Illustration from Mr. Bliss , a little-known children’s book by J. R. R. Tolkien
Recent links of interest:
The story of the first painting to sell for over a million pounds
Richard Cork, The Spectator
“Even the most hardened dealers sitting in the audience breathed gasps of disbelief. Then there was a spontaneous burst of applause. The auctioneer left his rostrum, the painting was hastily removed, and sheer pandemonium broke out.”
Why I am teaching a course called “Wasting Time On the Internet”
Kenneth Goldsmith, The New Yorker
Yes, please do explain. (Also, shouldn’t I have been granted an advanced degree by now?)
In a New Napoleonic Era, His Hats and Stockings Rise to Power
Patrick Reevell, New York Times
Napoleon ephemera is hot, meaning our Napoleon: A Life launch party was very on trend. Don’t you wish you were a Friend?
A Raspberry for Emetic Music
Simon Heffer, Standpoint
“I listen to a lot of modern classical music. I never want to hear most of it again.”
When Did the Art World Get So Conservative?
Jerry Saltz, Vulture
I’m not sure “conservative” is the right word for what’s being described, but the sacred cows are breeding at a rapid rate.
From our pages:
The German Plath
Jeffrey Meyers
Sylvia’s German roots pervaded her life and work, often in unsettling ways.