ART FACTS
Do you know your imposter from your impasto? We’ve delved into our history archives to uncover some surprising facts. Our whistle-stop tour of the art world starts here.
Simon Claridge, Penny Black, Pink
HAVE I SEEN YOU SOMEWHERE? When asked to name the most reproduced artwork in the world, you may be tempted to cite Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Mona Lisa’. However, it is in fact the humble British stamp. Untouched for over 50 years, the iconic image of Queen Elizabeth II was created as a plaster cast in 1967 by Arnold Machin OBE, and is believed to have been reprinted approximately 220 billion times since. Postage stamps were first introduced in the UK in 1840, with the launch of the Penny Black. Featuring an engraving of the young Queen Victoria, they revolutionised postal delivery for people all over the world.
HANGING HORROR While the focus is often on the artwork, hanging is pretty important too. Staff at New York’s Museum of Modern Art may have missed the reminder about this, as they left Henri Matisse’s ‘Le Bateau’ hanging upside down for 46 days in 1961. In 2017, technology giant Samsung launched The Frame: an ultra-thin TV that allows viewers to show off artworks or their own photographs. With a customisable frame, viewers can also access a range of classic and contemporary pieces through the Art Store.
We still think we prefer a good old- fashioned painting though!
20 FINE ART COLLECTOR SPRING 2018
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