Another famous painting is in doubt as to who could have painted it and experts now believe it has been mis-attributed. This time, is ' The Skating Minister ' long thought to be the work of the Edinburgh artist Sir Henry Raeburn. The Skating Minister is the most emblematic image of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, it has been reproduced on millions of posters, Christmas cards, mugs, coasters and books. But Stephen Lloyd, senior curator at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, believes that it is by Henri-Pierre Danloux ( 1753-1809 ) a "refugee" court painter from France who stayed in Edinburgh during the French Revolution in the 1790's. He points out that the picture is different from any other work by Sir Henry Raeburn. The picture is smaller, unsigned, and the brushwork is "more reminiscent " of Danloux, less so of the more famous painter's "robust style" The canvas is also of a traditional type, while Raeburn preferred a canvas with a herringbone weave.
Neither the case of El Coloso (The Colossus ) a painting long attributed to Goya nor the case of 'The Skating Minister' is yet settled. The Colossus has the marks of Goya's genius, its fearful and sublime idea, the pugilist giant rising up behind the world, could have been one of his ideas. The Skating Minister is a different pickle: Its unlike any other work by Raeburn, but much better than any other work by Danloux. As the art critic Tom Lubbock says: " In its teetering balance between dignity and absurdity, between statis and speed, it creates a work of high comedy that's rare in painting anywhere. It's a work of genius- but whose ? It lingers in an uneasy limbo: a marvellous painting that has, in effect, arrived from nowhere. It will be a long time before people give up finding an author "
Sunday, 21 June 2009
Thursday, 11 June 2009
THE HEIR HUNTERS Series 3 Celtic Research Stories
Today, they have sent us the new schedule of the new television programme of our company to be shown on BBC I on the 1st of July. Not sure about the time slot, but I would imagine it will be around 9 A.M. It kicks off with the Gibbs & De Keyser case.
The latest episode in the series dedicated to finding heirs to unclaimed estates. This is the case of a man who thought he had no one to leave his money to and the story of a high-profile anti-apartheid activist with an unclaimed estate of £250,000.
Hector Birchwood of Celtic Research is investigating the compelling case of Ethel de Keyser. Leaving Lithuania for South Africa in 1926, Ethel became an anti-apartheid activist after the imprisonment of her brother. and as Hector delves deeper, his attempt to find anyone entitled to inherit her substantial estate highlights the brutal world of South Africa's apartheid regime and the appalling events of the Sharpeville Massacre.
Then on the 8th of July. Hector Birchwood is delving into the mysterious case of Arthur Aldrick. He died in 2005 aged 85, leaving behind an unclaimed estate worth a hefty £350,000. A distant heir is discovered, but that's just the beginning of the story. Intrigued, Arthur's heir is soon on the case and as she investigates his wartime record in the intelligence service, it begins to look as if he may have had an important role to play in cracking the Nazi's infamous Enigma code.
On Thursday 16th of July Researcher Saul Marks from Celtic Research is investigating the case of Sylvia Casson who died in 2008 at the venerable age of 97. As Saul probes deeper in to her case, he uncovers a compelling story of a family forced to flee Russian persecution in the 1880's and of a young girl defying the Blitz and Nazi ' terror weapons '. But just as Saul seems close to cracking the case, an unexpected development threatens to undo all his hard work.
On Wednesday 22nd of July Hector Birchwood is delving into the case of Kenneth Yale. He died aged 79 in a Glasgow hospital after having led an apparently unremarkable life. But as Hector explores further, it becomes clear that the Yale family has a skeleton in the closet and someone is about to have to come to terms with a startling discovery.
On Thursday 23rd of July This is the case of Christopher Bett who died leaving an estate worth £100,000. As he was adopted after his mother died, his adoptive parents are legally seen as his blood relatives. Soon its all hands to the pump for Fraser and Fraser ( our competitors ) as the race to track down surviving heirs, picks up pace. But competitors ( us ) are doddging their every move and, as Christopher's family tree takes the shape, an already overstretched team is forced to spread the net even wider. Next stop Australia.
On Friday 31st of July, At Celtic Research Peter Birchwood is examining the case of Peter Sharpe, a man who died at the relatively young age of 57. As he investigates, he makes the surprising discovery that the brother of the deceased lives a mere 10 miles away and yet is totally unaware of the death. So why did the family members lose toch with each other ? And what memories will be stirred up by the knowledge of such an untimely death.
I hope you enjoy it.
