Siena sets art auction

By MAUREEN MCGUINNESS- | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

Calls have been coming into Siena College in Loudonville from as far away as Canada, Italy and England.

While Siena offers a fine education, the recent interest is not in the school itself but rather in its art collection.

On May 30, the college will host the Siena Art and Antiques Auction where internationally renowned masters' paintings will be auctioned.

Significant event

"This has been billed by the art community as the most important auction outside of metropolitan New York for 1998," said Sharon Burstein, director of public relations for the college.

Top dealers from around the world have already shown an interest in the auction, especially in Giuseppi Sciuti's "Frederick Barbarosas' Triumphant Entrance into Palermo," which is appraised at $10,000, and Adrian Moreau's "Fete Galante," valued at $15,000.

Other works to be featured include old masters' paintings, those from the Hudson River School, and 19th-century European paintings and bronzes.

Art for art

More than 100 pieces of art are from Siena's own collection (many of them bequeathed to the school over the years) with an equal number coming from local estates. Proceeds will go towards the purchase of modern works of art for the J. Spencer and Patricia Standish Library, which is currently under construction.

BY selling some of its vast art collection, the college will be able to decorate the new building with modern regional art. It will also allow Siena students to be exposed to a wide variety of styles.

"We have a wealth of masters' artwork," Ms. Burstein said. "We're by no means getting rid of all of our art. This will allow us to diversify our art portfolio."

While the expensive art and antiques being offered at the auction are generating world-wide interest, there will also be a wide range of works that will appeal to a variety of collectors. "As in any auction, it is a mixed bag of tricks," Ms. Burstein said.

(All artworks may be previewed May 28-30 in the Dawson Library. The auction will begin on May 30 at 6:30 p.m. in a tent adjacent to the library. There will also be a paid admission preview party on the campus at 4:30 p.m. on May 30. For more information, call 783-2431.)

(05-21-98) [[In-content Ad]]