Astronomy Astounds All

Farnese Atlas, Palazzo Strozzi, Florence

Example of Arader Galleries' selection of
Diderot's Astronomy Instruments

Diderot's Astronomy Instruments

“The strongest affection and utmost zeal should, I think, promote the studies concerned with the most beautiful objects. This is the discipline which deals with the universe’s divine revolutions, the stars’ motions, sizes, distances, risings, and settings . . . for what is more beautiful than heaven?” Copernicus, 1543

In celebration of the International Year of Astronomy, the Palazzo Strozzi in Florence, Italy has staged the exhibit: Galileo: Images of the Universe from Antiquity to the Telescope. Florence is home to one of the world’s leading research centers for astronomic research and the birthplace of Galileo, making it the perfect destination to accommodate the greatest exhibition on the history of astronomy. This exhibit traces the history of astronomy through its images and tools, illustrating how the heavens have been a source of mystery and fascination for all civilizations. Participants are taken back to the beginnings of the study of the heavens with the mystical and poetic visions of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. It then moves on to the Greek cosmogonies, through the planetary architectures of Ptolemy and Arab astronomy, revoking the Christian interpretations and finally arriving at the heliocentric theories of Copernicus that inspired Galileo and Kepler.

Highlights include the Farnese Atlas (on loan from the Museo Achelogico Nazionale, Naples) which is the oldest surviving celestial globe and the only map of the heavens from Greek and Roman antiquity, as well as the infamous telescope Galileo pointed up to the heavens exactly 400 years ago. The exhibition does an incredible job exploring the relationship between astronomy and astrology and the fascination that cosmology has always exerted on architecture and art.

Inspired by this world-class exhibit, Arader Galleries is pleased to present newly acquired prints, depicting astrological tools from Denis Diderot’s Dictionnaire Raisonné des Sciences et des Arts. These engravings are not only aesthetically striking but also serve to deepen our appreciation for how technology aids us in our desire to understand the universe. Namely, the telescope, more than any other tool, has enabled scientists to probe deeper into the cosmos, into the vastness of the heavens, and by consequence, completely change our conceptions of the universe and our relationship to it.

Please call 415.788.5115 for more information on Diderot’s Astronomy prints.
Please visit www.galileofirenze.it for more information on the Galileo exhibit.

Arader Galleries at Audubon Richardson Bay Center and Sanctuary

Arader Galleries would like to thank would like to thank the Richardson Bay Audubon Center and Sanctuary, along with all attendees of the Audubon exhibition for making this event a success. A spectacular collection of hand-colored engravings from John James Audubon's Birds of America was on display at the Lyford House, a historic landmark on the edge of the San Francisco Bay, throughout this past weekend. The Lyford House, one of the oldest houses surviving from the ranching era in Marin County, was the perfect setting for extraordinary collection of Audubon engravings. We were happy to see the enthusiastic reactions to the collection of Audubon as well as artwork by the naturalists Mark Catesby (1682-1749) and John Gould (1804-1881) also on display.

If you would like to inquire about any of the artwork on display, please call contact Arader Galleries at 415.788.5115.

For more information about the Richardson Bay Center and Sanctuary, visit www.tiburon.org.

Special Audubon Exhibition at the Lyford House: June 13th & 14th

John James Audubon (1785-1851)
Plate 161 - Hooping Crane (Sandhill Crane)

Lyford House at Richardson Bay, Tiburon

The Richardson Bay Audubon Center & Sanctuary and Arader Galleries welcome you to attend a special exhibition of works by John James Audubon at the Lyford House in Tiburon. Arader Galleries’ spectacular collection of original engravings from John James Audubon’s Birds of America (1827-1838) will be on display in this historic landmark on the edge of San Francisco Bay.

This special collection will be on view Saturday, June 13th and Sunday, June 14th from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Arader Galleries will donate 20% of all proceeds directly to The Richardson Bay Audubon Center & Sanctuary.

Please visit www.aradersf.com or call 415-788-5115 for more information. We hope to see you there!

Arader Galleries Hosts Botanical Watercolor Class

Arader Galleries was pleased to coordinate a botanical exhibition in honor of Mary Harden (botanical artist and educator) and her students Wednesday afternoon. Approximately 50 art enthusiasts gathered to study the splendor of Arader Galleries’ magnificent botanical collection. The exhibition included works by Georg Ehert, Baldassare Cattrani, Jacques Le Moyne, and lastly Pierre Joseph Redoute—the indisputable star.

Everyone was pleased to learn an exciting fact regarding the influence of Redoute on botanical art: Mary pointed out that stippling (technique in printmaking of carving small dots to which ink is applied to produce a greater or lesser density of ink, which simulates varying degrees of shading) is seen in numerous 19th century, hand drawn, botanical illustrations because artists drew directly from the minute study of Redoute’s hand-colored stipple engravings rather than from nature itself—therefore including unnatural elements such as stippling. The implication is clear: artists felt Redoute had depicted the elusive character of nature so exquisitely that it made drawing from nature seem obsolete!

