Starting with good news: After more than 50 years and nearly 40 different Italian governments, Milan’s Brera Modern Gallery is set to open later this year to showcase modern art from the Pinacoteca di Brera collection. The official opening is scheduled for December 7, coinciding with the annual gala premiere of La Scala’s opera season, a major event in the European cultural calendar, as announced by officials on Monday.
Meanwhile, there are updates on the progress of two highly anticipated sequels. First, The Devil Wears Prada, which will feature Miranda Priestly battling a luxury brand outfit headed by former assistant Emily Charlton. Second, Shrek 5, which will be released 16 years after the last Shrek movie.
On Friday, July 12, Eminem’s latest album, The Death of Slim Shady, was released to mixed reviews from critics. In the US rapper’s 12th album, his alter ego Slim Shady meets his end. The album artwork depicts Shady in a body bag, and the music video for “Tobey” shows Eminem using a chainsaw on him. Clash magazine described the album as “a mixed bag,” calling it “an effective piece of fan service, while also being a record that disappoints.” Robin Murray wrote, “It doesn’t quite feel like an ending, but neither does it feel like a continuation. A mixed, often muddled album, it features some of Eminem’s best rapping in a decade – those fast, skippy-yet-intricate flows will never fail to thrill – but his pen is often blunted.” Prior to the release, Eminem informed fans that this is a “conceptual album” and the songs should be listened to in order.
This week, we lost several important figures from the cinematic industry. At age 63, Jon Landau, the Oscar-winning producer, passed away. Jon Landau played a pivotal role in realizing director James Cameron’s visions, making history in 1997 with Titanic, the first film to earn $1 billion worldwide. He surpassed this achievement twice, first with Avatar in 2009, and again with its sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water, in 2022.
A couple of days later, Shelley Duvall, star of The Shining and Annie Hall, also passed away. The versatile actress, who served as Robert Altman’s muse and appeared in films such as McCabe & Mrs. Miller, Nashville, Popeye, and 3 Women, died at the age of 75.
Thomas Hoepker, the renowned German photographer known for his iconic images of Muhammad Ali, the Berlin Wall, and the fall of the Twin Towers in 2001, also passed away.
On Thursday, a fire broke out in the spire of the cathedral in Rouen, famously painted by Monet. The blaze started at the top of the spire of the Gothic Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, located in the northern region of Normandy. The fire has now been contained, officials report, with three workers suffering from mild smoke inhalation.
Builders renovating the cathedral noticed flames around the spire shortly after midday and sounded the alarm, according to local authorities. Approximately 70 firefighters and 40 fire engines were involved in the efforts to extinguish the fire, fire brigade chief Stephane Gouezec told local media. Plastic parts of the construction site caught fire, Gouezec said, but the metal spire itself did not appear to be damaged.
On a positive note, actor Jim Carrey, celebrated for his roles in The Truman Show and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, is also an avid artist and art collector. Over nearly 30 years, he has gathered an impressive collection of fine art and modern design pieces. On July 25, Bonhams L.A. will auction some of Carrey’s acquisitions. Among the 35 lots are Adam Kurtzman’s 2004 piece, Pair of Hands (estimated at $2,000–3,000), and Martin C. Herbst’s 1965 stainless-steel work, Sphere ($3,000–5,000). Other highlights include a lily pad-shaped coffee table by Paula Swinnen ($6,000–8,000), a cloud-shaped table by Joris Laarman ($60,000–80,000), and various 1960s designs by French sculptor Philippe Hiquily. These include a console co-designed with Jean-Claude Farhi ($20,000–30,000), a brass and steel armchair ($20,000–30,000), and a handwoven rug by Alexander McQueen, featuring hummingbirds and crafted with metallic thread and silk ($15,000–20,000).
We will finish our summary with a valuable lesson on why we should visit flea markets. In April, Kate Pottage from Cherry Burton discovered a painting lying on a pavement in Amiens at one of Europe’s largest flea markets. Ms. Pottage agreed to pay £34 (40 euros) for it and only realized it was painted by 20th-century British artist Patrick Heron after returning home. This Friday, the painting was auctioned by Duggleby Stephenson at the York Auction Centre in Murton, fetching £6,800. Mr. Heron (1920-1999) is considered one of the most influential figures in post-war British art, with his works regularly selling for thousands of pounds.
Just as the unexpected discovery of a valuable painting can remind us of the hidden treasures that can be found in unlikely places, the recent fire at Rouen’s Gothic cathedral underscores the importance of preserving our cultural heritage. Both events highlight the fragility and value of art and history, urging us to cherish and protect these irreplaceable pieces of our shared past.
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