We get it. You’ve returned to work after a few weeks of family, food, and festivities. The luster and glee of the holidays are quickly fading into the reality of returning to your normal routine. Bummer, right? Nonsense! The beginning of 2017 is offering TONS of fantastic fine art opportunities — including this exciting annual event.

As the second-oldest charitable antiques show in the United States, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Washington Winter Show (The Washington Antiques Show) is an event that draws thousands of the world’s top collectors and dealers every year in early January.

2017’s edition of the fair kicks off January 13 and will continue through the 15th at the American University’s Katzen Arts Center in Washington, D.C., and you can bet Fine Art Connoisseur will have representatives perusing the countless treasures. This year’s theme, “The Art of Style,” celebrates the timeless elegance and sophistication of good design. “True artistry is behind the best of fashion and interiors as well as antiques and art,” organizers suggest, “whether it’s the iconic design of a classic Chanel suit, the graceful carving of a Chippendale chair or the complex beauty of a Monet canvas. ‘The Art of Style’ recognizes the mastery of creativity and skill by great designers, craftsmen and artists, both past and present.”

This year is packed with a number of exciting events — including a remarkable loan exhibition surrounding artist Marion Pike and the revered Coco Chanel. Titled “Coco Chanel: A New Portrait by Marion Pike — Paris 1967-1971,” the exhibition marks the first time that this collection of portraits and couture fashions will be displayed in North America. Via the event website: “Curated by Amy de la Haye, London College of Fashion, the exhibition features five portraits of legendary designer Coco Chanel, painted by the California artist Marion Pike, following a meeting between the two extraordinarily talented, creative women at Chanel’s Paris atelier in 1967. The meeting sparked an immediate friendship between the women captured in the series of at least 13 expressive, color-saturated portraits of the fashion icon. This exhibition explores the profound friendship between Pike and Chanel, as well as the creative influences upon the two women’s work.”

In addition to the aforementioned exhibition, attendees will also have the opportunity to join Lela Rose for a special book signing, luncheon, and lecture on January 13 from 10:30 A.M. to 1:30 P.M. The weekend rounds out with several guided walks, lectures, and dealer talks throughout.

To learn more and purchase your entry tickets, visit the Washington Winter Show.

This article was featured in Fine Art Today, a weekly e-newsletter from Fine Art Connoisseur magazine. To start receiving Fine Art Today for free, click here.

This 18th-century sculptor and draftsman certainly tried. In each of his stunning works, his talent and ambition are obvious, emerging from the marble with classical fervor. A major exhibition of his works opens in just a few days. Who was he?

Royal sculptor and Enlightenment draftsman Edmé Bouchardon (1698-1762) was considered by his contemporaries to be one of the greatest artists of his time. He was  a major champion of classicism and key proponent of the Neoclassical movement, and his surviving sculptures remain a powerful symbol of the Renaissance’s influence upon centuries of creators.

Late in 2016, Fine Art Today detailed a special exhibition of Bouchardon’s sculpture on view at the Louvre Museum, Paris, entitled “The Sublime Idea of Beauty,” which featured a variety of drawings and sculptures by the artist and was the first major monograph on his oeuvre. The museum wrote, “This exhibition will be an opportunity to comprehend the sculptor’s style, a perfect balance between classical influence and life-like rendering.”

We now have the exciting news to report that the exhibition has moved to the United States and is on view January 10 through April 2 at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles, California. Under the title “Bouchardon: Royal Artist of the Enlightenment,” this exhibition will also feature a few works not included in the Paris show.

To learn more, visit the J. Paul Getty Museum.

This article was featured in Fine Art Today, a weekly e-newsletter from Fine Art Connoisseur magazine. To start receiving Fine Art Today for free, click here.

Museums and galleries make art available. That’s why we love them. However, as the world rapidly advances in the digital age, “availability” is a word that’s becoming more problematic — or is it? A case in point at the National Gallery of Denmark has us thinking. Where will you stand?

The National Gallery of Denmark is home to a world-class collection of plaster casts from antiquity that display everything from pagan gods and goddesses to heroes, warriors, and athletes. The museum recently announced that it has made available nearly 25,000 works — digitally, that is. Significantly — and quite interestingly — the museum has created a number of three-dimensional images of its renowned plaster sculptures, inviting the public to use, share, and remix the digital casts.

