Wales Hospice to Auction Artwork by ‘Britain’s most violent prisoner’

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The Beacon of Hope hospice has acquired two sketches by Charles Bronson, known as ‘Britain’s most violent prisoner’ for a charity auction. The acquisition is a result of an approach by one of The Beacon of Hope’s clients to Bronson, asking him to support the charity. Bronson sent a touching reply saying that he now wants to make amends to society and is very keen that his work should benefit worthy charities such as The Beacon of Hope. Bronson donated two sketches to the hospice that will be auctioned at the RAFA Club in Aberystwyth on April 17th at 7.30pm.

Charles Bronson was initially sent to prison for an armed robbery at a post office in 1974, which netted him £26.18 and a seven year prison sentence. Since his incarceration began, his sentence has be extended for crimes committed inside prison, which include causing grievous bodily harm, wounding, criminal damage, false imprisonment

Bronson sketch Royal Special, depicting The Prince of Wales' love of gardening
Bronson sketch Royal Special, depicting Prince Charles' love of gardening
of hostages, blackmail and threatening to kill judges. Bronson has
only had a brief four month period of freedom since his incarceration, and all but four years of his time in prison have been spent in solitary confinement.

The hospice’s development manager Dana Edwards said: “The two signed sketches sent to the charity are very different – one is a cartoon of Prince Charles depicting his love of gardening and the other apparently depicts Bronson himself as a caged madman.”

Edwards went on to say: “It is in his usual style and makes a political point about the lack of human rights given to prisoners. Both are colourful with very controlled pen work but the imagery used in the latter sketch is forceful and thought-provoking.”

Bronson has won a record 11 Koestler Awards for his poetry and art, as well as publishing a number of books about his time with the

Charles Bronson - A portrait on himself.
Charles Bronson - A portrait of himself.
infamous Kray brothers and other underworld associates. The story of Bronson’s life has recently been told in a biographical movie called Bronson the Movie, released in the UK in March of 2009.

Ms. Edwards is very hopeful that people interested in gaining insight into what life is like for some prisoners will snap up these sketches, noting that a Kray landscape recently raised £2,530. The Beacon of Hope provides a ‘Hospice at Home’ service throughout Ceredigion and neighbouring areas. Additional information about The Beacon of Hope hospice is available at The Beacon of Hope .org.uk

Royal Art to be Auctioned for Penny Brohn Cancer Care Charity

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Penny Brohn Cancer Care will auction an artist’s proof of a watercolour painting by The Prince of Wales during an exhibition scheduled for October 3-5th, 2008, along with works by other artists. The exhibition will take place at the new Penny Brohn Cancer Care facility in Pill, just outside of Bristol.

Artist proof of The Thyme Walk by Prince Charles Penny Brohn Cancer Care, formerly known as the Bristol Cancer Help Centre, is the first and leading holistic cancer charity in the UK. The exhibition is certain to be impressive, as it will also feature artists from Bristol Savages arts club and The Royal West of England Academy. Over 100 artists will participate in the exhibition, permitting visitors to see new talent and purchase pieces from the artists.

Watercolour by Prince CharlesHis Royal Highness The Prince of Wales’ artwork that will be auctioned is a painting of his renowned organic herb garden at his Highgrove Estate. The signed artist’s proof titled ‘The Thyme Walk, Highgrove House’ is a fitting piece for the for Penny Brohn Cancer Care art auction. The Highgrove Estate uses a holistic system of organic gardening and Penny Brohn Cancer Care pioneered the holistic Bristol Approach to cancer treatment. A photograph of the Thyme Walk garden adorns the back cover of The Elements of Organic Gardening book by HRH Prince Charles and co-author Stephanie Donaldson.

The charity art auction is expected to have sales of £50,000 from the auction of over 400 pieces. Fundraising manager Julian Withers stated, “we are privileged to have His Royal Highness as our Patron and delighted that he has made this most generous donation. All profits raised will help us with our life-changing work caring for people with cancer and their families and friends.”

The exhibition is October 3rd through the 5th, with the auction scheduled for Sunday October 5th. For additional information about the charity and the exhibition visit: www.pennybrohncancercare.org or telephone: 01275 370073

Johannes Vermeer: The techniques of the Dutch painter

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A look at the life and painting techniques of Johannes Vermeer, painter of "Girl with a Pearl Earring."

By Alina Bradford
(Originally Published by Suite 101)

Image Courtesy of Zenodot Verlagsgesellschaft mbH

Johannes Vermeer or Jan Vermeer (1632-1675), best known for his painting “Girl with a Pearl Earring,” was a Dutch painter who loved to paint domestic interiors, portraits and city views. Possibly trained by Leonaert Bramer or Carel Fabritius, Vermeer was a Master in the Delft painters' guild from 1653, and was considered a very fine painter in his lifetime, though his skill was nearly forgotten until 1866 when art critic Thoré Burger published an essay attributing 66 pictures to him. It came to light that only 34 paintings were actually by Vermeer, but it still brought the painter back into the spotlight.

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Impressionist Paintings set more record prices at Christie’s

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Claude Monet's Le Bassin Aux Nympheas fetched at £40.92 million Christie's Impressionist and Modern Art auction last night. The painting of waterlillies floating on water sold for more than double its pre sale estimate and the double the prior record for a Monet.

According to The Wall Street Journal, 15 of the 81 pieces up for auction did not sell. The 66 items that did sell brought in more than £144.44 million. Demand for art continues to increase, regardless of traditional economic indicators.

Other artwork also set record prices as well. Henry Moore's Draped Reclining Woman set a record of £4.2 million for a Moore work. Edgar Degas' Danseuses à la barre brought in more than £13.48 million, Les fleurs by Nathalia Goncharova brought in more than £5.5 million and Pablo Picasso's La carafe (Bouteille et verre) realized £3.74 million.

How high will the market go?

Hirst to Offer `Golden Calf’ for 12 Million Pounds at Sotheby’s

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June 19 (Bloomberg) -- Damien Hirst said he will offer a sculpture of a gold-trimmed bull, The Golden Calf, that he expects to fetch up to 12 million pounds ($23.5 million) at a Sotheby's London auction of his works in September.

The "Beautiful Inside My Head Forever'' auction on Sept. 15 and 16 is Sotheby's...

Read Scott Reyburn's full article about the Hirst sale at Bloomberg.com