Like most still-lifes, flowers permit artists to display refinement in their artistic methods, yet botanical artists distinguish themselves in that they examine their objects with scientific rigor while simultaneously employing sensitivity for the aesthetic means of its reproduction. Indeed, few subjects in art are more beguiling and universally admired than flower still-lifes.

Arader Galleries’ material provided the perfect platform for Mary as she found numerous examples enabling her to relay her extensive knowledge of the technical and aesthetic challenges botanical artists face, as well as history of botanical illustration. Arader Galleries would like to thank Mary and her students for joining us in our appreciation for rare works on paper. Please contact Arader Galleries at 415.788.5115 for more information on upcoming events!

2009 Designer Showcase

Cabinet of Curiosities designed by Nicole Hollis

Stairwell designed by Nicole Hollis

Garden View of Salzburg by Mathias Diesel

Natural history undeniably marks one of the standout trends from this year’s Designer Showcase. Upon entering the magnificent Georgian mansion, visitors are greeted by a monumental cabinet of curiosities—a tradition dating back to Renaissance Europe, where objects, whose categorical boundaries were yet to be defined, were showcased. It is easy to comprehend the design community’s interest in natural history as well as its lasting appeal, when considering the history of collecting. Initially, collections acted as a library, museum, and means of displaying an individual’s wealth. Indeed, these objects (on loan here from the California Academy of Sciences) invite observers to touch or study objects that are not only beautiful but also serve as remnants from the beginnings of collecting.

Along the main stairwell, butterflies and various other natural history prints hang, further indicating how living among references to the natural world can be richly fulfilling. Other examples of an adherence to natural history, include a prehistoric skeleton of a predatory marine reptile, located on the upper hallway, and pet portraiture which hangs along the stairwell leading to the penthouse.

The Study, designed by John Wheatman, achieves a timeless conformable retreat, making it one of our favorite rooms. Near the bookcase, hang lovely 18th century views of the Mirabelle Gardens in Salzburg, Austria. These engravings prove the importance of integrating art with design, for their presence contribute in large to the scholarly and leisurely atmosphere. Examples of picturesque Baroque gardens, these views are available through Arader Galleries.

Needless to say, the Designer Showcase is one of our favorite times of year. Inspiring elegant new design ideas, this event keeps us coming back year after year. Arader Galleries is pleased to offer a special catalog highlighting our natural history material. Please contact Arader Galleries at 415.788.5115 or email us to receive our Exploring the Natural World catalog.

The 2009 San Francisco Decorator Showcase is open through May 25 at 2830 Pacific Ave., San Francisco. Hours are 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. Tues., Wed. and Fri.; until 7 p.m. Thurs.; 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. Sunday and Memorial Day. Closed Mon., except Memorial Day. $30 at the door; $25 seniors. Proceeds benefit the financial aid program at San Francisco University High School. Please call (415) 447-5830 for more information.

2009 Los Angeles Art and Antiques Show

Arader Galleries had the pleasure of participating in the Los Angeles Art and Antique Show last month. Some of the world’s finest art and antiques dealer's gathered in the Barker Hangar at Santa Monica Air Center to display their treasures to Los Angeles’ most prominent designers and collectors. The money raised through The Antiques Show Catalogue and The Opening Night Preview Party went directly to P.S. ARTS, a non-profit organization that restores arts education programs to schools in California. Despite the adverse economic climate, approximately 5,000 – 7,000 patrons of the art and antiques world attended the show, indicating how richly fulfilling it is to live with pieces of history.

Arader Galleries would like to thank those who attended the show and we hope to see you again next year! Please contact the gallery at 415.788.5115 for more information on upcoming shows, or visit www.aradersf.com.

Beautiful Science: Ideas that Changed the World

Mark Catesby
From Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands
London, 1731-43

Science, which is beautiful in various and sometimes unexpected ways, has an unsurpassed power to bring about change. Often, scientific work has been accompanied by an alchemical mixture of creativity and logic, making art a likely and suitable affiliate. Indeed, art is part of the rich tapestry of expressing the history of science.

We highly recommend visiting the Huntington Library in Pasadena to see a wonderful permanent exhibition focusing on the magnificence of scientific discovery. The Beautiful Science: Ideas that Changed the World exhibit examines ideas from the history of science with respect to astronomy, natural history, medicine, and light. Through books, manuscripts, and objects, the exhibit highlights numerous ground breaking discoveries. For example, viewers will find Mark Catesby’s Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands, a publication which illustrates his observations of animals and plants in their natural environment in the eighteenth century. Similarly, Maria Sibylla Merian’s Metamorphosis insectorum Surinamensium is also on display, which documented many tropical species from Suriname for the first time in the late seventeenth century. These are two of several examples on display in this exhibit which demonstrate the exciting Age of Discovery.

Arader Galleries is not only pleased to offer selections from both of the influential and groundbreaking works by Catesby and Merian, but many other significant artists who also sought to understand and organize the living world. Our material visually illustrates how the wonder, curiosity, and discovery of artists like Catesby and Merian enriched the understanding of the natural world for contemporary as well as current audiences.

We encourage you to stop by the gallery at 435 Jackson Street to experience the beauty of these exceptional and historically important works of art. Please visit www.aradersf.com or call 415.788.5115 for more information.