Here’s an exhibition on my list to visit the next time I’m in the city: Frick’s Vermeers Reunited at, of course, the Frick.  The steel giant owned three of the mysterious Northern master’s enigmatic paintings, which are usually displayed in separate areas of the mansion-museum.  At this point, because there are so few uncontested Vermeers (the usual number is 36, give or take), his paintings almost never travel and, as a result, it’s very rare to be able to see even a few Vermeers right next to each other.  This is a fantastic opportunity to compare three very different Vermeers from various periods during his life, right next to each other.

Frick’s Vermeers Reunited | Now through November 2, 2008 | The Frick Collection, 1 East 70th St. | Image above from the Frick exhibition website.

We all know about the Met’s new director, but it seems director jobs are in flux throughout the museum world.  Richard Armstrong, longtime director of a museum close to my heart and home, the Carnegie Museum of Art, has just recently been appointed director of the Guggenheim Foundation.  The Carnegie has been a leader in contemporary and modern art for a long time (see my review on this year’s Carnegie International), so Armstrong is a logical next choice.  I’ll be interested to see what the Guggenheim does under his direction — congratulations to him.

News from Artforum.com

A little tacky? Perhaps. A little pricey? True. But, as a total art history nerd, do I still sort of want one? Yup.  (Get one from Modern Dose; via CasaSugar.)

PS: Forgive the lack of more hefty posts lately, but let this little Aphrodite-bust bookshelf tide you over until I post some more meaty content…