The Met exhibition visits painting of 18th-century Mexico

Juan Patricio Morlete Ruiz (Mexico, 1713-1772),’Portrait of Doña María Tomasa Durán López de Cárdenas,’ c. 1762. Galería Coloniart. Collection of Felipe Siegel, Anna and Andrés Siegel, Mexico City

NEW YORK — The vitality and inventiveness of artists in 18th-century New Spain (Mexico) is the focus of the exhibition “Painted in Mexico, 1700-1790: Pinxit Mexici,” opening April 24 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

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The Buddha in art steeped in tradition

This antique gilt medicine Buddha seated in dhyanasana on a double-lotus base fetched $550,000 at Tokyo LA Gallery Auction Center in September 2017. The figure holds an aruna fruit in his right hand and in his left, a jar of medicinal nectar. Dyanasana refers to the meditation position in which a Buddha is usually shown: seated and cross-legged. Photo courtesy of Tokyo LA Gallery Auction Center and LiveAuctioneers

NEW YORK – The Indian prince Siddhārtha Gautama, born in the sixth century B.C. in the Himalayan foothills to become known as Buddha (or the Enlightened One), is reported to have said, “Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.” In the fourth and fifth centuries B.C., as a great age of intellectualism was sweeping the world (think Socrates, Plato and Confucius), the Buddha was transforming Indian philosophy and religion.

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Nebraskan Aaron Gunn Pyle paintings hang in hometown library

Aaron Gunn Pyle (1903-1972), ‘The Horses,’ egg tempera on panel egg tempera on Masonite, 6.5 x 8.75 in. Price realized: $4,000 plus the buyer’s premium. Image courtesy LiveAuctioneers and Soulis Auctions

CHAPPELL, Neb. (AP) — One of the Nebraska panhandle’s best-kept secrets isn’t a secret at all. It’s hanging in plain sight on the walls of the Chappell Memorial Library and Art Gallery. The red brick building is unassuming but it is no ordinary public library.

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Richard Petty appearance a warmup for Julien’s Auctions event

Richard Petty’s 1974 Dodge Charger, the car that he drove to his fifth and sixth Grand National/Winston Cup Series championships in 1974 and 1975. Estimate: $400,000-$600,000. Julien’s Auctions image

LAS VEGAS – Seven-time NASCAR champion “The King” Richard Petty will make an appearance at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on Friday, March 2, to promote the upcoming auction of his racing memorabilia collection. Julien’s Auctions will sell “Property from the Collection of Richard Petty” at the resort on May 12.

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Parts of Ramses II statue found in southern Egypt

Egypt’s Kom Ombo Temple, where the Ramses II statue was found. Image by Dennis Jarvis from Halifax, Canada. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.

CAIRO (AP) – Egypt says archaeologists have discovered parts of a statue of one of its most famous pharaohs in the southern city of Aswan.

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Hake’s to auction once-in-a-lifetime comics & original art, Mar. 13-15

Detective Comics #27 CGC 5.0 (May 1939) featuring the first appearance of Batman, then known as “The Bat-Man. Est. $500,000-$1 million

YORK, Pa. – After a 50th anniversary year whose record-setting sales far surpassed all expectations, Hake’s Americana is on track for another blockbuster year in 2018. A full two weeks ahead of its March 13-15 auction, Hake’s had already recorded more than $1 million in absentee bids, with the numbers flipping rapidly upward with each passing hour.

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Antique dealer admits to forging desk later bought by museum

The Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, Connecticut. Image by Daderot at the English language Wikipedia. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A man says he forged a Civil War-era artifact in Connecticut that was once described as a “treasure to behold for art and history buffs alike.”

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Japanese woodblock print sale March 6 offers 1st editions

Utagawa Hiroshige, ‘View of Miho Bay in Suruga Province,’ rare fan print, 1845-46, first edition, uchiwa-e size, 9.5 x 14.5 in. Estimate: $1,000-$1,200. Jasper52 image

NEW YORK — Jasper52, a leading purveyor of antique Japanese woodblock prints, will present another outstanding collection in an online auction Tuesday, March 6. Subjects range from geographic landmarks such as Mount Fuji to beautiful geisha. Many of the lots in this Marquee Japanese Woodblock Prints Auction are original first impressions. Absentee and Internet live bidding is available through LiveAuctioneers.

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Spring arrives in Round Top with Marburger Farm Antique Show

Marsha Smith, Cottonseed Trading Company’s setup at last fall’s show in Round Top, Texas. Marburger Farm Antique Show image

ROUND TOP, Texas – When the writer Henry James visited England, he declared the most beautiful words in the English language to be “summer afternoon.” But in Round Top, Texas, the hands-down best words are: a Spring Day at Marburger Farm Antique Show.

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Washington button sets $225K record at Heritage Auctions

This rare George Washington portrait inaugural button quickly surpassed its $50,000 estimate and sold for a record-setting $225,00. Heritage Auctions image

DALLAS, Texas — Not only did the earliest artifact referring to George Washington as the “Father of His Country” set a world record when it sold for $225,000 in Heritage Auction’s Feb. 24 American & Political Auction, but the sale itself set a world record as the highest grossing auction of political memorabilia collection ever offered. Absentee and Internet bidding was available through LiveAuctioneers.

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