For educational purposes, the move by the museum is a moment of celebration, making otherwise inaccessible works accessible all over the world with the click of a mouse. Further, these three-dimensional images allow more accurate consideration of the sculptures from multiple viewpoints and angles.

To learn more, visit ArtDaily.

This article was featured in Fine Art Today, a weekly e-newsletter from Fine Art Connoisseur magazine. To start receiving Fine Art Today for free, click here.

So you’ve spent years and thousands of dollars amassing a superb fine art collection. But are you confident you’ve got everything buttoned up? If you aren’t 100 percent sure, there are opportunities to get there, including these lectures and seminars. What’s the buzz?

Whether your art collection is worth hundreds, thousands, or millions, it’s vitally important to protect it, and to abide by the legal rules. On January 23, February 6, and March 6, Jennifer Jordan McCall — chair of the Estate, Trusts and Tax Planning group at the international law firm of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP — will lead a lecture and series of roundtable seminars aimed at estate and tax planning for art collections.

Via the event website: “An art collection can form a substantial part of a person’s estate, offering valuable opportunities for estate and tax planning. During these in-depth discussions, learn several techniques to retain the use and enjoyment of your art collection, while also reducing the potential gift or estate tax burden when it is transferred to your beneficiaries. Certain strategies may only be available for a short time in the wake of possible new legislation. Each roundtable seminar will address questions from the participants. These more in-depth individualized sessions may include advance techniques that address your specific situations and questions.”

McCall will lead a lecture on January 23 from 6 to 7 P.M., with the roundtable seminars hosted February 6 and March 6 from 6 to 7 P.M. at the Fitz Eugene Dixon Education Building in Palm Beach, Florida. Tickets to each event are $25 and a reservation is required.

To learn more, visit The Society of The Four Arts.

This article was featured in Fine Art Today, a weekly e-newsletter from Fine Art Connoisseur magazine. To start receiving Fine Art Today for free, click here.

Readers of Fine Art Connoisseur’s November/December 2016 issue might remember a piece by editor-in-chief Peter Trippi detailing an event that celebrates the thriving world of art exhibitions. We’re just over a month away from this major event, so grab your tickets today!

With a name like the Global Fine Art Awards (GFAA), how can any serious fine art collector or connoisseur miss this monumental February 11 gala at the National Arts Club in New York City? Launched in 2014, the GFAA is an outstanding idea. As Peter Trippi wrote: “Ask yourself: how are the best exhibitions honored, after the lights have dimmed and the loaned artworks have headed home?” The answer is GFAA.

Continuing, Trippi reported, “Fortunately, the annual GFAA initiative was launched in 2014 by its president and CEO, Judy Holm, who specializes in arts and culture. Having discerned this glaring gap in the field, Holm has worked tirelessly to create a new tradition that fulfills specific objectives: to recognize the best curated fine art and design exhibitions in museums, galleries, art fairs, biennials, and public installations; to honor innovation and excellence in exhibition design, historical context, educational value, and public appeal; to develop the public’s interest and passion for fine art; and to further its educational role in society.”

The GFAA has been a resounding success and is continuing to gain awareness with 78 nominees in 11 categories in the current 2016 season. Awards will be announced during the GFAA’s annual gala on February 11 in New York City. Tickets for the gala awards presentation can be purchased at globalfineartawards.org, which also details other aspects of GFAA’s work. A list of the categories and their various finalists can be found in the November/December 2016 issue of Fine Art Connoisseur.

To learn more, visit the Global Fine Art Awards.

This article was featured in Fine Art Today, a weekly e-newsletter from Fine Art Connoisseur magazine. To start receiving Fine Art Today for free, click here.

It’s an exhibition that coincides with a new monograph — and it’s so good that these prestigious New York City galleries asked, “Why take it down December 24?” If you thought you missed this blockbuster, you haven’t.

On view at New York’s Nohra Haime Gallery and Adelson Galleries now through January 21, 2017 is a wide range of works by accomplished artist Adam Straus. With a career spanning nearly four decades, Straus has worked in a variety of media, with representations of each on view during the shows. Among the works are Straus’s sculptures, paintings, works on paper, and photography.

