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Bellagio Gallery to Exhibit Famous Collection

13/09/2003

Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art to Exhibit One of England's Most Famous Private Collections

Private collection of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire to be on view September 13, 2003 – January 18, 2004

Las Vegas (July 9, 2003) – Beginning September 13, 2003, visitors to the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art will have the opportunity to see over 250 priceless treasures from the private collection of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. Amassed over five centuries, the collection includes old master paintings and drawings, sculptures, masterpieces of gold and silver, porcelain, gems, jewelry, furniture, early photographs, and rare books and manuscripts from Chatsworth's private library, considered the greatest in the world.

The group of old masters featured in the exhibition includes works by Andrea Mantegna, Raphael, Titian, Albrecht D?rer, Peter Paul Rubens, Anthony van Dyck, and Rembrandt, among others. Highlighting these works is a Renaissance portrait believed for many years to be the work of Leonardo da Vinci. Now attributed to da Vinci's assistant, Giovanni Boltraffio, the portrait, of the poet Girolamo Casio, was given to King Charles I in 1636 as a gift in from Cardinal Francesco Barberini on behalf of his uncle, Pope Urban VIII.

For nearly 500 hundred years, Chatsworth, located in the heart of Derbyshire, England, has been home to the Cavendish family and one of the most famous private collections in England. “This is truly one of the most historically significant exhibitions ever to come to Las Vegas,” said Matthew Hileman, Director of Marketing for the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art, “The Cavendish family have been collecting for fourteen generations, everything from drawings by Raphael and Rembrandt to artifacts from Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. This is a rare opportunity to get a glimpse into the private collection of one of England's oldest aristocratic families.”

The exhibition also includes a number of magnificent gems and jewels. Among them is The Devonshire Parure. A masterpiece of Victorian jewelry, the suite consists of seven pieces of jewelry showcasing 88 priceless engraved gems, most dating from as early as ancient Roman times. Also included is the Kniphausen “Hawk”. Encrusted with red garnets, amethysts, emeralds, and blue sapphires, this 17th century pouring vessel is said to have been the inspiration for Dashiell Hammett's Maltese Falcon.

To complement the exhibition, the Gallery Store will be offering a wide array of related merchandise including a full line of giftware created exclusively for the Chatsworth house. In addition to books, prints, note cards, postcards, and home accessories, the exhibition is accompanied by a lavishly illustrated 450-page color catalogue, The Devonshire Inheritance: Five Centuries of Collecting at Chatsworth. This scholarly and entertaining publication includes a foreword by His Grace, the Duke of Devonshire and essays by Nicolas Barker, former Deputy Keeper at the British Library and guest curator of the exhibition, with contributions by Diana Scarisbrick, independent curator and a recognized scholar of jewelry and gems.

The gallery is open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets for this exceptional exhibition are $15 per person and $12 for students, Nevada residents, and seniors over 65. The audio tour is included in the admission price. Tickets and information are available at the gallery or by calling (702) 693-7871 or (877) 957-9777 or log onto to our website at www.bgfa.biz. Annual membership to the gallery, The Blue Card, is available for $45. Annual member benefits include unlimited admission for two, discounts for members' guests, and discounts in the gallery store.

This exhibition is organized and circulated by Art Services International, Alexandria, Virginia. Support for the national tour has been provided by the Annenberg Foundation and by AXA Art Insurance, Ltd., London. The catalogue has been funded in part by Sir Paul Getty, K.B.E., and the Samuel H. Kress Foundation. His Excellency Sir Christopher Meyer, KCMG, the Ambassador of Great Britain to the United States, and His Excellency William S. Farish, U.S. Ambassador to the Court of St. James's, are Honorary Patrons of the exhibition.

The Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art is Las Vegas' premier art gallery. Located in the heart of the elegant Bellagio resort, the gallery offers two to three exhibitions a year drawn from the world's finest museums and collections.

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