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Sculptures behind the Renaissance

When you think of the great Renaissance works, one tends to focus on oil paintings and the painters. But without the sculptors who paved the way, we would have no Botticelli, Leonardo or Raphael. Renaissance really began in a few decades at the beginning of the 15th century in Florence, and a superb exhibition "The Springtime of the Renaissance" at Palazzo Strozzi in Florence maps out this artistic revolution and brings together a treasure-studded retrospective of sculpture through Western art's most important era. Speaking of the exhibition, curator Beatrice Paolozzi Strozzi says "the exhibition aims to show that the origin of this revolution, which lasted two centuries, was sculpture."

Works by masters including Donatello and Masaccio, Brunelleschi and Paolo Uccello have been loaned for the unprecedented show, with works coming from collections including the Louvre in Paris, the Bargello Museum in Florence, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Bode-Museum in Berlin, the Metropolitan in New York and the National Gallery in Washington.

Donatello, "Madonna Pazzi" circa 1420 marble, 74.5 x 73 x 6.5 cm Bode-Museum, Berlin

Amongst the loans is the Cortona sarcophagus, carved with Amazon warriors and plunging centaurs, that Brunelleschi is said to have walked all the way from Florence to see. The Bode-Museum lent a magnificent work by Donatello known as the "Madonna Pazzi" -- a marble statue used to create molds that were then used to cast copies in bronze. Speaking of this work, Beatrice Paolozzi Strozzi says:

"These moulds in terracotta or stucco were not that costly so that any store or convent could afford the statues in Florence and elsewhere. This allowed the aesthetic revolution to spread, including outside of Italy."

Copies of the molds were made especially for the exhibition and put on display where visitors are encouraged to touch them.

Congratulations are due to the three institutions behind this show: the Louvre and the Bargello Museum, both of which have amazing permanent holdings, and Palazzo Strozzi. The exhibition ends in Florence on 18th of August, and will travel to the Louvre in September, on view until 6th of January 2014. So plenty of chance to see it.

Art World Stars in Jay Z's new Music Video

World famous rapper/Samsung pitchman Jay Z just completed shooting his music video for "Picasso Baby" at the heart of the New York art scene, Pace Gallery in Chelsea. The song's lyrics is full of references to the art world (scroll down for the lyrics) and it feels only appropriate that several art superstars make guest appearances, including Marina Abramovic, Lawrence Weiner, Dana Schutz, Marilyn Minter, and Performa founder and director RoseLee Goldberg. Mickalene Thomas shared a dance with Jay Z, and Sanford Biggers sketched furiously while PS1 founder Alanna Heiss spun around the gallery with a cast on her leg. Dustin Yellin performed an impromptu break-dance. Ryan McNamara pulled people from the audience to the bench at the gallery’s center, and Rashid Johnson traded jabs with the hip-hop superstar. Sounds like a great party and wish we were there too!  It took 6 hours to shoot the video, watch parts of it here.

Picasso, Baby

I just want a Picasso, in my casa No, my castle I’m a hassa, no I’m an asshole I’m never satisfied, can’t knock my hustle I wanna Rothko, no I wanna brothel No, I want a wife that fuck me like a prostitute Let’s make love on a million, in a dirty hotel With the fan on the ceiling, all for the love of drug dealing Marble Floors, gold Ceilings Oh what a feeling – fuck it I want a billion Jeff Koons balloons, I just wanna blow up Condos in my condos, I wanna row of Christie’s with my missy, live at the MoMA Bacons and turkey bacons, smell the aroma [Hook] Oh what a feeling Picasso Baby, Ca Picasso baby Ca ca ca Picasso Baby, Ca ca ca Picasso baby Oh what a feeling x2 [Verse 2] It ain’t hard to tell I’m the new Jean Michel Surrounded by Warhols My whole team ball Twin Bugatti’s outside the Art Basel I just wanna live life colossal Leonardo Da Vinci flows Riccardo Tisci Givenchy clothes See me thrown at the Met Vogue’ing on these niggas Champagne on my breath, Yes House like the Louvre or the Tate Modern Because I be going ape at the auction Oh what a feeling Aw fuck it I want a trillion Sleeping every night next to Mona Lisa The modern day version With better features Yellow Basquiat in my kitchen corner Go ahead lean on that shit Blue You own it *break* [Verse 3] I never stuck my cock in the fox’s box but Damned if I didn’t open Pandora’s box They try to slander your man On CNN and Fox My Miranda don’t stand a chance, with cops Even my old fans like old man just stop I could if I would but I can’t I’m hot, and you blow I’m still the man to watch, Hublot On my left hand or not Soon I step out the booth The cameras pops niggas is cool with it Till the canons pop Now my hand on the Bible On the stand got your man in a jam, again Got my hands in cuffs I’m like god damn enough I put down the cans and they ran amok My hairpin pierce skin, ruptures spleens Cracks ribs, go through cribs, and other things No sympathy for the king, huh? Niggas even talk about your baby crazy Eventually the pendulum swings Don’t forget America this how you made me Come through with ‘Ye mask on Spray everything like SAMO Though I won’t scratch the Lambo What’s it gonna to take For me to go For y’all to see I’m the modern day Pablo Picasso baby [Hook 2x] XX