Travis Simpkins

Monday, November 3, 2014

The Da Vinci Code (2006): Murder and Mystery at the Louvre

Directed by Ron Howard, based on the best-selling novel by Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code (2006) was unavoidably met with controversy and protest. In the story, a murder at the Louvre triggers a quest that involves seeking the true Holy Grail and exposing the greatest cover-up in history, that Jesus Christ fathered a child with Mary Magdalene and his bloodline continues to the present day. Secret organizations the Priory of Sion and Opus Dei are featured prominently. Filmed at great cultural and historical landmarks throughout France and the United Kingdom, the cinematography is excellent. Symbolism, riddles, Art, puzzles and mystery make for a thrilling two and a half hours. The actors all do a fine job, including Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon, Audrey Tautou as Sophie Neveu, Ian McKellen, Paul Bettany and Alfred Molina.

Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou and the Mona Lisa: The Da Vinci Code

Audrey Tautou and Tom Hanks at the Louvre: The Da Vinci Code

Audrey Tautou and Tom Hanks: The Da Vinci Code

"The Last Supper" by Leonardo da Vinci: The Da Vinci Code

Mary Magdalene and Audrey Tautou: The Da Vinci Code

Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellen and Tom Hanks: The Da Vinci Code

Audrey Tautou and the cryptex: The Da Vinci Code

Paul Bettany and Audrey Tautou: The Da Vinci Code

Audrey Tautou and the Dark Con of Man: The Da Vinci Code

Audrey Tautou and Tom Hanks: The Da Vinci Code

Audrey Tautou: The Da Vinci Code

"The Da Vinci Code"- movie trailer

Sunday, November 2, 2014

LCS News: Stolen Cavalier, Cellini Saliera Theft Post

LCS News: Stolen Cavalier, Cellini Theft, Travis Simpkins

Read the full News feature HERE:

LCS: Stolen Cavalier- Cellini's "Worthless" $60 Million Salt Cellar

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Research: Worcester Art Museum "Then and Now" by Travis Simpkins. Update #19

-The first photo, from 1910, was taken from the entryway looking into the west gallery of the third floor. Natural light bathes the room and illuminates a symmetrical series of portraits and landscapes. The row of paintings consists largely of what was then Contemporary Art, American Impressionism, intermingled with some Colonial and Hudson River works. Today, the same spot finds the onlooker gazing into the American Decorative Arts Gallery. Companion portraits by Gilbert Stuart frame a view of Revere silver and, further on, Whistler's "Arrangement in Black and Brown (The Fur Jacket)."
-The second "Then and Now" composition contrasts the inaugural exhibition in the first floor Hiatt gallery in 1984 with the recently opened "Stencil-dyed Japanese Folk Art Calendars". Brilliantly displayed against a green backdrop, the new exhibition consists of works from the Judith and Paul Falcigno collection.

-The sketch is of the lovely vase (circa 1900) by M. Louise McLaughlin, with an entwined flower motif, on display in the Decorative Arts gallery.

-In the summer of 2010, I put the Worcester Art Museum in contact with my friend and collector, Paul Falcigno. Paul was the owner of a large collection of 20th Century Japanese Prints, for which he was looking to find a permanent home. He was considering offers from other museums, but I thought WAM would be a good fit. Paul met with Asian Art Curator Louise Virgin, and promptly agreed. His generosity led to the gift of over 300 works of Art to the collection in late 2010. The gift included 94 works by Yoshida Toshi, giving WAM the distinction of owning one of the largest collections of works by the artist in the United States. In the past year alone, from 2013 to 2014, the prints given by Mr. Falcigno have been the subject of four exhibitions at the Worcester Art Museum: Silent Gardens, Looking West and Looking East, Five Works by Three Generations of Yoshida Family Artists and Stencil-dyed Japanese Folk Art Calendars. In June of last year, two months before Paul passed away at the age of 83, he and his wife, Judy (an old friend as well), visited WAM to see their collection in it's new home. Watching the proud expression on Paul's face upon seeing the works being enjoyed by museum visitors will always be one of the fondest memories of my time at the Worcester Art Museum. On that last visit, characteristic of his generous nature, Paul brought a Yoshida Toshi triptych along as a present for the occasion. Those three new artworks will join the hundreds of others he donated, entering the permanent collection later this year.