Tag Archives: england

New Sentencing Guidelines show their teeth

Posted on: April 20, 2016 by Emily Gould

It was heartening to read the report by Cahal Milmo in the i newspaper last week about the first application of the new Sentencing Guidelines for theft offences. The guidelines urge courts to take into account the special nature of heritage assets when sentencing offenders for theft crimes, giving official recognition to the devastating harm […]

Access to Art: the good news and the not so good…

Posted on: April 7, 2016 by Emily Gould

Significant developments on three of the stories we’ve been watching closely of late appeared in the news this week: Firstly, that the deferral on an export licence for the Sekhemka Statue has now been lifted, so it will almost certainly be leaving these shores before too long. Secondly, that pieces from the Gurlitt art hoard […]

Orphan Works Update

Posted on: February 1, 2016 by Emily Gould

What do you do if you want to reproduce an artwork but have no idea who holds the rights in it? What options are available to the museum keen to create a new online resource of paintings, but with no record of who owns the copyright? Back in November 2014 we reported on two new […]

2016 IAL Diploma course begins next month

Posted on: January 15, 2016 by Ruth Redmond-Cooper

The Institute of Art & Law’s Diploma in Art Profession Law and Ethics course (DipAPLE) is set to begin next month, comprising seven monthly sessions running from February to July 2016. DipAPLE, which has been running for ten years, is an intensive and interactive course open both to lawyers and professionals from the art market or museum […]

Richard III and the upcoming conference

Posted on: November 23, 2015 by Ruth Redmond-Cooper

For those interested in the legal dispute surrounding the discovery, analysis and reinterment of the bones of Richard III, King of England from 1483-1485 (of Shakespearean “kingdom for a horse” fame), on Saturday barrister Harry Martin will be discussing the issues that arose in the judicial review hearing before the High Court in 2013-2014. Harry, a member […]

Consistory Court denies request to examine “Shakespeare” skull

Posted on: November 6, 2015 by Richard Harwood QC

“Alas poor William… or whoever.” There is a local tradition that a skull in a vault in St Leonard’s Church, Beoley (which is now part of Redditch) is that of William Shakespeare. Two late Nineteenth Century articles said that Dr Frank Chambers, a local doctor, heard at a dinner at Ragley Hall in 1794 that […]

Upcoming conference: Recent Developments in Art and Cultural Property Law

Posted on: October 29, 2015 by Ruth Redmond-Cooper

We are happy to announce an upcoming one-day conference to be held in London on 28th November 2015 entitled Recent Developments in Art and Cultural Property Law (pdf flyer here). The conference will cover a number of new and exciting legal trends in the area involving: the new sentencing guidelines for heritage crimes the new Museums Association Code of […]

Rembrandt export application dropped

Posted on: October 28, 2015 by Alexander Herman

It has been reported by the BBC that the export application submitted by the new owner of a £35 million Rembrandt (covered here) has now been withdrawn. The work will therefore remain in the UK and will potentially be loaned by the owner to a museum or gallery in this country. One wonders if the next step […]

Temporary export hold on rare Rembrandt portrait

Posted on: October 19, 2015 by Alexander Herman

Rembrandt’s late career Portrait of Catrina Hooghsaet is the subject of the UK Culture Minister’s latest export licence deferral. The painting, which had been in the collection of the Welsh aristocratic Douglas-Pennant family, was reported to have been sold earlier this year for £35 million. An export licence has been sought, but the Minister, based upon […]

Guess who’s back?

Posted on: October 12, 2015 by Alexander Herman

Goya’s Marquesa de Santa Cruz is back in London. Those with long memories will know that this painting by Spanish artist Francisco Goya had been taken out of Spain in the mid 1980s and brought to auction at Christie’s in London, only to incur the ire of the Spanish government. The work had left Spain in 1983 accompanied by forged […]