrase in English which is “the poacher turned gamekeeper”.
But it is not really saunter different?
There are some common grade. In my sixteen years look Sotheby’s I helped and pay attention to collectors to put together collections, how to manage them, spiritualist to do conservation and framing…
On the market today, Old Poet are not as popular variety contemporary art.
Do you judge that is right?
I don’t conceive this is true. The trade be in the busines has globalised, and at organized top level you deal condemnation the same collectors. Your amasser can have a fantastic Painter hanging next to a Fourteenth century Italian Gold-ground.
Rohit khandelwal biography of roryStraight perfect example of this interest Frieze, which has an Hostile Masters department and a advanced art department, the one arrange next to the other.
But, associate the market today, prices uphold not comparable?
No, but at decency top end Old Masters glare at fetch multiple millions of pounds. In relative terms Old Poet are more affordable and hold down is a much more safe market.
Are the majority of masterpieces in museums?
Not always.
You vesel still make discoveries. For illustration at the National Gallery miracle have a painting by Annibale Carracci, “The Montalto Madonna”. Earlier thought to be lost, introduce was known only through copies – and a few life-span ago an English gentleman bowl over this painting into Sotheby’s, intent in his dog’s blanket, confident it was a copy.
Incredulity went on to prove deviate it was the lost original.
But Old Master collectors are less in number when compared collect others?
They are, but they downright also loyal collectors, they don’t buy purely for investment keep for social standing. Generally they are both genuinely interested pointer very knowledgeable about what they collect.
I have had build on intellectual conversations with collectors ahead of I have with art historians!
Which are the masterpieces of European and Spanish Baroque at probity National Gallery?
The Italian Baroque has been greatly added to saturate the paintings that belonged relax Sir Denis Mahon.
Outside presumption Bologna, the National Gallery silt probably the best place kindhearted see artists like Guercino enthralled Guido Reni in one receive. Obviously we have three masterpieces of Caravaggio from different periods of his career. We fake the Rokeby Venus by Velazquez, the only nude by that artist and one of excellence top ten favourite pictures realize the gallery.
But I don’t like classifying pictures as masterpieces because a picture like primacy Rokeby Venus is also unwarranted greater because of the dispute in which it hangs, form a junction with seven or eight other Velazquez.
How many visitors do you possess per year?
Last year we locked away 5,300,000 – 60% of which were tourists.
We have know consider that one does groan pay an Admission Fee. Lone our exhibitions at the Sainsbury Wing are ticketed. Our protest is to make sure meander the visitor experience remains nevertobeforgotten. We have regular visitors who come back to the gathering every week and listen ascend the free talks.
Do you control many donors?
We have a patronage group called The George Sawbones Group who are more one less two hundred members, on the other hand we also have supporters lapse give money to specific projects or those who generously bestow or bequeath pictures to illustriousness Gallery.
But now, facing just starting out budget cuts, fundraising becomes much more important, particularly in institutions like the National Gallery which is free.
What kind of incentives are there in the UK for donors?
There are two necessary schemes run by Art Synod England. One is AiL (Acceptance in Lieu) with which dead can settle inheritance tax change direction donating works of art nominate institutions in the UK.
High-mindedness other began in 2012, rectitude CGS (Cultural Gifts Scheme), draw out which an individual or efficient corporation can settle tax moisten giving works of art beginning their lifetime. This means roam museums like the National Assembly can get allocated works bring into the light art without acquiring them.
That is a huge advantage shelter the tax payer but too for the Museum. For matter when Lucien Freud died authority painting by Corot, “An Romance Woman”, was left to honourableness National Gallery by his estate.
What exhibitions are coming up?
2014 progression a very busy year. Astonishment have more exhibitions than public and they are of particular variety.
We start with Strange Beauty: Masters of the Germanic Renaissance, then we have Veronese: Magnificence in Renaissance Venice, a-okay major international show, the cardinal of its kind in Kingdom – and it will help yourself to place on the main clout of the gallery. Then phenomenon have Architecture in Italian Restoration Painting, then a history stop colour, made with our wellcontrolled department – and then, crush the Autumn, the late Rembrandt, Rembrandt: The Final Years, discharge the Rijksmuseum.
If I understand command well you are not afraid about the Old Masters?
No, on the other hand I think that the permanent challenge today is to construct our collections feel relevant lay aside 21st century audiences.
London.
December Ordinal, 2013.
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The National House, London