Via the exhibition press, “Straus is known for his majestic and luminous depictions of the sublime, which are often saturated with a deep concern about social and environmental issues. His penetrating dark humor can transport the viewer to post-apocalyptic worlds and often offers a wry observation on how humans have altered the natural landscape.”

The two exhibitions also coincide with the release of Straus’ new monograph, published by Gli Ori, Italy, this month. Including text written by the artist and award-winning critic and filmmaker Amei Wallach, Adam Straus explores a range of topics, including the artist’s childhood experiences, fascinating moments in his life and career, and much more.

To learn more, visit Adam Straus.

This article was featured in Fine Art Today, a weekly e-newsletter from Fine Art Connoisseur magazine. To start receiving Fine Art Today for free, click here.

Featuring some of the hottest young artistic talent in the nation, in addition to experienced veterans, collectors and Western art enthusiasts can’t miss what’s just around the corner in Denver.

Amidst a number of fascinating livestock and rodeo events at this year’s National Western Stock Show is something for fine art collectors and enthusiasts. Opening January 7 and running through January 22 on the 3rd level of the Expo Hall, the Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale is sure to draw heavy crowds.

Since 1993, Coors Brewing Company and the National Western Stock Show have joined to develop what is now considered one of the finest Western art exhibitions in the United States. Since the event’s inception, it has grown from a mere 30 artists to more than 60 in 2017. In 2013, organizers introduced the “Young Guns” part of the event, which includes a group of young professionals interested in art education and philanthropy. Via the event webpage: “The goal for these young professionals is to gain a better understanding of Western art as well as insight into how to invest in art. Proceeds from this event help support the National Western Scholarship Trust, the mission of the Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale.”

There are a number of outstanding artists included in this year’s edition, such as Jill Carver, Eric Bowman, Len Chmiel, Teresa Elliott, Scott Fraser, Douglas Fryer, Quang Ho, Dean Mitchell, Chris Maynard, Jill Soukup, and Scott Parker. 2017’s featured artist is Dinah K. Worman from Taos, New Mexico.

Several awards are also presented during the exhibition, including Best in Show, Artists’ Choice, the Mary Belle Grant, People’s Choice, and the Southwest Art Award. To learn more about the various artists and how to plan your outing, visit the Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale.

This article was featured in Fine Art Today, a weekly e-newsletter from Fine Art Connoisseur magazine. To start receiving Fine Art Today for free, click here.

In this ongoing series, Fine Art Today delves into the world of portraiture, highlighting historical and contemporary examples of superb quality and skill. This week: “Baldassare Castiglione.”

In addition to being painted by Raphael Sanzio (1483-1520), one of the foremost artists of the Italian Renaissance, “Portrait of Baldassare Castiglione” (c. 1514-1515) has had an enduring influence on generations of painters. Castiglione was a close friend of Raphael’s and was considered a quintessential example of the High Renaissance gentleman.

Author of The Book of the Courtier, Castiglione was a champion of using manners and dress to elevate one’s status, coining the term sprezzatura, roughly translating as “nonchalant mastery” and connoting an effortless grace.

Shown in a traditional pyramidal composition, Castiglione embodies the ideals of sprezzatura, donning a dark doublet with a trim of squirrel fur and black ribbon against an earth-toned background. On his head Castiglione wears a turban topped by a notched beret. In addition to announcing his wealth and status, the sitter’s attire has suggested to scholars that the portrait was painted during the winter months between 1514 and 1515, when Castiglione was in Rome by appointment of Guidobaldo da Montefeltro. Montefeltro had been a patron of Raphael’s, commissioning him to paint a portrait of Henry VII in 1505.

The portrait has undergone immense study and is noted for its elegance of execution and subtle homage to Raphael’s fellow artists. Art historians have also noted the picture’s influence on such seminal painters as Rembrandt, Titian, Peter Paul Rubens, Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, Matisse, and Paul Cézanne. Even so, scholar James Beck writes that the portrait “stands as a final solution for single male portraiture within the Renaissance style.”

Housed today within the Louvre Museum, Paris, you can learn more about this magnificent portrait by visiting here.

This article was featured in Fine Art Today, a weekly e-newsletter from Fine Art Connoisseur magazine. To start receiving Fine Art Today for free, click here.