ethics, morality, liability in the art world

Recently I posted a question on my twitter page asking "is it suspect when an any person or organization claims expertise in many areas in art authentication and art appraisal yet fails to provide their credentials or educational background?" The reason for this question was brought on by a recent seminar in New York with several of my colleagues. Recent ethic's codes and liability reform makes it absolutely necessary for us scholars to be transparent. This seminar, sponsored in part by CAA (College Art Association) laid out new guidelines and made very clear our responsibilities as Art Historians, particularly when it comes to authentication:

"One of the areas of great responsibility, and great controversy, for art historians, whether they are employed by an academic institution or a museum, or operate as independent scholars or experts, is that of authentication or attribution, it is very important that they be aware of the issues involved. Issues of attribution and authentication differ substantially among the various fields of art history...In many fields there may be only one or two experts capable of giving an informed opinion. In others there may be many experts and conflicting published opinions...Although many art historians continue to issue individual opinions about attribution or authenticity, due to possible risks of litigation over the rendering of opinions, these guidelines recommend a different approach. Furthermore, given the international context in which opinions are rendered, international legal issues, including those relating to ownership and libel, must be approached with caution and legal guidance. "Certificate" opinions concerning or implying authentication or attribution, given for business, market value, or tax purposes, no longer, in all circumstances, represent infallible objectivity unless they are supported by a consensus. It is recommended that art historians be very cautious about issuing such opinions solely on their own authority alone...."

The transcript goes on to list the guidelines suggested that we art historians implement and for those who would like a full copy of the transcript, email me at rtdicello@roadrunner.com and I will send it to you. These issues bring up the point of just how subjective our work can be and they warn against that. In that light is it our obligation to provide our credentials in our marketing materials? For instance, don't doctors and lawyers have to include the fact that they are credentialed in law and medicine. The same I believe is true for accountants and investment providers. In short, in the marketing of appraisal and authentication services, do we have an obligation to state in our marketing materials who is doing the work and what qualifications back up their opinions? I think the short answer is yes. Ethics requires transparency.

Too many things to do on-line

Okay so let's see, I haven't blogged since Obama won back in November. I got into twitter a bit and of course you have the old stand by of face book. I am behind on all of these. I have found that when I am at my computer I work, if I get caught up in twittering, or face booking every "how smart are you?" or "which 1980's song are you?" I wouldn't get anything done. Not that I don't enjoy the contact with all my friends, I love it, I even get to keep in touch with my family back in Italy but I'm telling you, if people aren't productive at work these are the reasons why. You could spend days answering tweets, responding to face book challenges and so on. Now I have to think about something creative and witty to say about art. By the time I get done catching up with everything on the web, (this is not including the real world of actual material things that need taken care of) I'm spent.

So I promise to dedicate more time to this blog (not that anyone is reading it) but hey maybe there are a few of you who check in every now and then and have been disappointed that I have not blogged about my adventures (and there have been a few changes since I last wrote) I will update very soon. I promise. For those who actually do read this, drop me a line, let me know what you'd like to talk about in the art world. I have to be honest Twitter is great, I have met some really cool people from all over just by connecting on twitter. Seriously addictive though.

Hope everyone has a great weekend and Happy mother's day to all moms.

Today is a good day

Okay I have tempered myself very well and have not spoken about politics on my blog but I just have to say that I stayed up very late last night on the edge of my seat watching as America truly identified herself once again as the land of opportunity and hope. Now I know there are compliments and criticisms about our new President elect but for me personally, I am ecstatic, overjoyed and humbled by this amazing electoral process. Now, I did vote for Obama & my reasons are my own. I am a daughter of an immigrant father who instilled in me his heartfelt belief that this truly was the most amazing country in the world & that it is in America where dreams and innovation were possible for all who had the fortitude to go for it, if he were alive today he would finally have felt that all of his hard work, struggles and sacrifices were justified. As I listen to the world respond, I am stunned and moved, I know the practicality of it all, we have work to do in this country but for one moment in the busy, chaotic whirlwind that is our life, can we just stop....stop to think about what has happened? What a wonderful, truly emotional day for all who have their eyes open. He speaks of hope, of what we could be as oppose to what we should settle for, there are no excuses, no reason to great for why we can not be a great country again, he inspires and calms. He is not one and all, he will not solve all of the world's problems but he gives the world a reason to want to do better. What a gift he has, to make us want to be better & achieve more so that when we leave, our children and grandchildren can talk about what an amazing generation of people we were & how we have passed the torch onto them. Today is a very good day.

