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Muncaster Castle's secret wartime art mission – BBC.com

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By Ian Haslam

Cumbria Tourism Muncaster CastleCumbria Tourism
Some 700 pictures, including works by Van Gogh, Turner and Manet, were relocated to the castle

A castle has been remembered for its role in protecting hundreds of valuable paintings during World War Two.

The collection was secretly moved to Muncaster Castle in Cumbria from The Tate Gallery in London, which had become a target for German bombing raids.

Nine men from the gallery, known as “The Picture Men”, travelled with the collection.

They also kept a round-the-clock patrol of the rooms holding the masterpieces.

Van Gough Sunflowers
Muncaster was chosen for the relocation because of its remote location

Historian Dr Rob David said more than 700 pieces, including works by Van Gogh, Turner and Manet, were relocated to the castle in secret on 24 August, 1939.

“It was a big scale thing,” he said.

“If you think that 700 or 800 of the nation’s greatest pictures were stored here in addition to the castle itself, it does add a very big amount to what must have been a high insurance bill from the point of view of guarding it and looking after it.

“It was kept secret and no one, not even people in this part of the world, apart from maybe a few local people, cottoned onto that.

“The most famous painting, looking at the list now, would be Van Gogh.

“They survived the war because they were brought here.”

The Tate Gallery – now known as Tate Britain – was badly damaged during the London Blitz in September 1940.

Art in the gallery
The collection was secretly moved from The Tate Gallery – now known as Tate Britain – in London

Muncaster was chosen for the relocation due to its remote location in western Cumbria, an area that had been safe from the German bombing raids.

However, concerns that it may come under attack began to grow when Barrow was bombed in 1941.

“The Barrow Blitz was probably the most frightening moment that the Tate men had,” Dr David said.

“If Barrow was being bombed, it meant this area wasn’t as safe as they had hoped.”

Barrow bombing
Barrow was bombed in 1941

At the time, Muncaster Castle was the Cumberland home of Sir John and Lady Ramsden.

Sir Peter Frost Pennington’s wife’s family have lived in the castle for 800 years.

He said Sir John was happy to receive the art because it meant the castle did not have to take in any evacuees.

“He was overjoyed because it protected us from the threatened hoards of small children,” he said.

“It’s fascinating that now we love having small children here, enjoying the place but Sir John obviously didn’t want loads of kids running around.

“Many places like Muncaster were requisitioned for the war effort, and to get the Tate here he must have been cock-a-hoop.”

Cumbria Tourism Newspaper articleCumbria Tourism
Sir John Ramsden was happy to receive the art because it meant the castle did not have to take in evacuees

When the war ended, the castle’s secret wartime mission was finally revealed.

“Newspapers picked up on it very quickly, particularly because Muncaster was the furthest place from London where anything was stored,” Dr David said.

“They had interviewed some of the people who had been here for five or six years, Londoners who suddenly found themselves in the middle of the countryside.

“It had to be worth it.

“Had any of the pictures remained in London, the chances are they would have been very badly damaged.

He added that Muncaster Castle had played “a very significant part” in World War Two because “we can go to the Tate collection and see the paintings.”

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A misspelled memorial to the Brontë sisters gets its dots back at last

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LONDON (AP) — With a few daubs of a paintbrush, the Brontë sisters have got their dots back.

More than eight decades after it was installed, a memorial to the three 19th-century sibling novelists in London’s Westminster Abbey was amended Thursday to restore the diaereses – the two dots over the e in their surname.

The dots — which indicate that the name is pronounced “brontay” rather than “bront” — were omitted when the stone tablet commemorating Charlotte, Emily and Anne was erected in the abbey’s Poets’ Corner in October 1939, just after the outbreak of World War II.

They were restored after Brontë historian Sharon Wright, editor of the Brontë Society Gazette, raised the issue with Dean of Westminster David Hoyle. The abbey asked its stonemason to tap in the dots and its conservator to paint them.

“There’s no paper record for anyone complaining about this or mentioning this, so I just wanted to put it right, really,” Wright said. “These three Yorkshire women deserve their place here, but they also deserve to have their name spelled correctly.”

