News

December 16, 2024

Rare Caravaggio Painting Emerges and Is Publicly Displayed for the First Time Ever

Michelangelo Merisi, better known as Caravaggio, has had a profound impact upon Baroque art. Throughout his short yet storied life (he died in 1610 at the age of 38), he produced some of art history’s most vivid paintings, each demonstrating a masterful command over light, movement, and emotion. Caravaggio, however, was not known for painting portraits. This fact is what makes the first-ever display of his portrait of Maffeo Barberini so incredible.

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December 4, 2024

Sculpture Bought for $6 and Used as Doorstop Is Actually 18th-Century Marble Bust Worth $3M

In 1930, Scotland’s Highlands Council bought an 18th-century marble bust for £5 (about $6.35) at auction (approximately £408 or $517 in today’s money, adjusted for inflation), not realizing its rich history. Now, nearly 100 years later, the bust has been valued at an incredible £2.5 million (a little over $3 million). The bust depicts Sir John Gordon, a prominent landowner and presumed founder of the town of Invergordon in Scotland.

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November 26, 2024

Judy Garland’s Iconic Ruby Slippers From ‘The Wizard of Oz’ Are up for Auction, 20 Years After Being Stolen

Originally released in 1939, The Wizard of Oz is considered one of the best movies of all time. Its immense popularity stems not only from its impactful musical score, storytelling, and cinematography, but also its memorable imagery, including Dorothy’s ruby slippers. Now, the iconic shoes worn by Judy Garland herself are up for auction. The bidding event , organized by Heritage Auctions (HA), is slated to conclude at 11:00 a.m. CST on Saturday, December 7.

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November 8, 2024

RIP Elwood Edwards: Voice of AOL’s “You’ve Got Mail!” Dies at 74

The voice behind AOL’s iconic “You’ve got mail!” announcement, Elwood Edwards, has died at 74 after battling a long illness. The news was reported by WKYC, a local Ohio station where Edwards worked for many years. If you were around in the mid-90s, you might recall opening your email inbox to hear Edwards’ cheerful “You’ve got mail!” greeting without realizing it was voiced by a real person.

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