Masterpiece Art Fair in Chelsea is a Cornucopia of Beauty: Highlights
Picasso, Egon Schiele, exquisitely beautiful jewellery designs by Verdura, Fontana, Roman antiquities, another Picasso, Perrier-Jouet Champagne tasting; you are in good company when you are at Masterpiece Art Fair in Chelsea, London.
Everything from Antiques to Modern and Contemporary Art, Designs, Rare Books and Furniture. One of my favourites Art Fairs in the London calendar. If one happens to feel peckish, Le Caprice, Scott’s and The Ivy will cater for all tastes.
It opened last Thursday and will carry on this weekend until Wednesday the 4th July. Located in Chelsea, a walking distance from Sloane Square, grounds of The Royal Hospital Chelsea, Masterpiece is a cornucopia of beauty. My highlights:
Quite a private gallery. Holding superb Josef Albers, not always a mass-pleaser but quietly gaining recognition, an unusual Egon Schiele, who died at the early age of 28 and produced some of the best crafted drawings of the last century. And of course, an exquisite portrait of Jacqueline, Picasso’s latest lover and wife, in a more subdued tone than other more strongly coloured paintings by him. I find it rather spiritual. Finally, Venice by Canaletto, if you are in a Victorian touristy mood.
Karl Marx’s Das Kapital first edition, signed by him and dedicated to César De Paepe, the leader of the International Working Men’s Association (the First International) in Belgium. Not sure what Karl might think of his book being in a commercial fair, but a rate opportunity to hold such influential writings. Marx first wrote “avec les compliments de Karl Marx” before apparently thinking better of such a bland inscription and erasing the just-penned words. As the iron gall ink had not yet settled and oxidized, the erased area probably appeared fainter at the time of re-inscribing, when Marx wrote across the smudged area (which has since darkened) his more cordial “brotherly greeting”. There is a single correction, presumably by Marx himself, on page XII of the Preface, where “transatlantischen Oceans” has “trans” crossed through in pencil.
- Royal Bank of Canada exhibition space
Every year, the Royal Bank of Canada, its main sponsor, invites artists of Canadian origin. Shannon Bool presented a very interesting large textile piece. Daniel Faria, Director of, Daniel Faria Gallery, comments:
Defaced Muse is inspired by effigies found in numerous British churches. Bool was struck by how many of these effigies, many of which date to the 12th and 13th century, have been covered in graffiti. Defaced Muse, based on an image from an art deco perfume ad, has been woven into a tapestry, with the artist hand embroidering gothic graffiti onto it’s surface; the puncture of the needle acting similarly to the carving of the graffiti into the marble effigy. Thanks to Royal Bank of Canada for including her work as part of its lounge at Masterpiece London 2018.
A well-timed work in the current #MeToo movement disclosing standardised abusive behaviour against women.
- Mazzoleni B29
Mazzoleni always shows some of the finest examples of Post-War Italian Art. On this occasion, they exhibit an intriguing yellow Fontana with his cut trademark and works by Giacomo Balla, Agostino Bonalumi, Alberto Burri (still an underrrated artist specially with his powerful mixed media textile works), Giorgio de Chirico and Fausto Melotti. Also the grandfather of Optical Art or Op Art Victor Vasarely
David Gill is one of the best galleries of Contemporary Design that has been working with leading contemporary architects, artists and designers on edition pieces and unique private commissions around the world for over 25 years. Gill broke new ground in championing the work of designers who have now become world famous, and represents Zaha Hadid, Mattia Bonetti, Gaetano Pesce, Barnaby Barford and Fredrikson Stallard. For Masterpiece, they are presenting a magnetic baroque mirror by Barnaby Barford. A provocative enforced reflection on us.
- Kallos Gallery C20
Kallos, which means beauty in ancient Greek. always brings to the Fair such unique antiques. An educational gallery to understand the past. This time they shown a Roman marble theatre mask Acroterion which were used as an architectural ornament. Circa 3rd century AD. Founded in 2014 by Baron Lorne Thyssen-Bornemisza, Kallos Gallery is a London gallery specialising in antiquities and ancient art. Always worth a visit.
Verdura jewellery designs offers a sense of Heritage, glamour and magical beauty that makes an experience to carry its designs. Duke Fulco di Verdura began designing jewelry in 1920s Paris with Coco Chanel, for whom he created his signature Maltese Cross Cuffs. After venturing to America and opening on Fifth Avenue in 1939, with the financial backing of Cole Porter and Vincent Astor, Verdura quickly gained a following among New York’s best dressed, including style icons like Diana Vreeland and Babe Paley, and Hollywood screen legends such as Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich. Today Verdura continues to create jewels from the Duke’s archive of nearly ten thousand designs and is widely recognized among collectors and jewelry cognoscenti for its bold but understated “chic.” In the pantheon of master jewelers from the twentieth century, Suzanne Belperron (1900–1983) stands apart as the only woman. After beginning her career with Boivin in 1919, she pioneered a new aesthetic in jewellery: sensual, tactile and arrestingly modern.
And the final stop in the Masterpiece experience was the Perrier-Jouet Champagne tasting given by the connoisseur Mr Jonathan Simms. A very enjoyable and informative session where there is no such thing as a silly question.
Hamish Millar, Marketing Manager at Perrier-Jouët said,
‘We are delighted to be back at Masterpiece London, as the official Champagne Sponsor. Perrier-Jouët has a rich heritage intrinsically intertwined in art and design, Emile Galle’s iconic anemone motif which adorns all of our Belle Epoque bottles is a symbol of Perrier-Jouët’s historic link with art and nature, so we are a natural partner for Masterpiece. The Perrier-Jouët Terrace is the perfect spot for visitors to Masterpiece to unwind and sample the Perrier-Jouët range in the beautiful surroundings of the historic Royal Hospital Chelsea.’
For more information about talks, exhibitors and specially tailored tours, please visit their website on www.masterpiecefair.com
Before you leave…
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