DiCello Fine Art has changed

Good morning everyone. Well, my home got infested with the swine flu this past week. It was not pretty. But thankfully, everyone is on the mend and no one needs the vaccine now. :)

In work related news, we have expanded, we have added more scholars to the group and we have decided to change the name from DiCello Fine Art to Art Diagnostics. This reflects the type of art research we do, the fact that we work with several forensic labs dealing in art analysis and reflecting the group as a whole. I think the name fits great and I am excited to get to work with the new group.

As I am sure everyone has heard by now, there is a new DaVinci discovery. A wonderful, beautiful discovery stressing once again the importance of solid art research when it comes to authenticating art: enjoy!

http://www.artknowledgenews.com/2009-10-15-21-38-41-leonardo-da-vinci-fingerprint-reveals-painting-may-be-worth-150-million.html

Update

Hello everyone,

The season is changing, and the colds and viruses are a comin'. As I sit here with boxes of tissues and DayQuil and Sudafed I thought to myself, just last week I was swimming, feeling great, picking tomatoes (yes I have a garden, I'm Italian!) So as I was saying, picking tomatoes and basil, making pesto, smelling warm summer breezes. Now, I can't smell basil, can't taste basil and I had to wear a jacket this morning. Don't get me wrong, I love fall, but I hate winter. I picked the perfect place to live then right? It is hard to let go of summer here because we know we have a very LONG and COLD winter ahead. Oh well. Snowman right? They're fun.

For those of you looking for DiCello Fine Art's website, I have relocated it to Art Experts Inc. Shortly, if you look there you will be redirected to Art Experts Inc.'s website. All of my information is there.

So what's going on in Cleveland? SPARX IN THE CITY, in two weeks, check it out at www.artistreviewtoday.com It is a weekend of art, music, food etc...many local artists will have their booths(me included guys) selling ourselves (not literally) but you get the idea and our art, come, see, buy something. I will also do complimentary evaluations for those who may have an antique or an appraisal question.
In the news, this was sent to me by a fellow art historian, I had been cleaning out an old desk and found my dissertation on "Degenerate Art" from the Nazi regime, thought it made for a good read. Enjoy. Have a great day. http://glclk.about.com/?zi=12/5qQd

Glitter and Doom
German Portraits from the 1920s
A Special Exhibition Review by Gail S. Myhre






Otto Dix (German, 1891-1969)
The Dancer Anita Berber, 1925
Oil and tempera on plywood

What is that saying about Karma?

Karma...it really can bite you in the ass. Last month in the Ukraine, at the Museum of Western and Eastern Art in Odessa, a version of Caravaggio's "Taking of Christ" was taken itself, right out of the museum.

Now initially I was stunned and saddened, I knew there were copies of the original but I didn't think the original was in Odessa, then again maybe it went on loan to this museum. (As a side note, to those of you interested in the dynamics of this piece I recommend "The Lost Caravaggio" it's a great book, and it explains the long road to this painting's true discovery.) To my relief, it was in fact a copy that was stolen. Sweet isn't it? The thieves go through such a barbaric act by cutting it right out of it's frame for what? As if the act of stealing art isn't barbaric but still, even thieves could be gentle with the pieces they are pillaging. In any event, it serves them right, although it is a beautiful copy, it is old and it does demonstrate the fabulous technique perfected by Signor Merisi, we all know, a copy, is a copy, is a copy. It's not by the Master himself, it doesn't matter how good it is, to take a risk of that caliber and target Caravaggio and not have the real thing? What are they going to do with it? A private collector will be stuck with a copy, it can't go back on the market.

I'd sure like to be the fly on the wall when and if they realized..."wait you mean it's not the original?" Now reports indicate that the security system was lax at this museum, honestly folks, if this museum had the original do you really think they wouldn't have the security system up to date? Please. All in all, it serves them right. I'm telling you guys, don't mess with Karma.

Image credit:
Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (Italian, 1571-1610)The Taking of Christ, 1602
Oil on canvas
135.5 x 169.5 cm
Society of Jesus of Ireland, on loan to the National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin

Here's to a great artist

For those of you who don't know, I show some of my own art at The Waterloo 7 Gallery. The owner, Jerry Schmidt is a fantastic sculptor, as is his amazing son Tyler. I love these two. Jerry's creativity is endless, he is inspiring and energizing, he reminds me of what it means to be a true artist. Recently, the Plain Dealer Newspaper did a fantastic write up of him, his work, his gallery and his contribution to his community. He is also featured in their blog which I now encourage everyone to read. Enjoy the rest of your Saturday afternoon!

http://blog.cleveland.com/lifestyles/2008/08/welded_generations_as_his_fath.html

Coming up.... a Caravaggio was stolen! I'll talk about what happend, what it means for the prized piece and so on....the madness continues!