The latest episode in the series dedicated to finding heirs to unclaimed estates. This is the case of a man who thought he had no one to leave his money to and the story of a high-profile anti-apartheid activist with an unclaimed estate of £250,000.
Hector Birchwood of Celtic Research is investigating the compelling case of Ethel de Keyser. Leaving Lithuania for South Africa in 1926, Ethel became an anti-apartheid activist after the imprisonment of her brother. and as Hector delves deeper, his attempt to find anyone entitled to inherit her substantial estate highlights the brutal world of South Africa's apartheid regime and the appalling events of the Sharpeville Massacre.
Then on the 8th of July. Hector Birchwood is delving into the mysterious case of Arthur Aldrick. He died in 2005 aged 85, leaving behind an unclaimed estate worth a hefty £350,000. A distant heir is discovered, but that's just the beginning of the story. Intrigued, Arthur's heir is soon on the case and as she investigates his wartime record in the intelligence service, it begins to look as if he may have had an important role to play in cracking the Nazi's infamous Enigma code.
On Thursday 16th of July Researcher Saul Marks from Celtic Research is investigating the case of Sylvia Casson who died in 2008 at the venerable age of 97. As Saul probes deeper in to her case, he uncovers a compelling story of a family forced to flee Russian persecution in the 1880's and of a young girl defying the Blitz and Nazi ' terror weapons '. But just as Saul seems close to cracking the case, an unexpected development threatens to undo all his hard work.
On Wednesday 22nd of July Hector Birchwood is delving into the case of Kenneth Yale. He died aged 79 in a Glasgow hospital after having led an apparently unremarkable life. But as Hector explores further, it becomes clear that the Yale family has a skeleton in the closet and someone is about to have to come to terms with a startling discovery.
On Thursday 23rd of July This is the case of Christopher Bett who died leaving an estate worth £100,000. As he was adopted after his mother died, his adoptive parents are legally seen as his blood relatives. Soon its all hands to the pump for Fraser and Fraser ( our competitors ) as the race to track down surviving heirs, picks up pace. But competitors ( us ) are doddging their every move and, as Christopher's family tree takes the shape, an already overstretched team is forced to spread the net even wider. Next stop Australia.
On Friday 31st of July, At Celtic Research Peter Birchwood is examining the case of Peter Sharpe, a man who died at the relatively young age of 57. As he investigates, he makes the surprising discovery that the brother of the deceased lives a mere 10 miles away and yet is totally unaware of the death. So why did the family members lose toch with each other ? And what memories will be stirred up by the knowledge of such an untimely death.
I hope you enjoy it.
Thursday, 4 June 2009
JUNE EUROPEAN ELECTIONS
Another rat who has abandoned the ship, Hazel Blears resigned yesterday, James Purnell today Bravo ! at this rate the rats are departing faster from Parliament than the newspapers can keep up with the very latest resignation. Good. At least it won't be necessary to burn down that beautiful building to get them all out from there. Robert, at this rate, your dream about not having a government will finally become true !
A few months ago, Belgium did not have a government for several months and most people did not even noticed it. Belgium carried on working as usual. The trains were on time, the schools were open, every one went to work as if nothing had happened. When you think about it, Parliament takes a few months holiday every single year and the rest of us do not even notice it either. Maybe it will be cheaper for the tax payer if all the politicians took a permanent holiday. They won't be missed. Besides, the laws are designed only for their own comfort and convenience, not for the rest of the people. The only thing is, if the Labour government goes out now. It will serve as a smoke screen in order to divert attention for not changing the crooked expenses system. That is the aim. We will have to see what will be the outcome of this election. I hope Labour comes out last, I cannot imagine anyone in their right mind voting for them, except their family and friends and also the quangos who stand to gain from it. This is a unique time the electorate has to really trash them and put them where they belong... in the bin.
A few months ago, Belgium did not have a government for several months and most people did not even noticed it. Belgium carried on working as usual. The trains were on time, the schools were open, every one went to work as if nothing had happened. When you think about it, Parliament takes a few months holiday every single year and the rest of us do not even notice it either. Maybe it will be cheaper for the tax payer if all the politicians took a permanent holiday. They won't be missed. Besides, the laws are designed only for their own comfort and convenience, not for the rest of the people. The only thing is, if the Labour government goes out now. It will serve as a smoke screen in order to divert attention for not changing the crooked expenses system. That is the aim. We will have to see what will be the outcome of this election. I hope Labour comes out last, I cannot imagine anyone in their right mind voting for them, except their family and friends and also the quangos who stand to gain from it. This is a unique time the electorate has to really trash them and put them where they belong... in the bin.
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