It’s believed the writers’ Irish father Patrick changed the spelling of his surname from Brunty or Prunty when he went to university in England.

Raised on the wild Yorkshire moors, all three sisters died before they were 40, leaving enduring novels including Charlotte’s “Jane Eyre,” Emily’s “Wuthering Heights” and Anne’s “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.”

Rebecca Yorke, director of the Brontë Society, welcomed the restoration.

“As the Brontës and their work are loved and respected all over the world, it’s entirely appropriate that their name is spelled correctly on their memorial,” she said.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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Calvin Lucyshyn: Vancouver Island Art Dealer Faces Fraud Charges After Police Seize Millions in Artwork

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In a case that has sent shockwaves through the Vancouver Island art community, a local art dealer has been charged with one count of fraud over $5,000. Calvin Lucyshyn, the former operator of the now-closed Winchester Galleries in Oak Bay, faces the charge after police seized hundreds of artworks, valued in the tens of millions of dollars, from various storage sites in the Greater Victoria area.

Alleged Fraud Scheme

Police allege that Lucyshyn had been taking valuable art from members of the public under the guise of appraising or consigning the pieces for sale, only to cut off all communication with the owners. This investigation began in April 2022, when police received a complaint from an individual who had provided four paintings to Lucyshyn, including three works by renowned British Columbia artist Emily Carr, and had not received any updates on their sale.

Further investigation by the Saanich Police Department revealed that this was not an isolated incident. Detectives found other alleged victims who had similar experiences with Winchester Galleries, leading police to execute search warrants at three separate storage locations across Greater Victoria.

Massive Seizure of Artworks

In what has become one of the largest art fraud investigations in recent Canadian history, authorities seized approximately 1,100 pieces of art, including more than 600 pieces from a storage site in Saanich, over 300 in Langford, and more than 100 in Oak Bay. Some of the more valuable pieces, according to police, were estimated to be worth $85,000 each.

Lucyshyn was arrested on April 21, 2022, but was later released from custody. In May 2024, a fraud charge was formally laid against him.

Artwork Returned, but Some Remain Unclaimed

In a statement released on Monday, the Saanich Police Department confirmed that 1,050 of the seized artworks have been returned to their rightful owners. However, several pieces remain unclaimed, and police continue their efforts to track down the owners of these works.

Court Proceedings Ongoing

The criminal charge against Lucyshyn has not yet been tested in court, and he has publicly stated his intention to defend himself against any pending allegations. His next court appearance is scheduled for September 10, 2024.

Impact on the Local Art Community

The news of Lucyshyn’s alleged fraud has deeply affected Vancouver Island’s art community, particularly collectors, galleries, and artists who may have been impacted by the gallery’s operations. With high-value pieces from artists like Emily Carr involved, the case underscores the vulnerabilities that can exist in art transactions.

For many art collectors, the investigation has raised concerns about the potential for fraud in the art world, particularly when it comes to dealing with private galleries and dealers. The seizure of such a vast collection of artworks has also led to questions about the management and oversight of valuable art pieces, as well as the importance of transparency and trust in the industry.

As the case continues to unfold in court, it will likely serve as a cautionary tale for collectors and galleries alike, highlighting the need for due diligence in the sale and appraisal of high-value artworks.

While much of the seized artwork has been returned, the full scale of the alleged fraud is still being unraveled. Lucyshyn’s upcoming court appearances will be closely watched, not only by the legal community but also by the wider art world, as it navigates the fallout from one of Canada’s most significant art fraud cases in recent memory.

Art collectors and individuals who believe they may have been affected by this case are encouraged to contact the Saanich Police Department to inquire about any unclaimed pieces. Additionally, the case serves as a reminder for anyone involved in high-value art transactions to work with reputable dealers and to keep thorough documentation of all transactions.

As with any investment, whether in art or other ventures, it is crucial to be cautious and informed. Art fraud can devastate personal collections and finances, but by taking steps to verify authenticity, provenance, and the reputation of dealers, collectors can help safeguard their valuable pieces.

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Ukrainian sells art in Essex while stuck in a warzone – BBC.com

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Ukrainian sells art in Essex while stuck in a warzone  BBC.com

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