If you have art to sell...

[bell-the-cat]

...don't send it to Christie's.

Seems they think Ararat is in Mexico!

http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/lot_details.aspx?pos=9&intObjectID=4154884&sid=

[bell-the-cat]

Re: If you have art to sell...

Does anyone have any information about this artist "H. Baghdasarian"? There is nothing on Google.

[KanadaHye]

Re: If you have art to sell...

They were close...

[freakyfreaky]

Re: If you have art to sell...


Valley of Mexico





bell, believe it or not there is an Armenian population in Mexico. the Mexican ambassador to the U.S. is Armenian. One of the largest toy manufacturers in Mexico is Armenian-owned. And these two volcanoes in the Valley of Mexico are a common theme in Mexican art. Just like Ararat is in Armenian art. The painting is apparently dated 1920. Maybe he emigrated to Mexico and was longing for home. Plenty of Armenians ended up in Latin America after fleeing the genocide.

"What is the Armenian presence in Mexico?

It's a very small community. A lot of those who arrived as a result of the Genocide actually did end up doing what my grandfather wanted to do, which was move north to the U.S. or Canada. So, a lot of the Mexican-Armenian families after World War II - most of them ended up in Fresno, California . The Armenian community in Mexico is very small." Arturo Sarukhán Casamitjana, Mexican Ambassador to U.S.

http://www.azad-hye.net/article/article_view.asp?re=480fdh68

http://mx.guiaweb.org/Companies/kelian

[bell-the-cat]

Re: If you have art to sell...

bell, believe it or not there is an Armenian population in Mexico. the Mexican ambassador to the U.S. is Armenian. One of the largest toy manufacturers in Mexico is Armenian-owned. And these two volcanoes in the Valley of Mexico are a common theme in Mexican art. Just like Ararat is in Armenian art. The painting is apparently dated 1920. Maybe he emigrated to Mexico and was longing from home. Plenty of Armenians ended up in Latin America after fleeing the genocide.

"What is the Armenian presence in Mexico?

It's a very small community. A lot of those who arrived as a result of the Genocide actually did end up doing what my grandfather wanted to do, which was move north to the U.S. or Canada. So, a lot of the Mexican-Armenian families after World War II - most of them ended up in Fresno, California . The Armenian community in Mexico is very small." Arturo Sarukhán Casamitjana, Mexican Ambassador to U.S.

I had assumed at first that it was just the similarity to those Mexican volcanoes that had mixed up the auctioneers - but then why would they be more likely to know about the mountains of Mexico that that of Armenia? So then I thought that maybe there was a Mexican connection to the artist. But he seems to be an unknown artists (at least on the internet). Access to the Soviet Armenian encyclopedia, anyone?

I know a bit about the central America connection, and that of Cuba, where a lot of genocide survivors went temporary to before moving to America (mostly through managing to arrange marriages with Armenians already in America).

[KanadaHye]

Re: If you have art to sell...

I had assumed at first that it was just the similarity to those Mexican volcanoes that had mixed up the auctioneers - but then why would they be more likely to know about the mountains of Mexico that that of Armenia? So then I thought that maybe there was a Mexican connection to the artist. But he seems to be an unknown artists (at least on the internet). Access to the Soviet Armenian encyclopedia, anyone?

I know a bit about the central America connection, and that of Cuba, where a lot of genocide survivors went temporary to before moving to America (mostly through managing to arrange marriages with Armenians already in America).

A lot of Armenians later moved from Latin America to North America. Argentina still has a considerably large Armenian community.

[Pedro Xaramillo]

Re: If you have art to sell...

Actually, we have a Holy Mountain in our culture too, it's called Popocatepetl, it looks identical to Ararat, to Mexican Indians it's sacred and was often visited for pilgrimage

There is quite a lot of similarity in Mexican culture to old Armenian with mythologies, I can tell you all more if you want

[freakyfreaky]

Re: If you have art to sell...

Actually, we have a Holy Mountain in our culture too, it's called Popocatepetl, it looks identical to Ararat, to Mexican Indians it's sacred and was often visited for pilgrimage

There is quite a lot of similarity in Mexican culture to old Armenian with mythologies, I can tell you all more if you want

Pedro, the picture to which Bell refers is of two volcanoes including the holy one of which you refer - Popocatepetl.

With regard to the similarities between Mexican culture and old Armenian concerning mythology, by all means, go ahead. Perhaps, its worth its own thread.

[Pedro Xaramillo]

Re: If you have art to sell...

No worries, will create a thread quickly for it, this is Pre Columbian, now Mexicans have somewhat more and somewhat less in common post Christianity

[bell-the-cat]

Re: If you have art to sell...

History repeats itself, so they say. Idiocy at Christie's definitely does.

H. Baghdasarian (20th century)
The Valley of Mexico with the volcanoes Ixtlahuacán and Popocatepetl signed and dated ' H. Baghdasarian 1923' (lower right)
oil on board

http://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/christies-south-kensington/catalogue-id-srchristi10276/lot-446b7cac-c277-4239-b659-a51500e090de