• UK
  • World
    • USA
  • Entertainment
    • Celeb
    • Showbiz
    • Magazine
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Science
    • Education
  • Insurance
  • Business
  • Auto
  • ToS/Contact
    • ToS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
NewsExplored
  • UK
  • World
    • USA
  • Entertainment
    • Celeb
    • Showbiz
    • Magazine
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Science
    • Education
  • Insurance
  • Business
  • Auto
  • ToS/Contact
    • ToS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • LinkedIn

  • Tumblr

  • RSS

Entertainment

Royal Opera House to sell Hockney portrait to raise funds

Royal Opera House to sell Hockney portrait to raise funds
Newsexplored
4th October 2020
5
SHARES
ShareTweet
SubscribeRedditGoogleWhatsappStumbleuponPinterestDiggLinkedinTumblrTelegram
Views:
4
Image copyright David Hockney/Christie’s

The Royal Opera House is to sell a David Hockney portrait of its former boss in a bid to raise money to plug a shortfall caused by the pandemic.

The painting of Sir David Webster will be auctioned at Christie’s this month and is expected to fetch up to £18m.

Current chief executive Alex Beard said it was “tough call” to sell the picture, but there was no alternative if the organisation was to survive.

“We have to face the situation we are in… and get through this,” he said.

The London venue, home of international opera and the Royal Ballet, is the UK’s biggest arts employer.

It says it has lost £3 in every £5 of its income since the national lockdown forced it to close its doors in March.

The sale of the Hockney portrait is part of a four-pronged plan to help the venue balance the books. There will also be significant redundancies and a fundraising appeal for public donations.

In addition, the opera house has applied for a loan to the government’s culture recovery fund.

“We knew we had to look at any assets we had,” said Mr Beard. “And there is only really one of any note that stands out and that is this portrait.”

“If we can remain viable and get through this, then we can get back to employing people in the future.”

Sir David Webster ran the Royal Opera House between 1945 and 1970 and played a key role in the establishment of the Royal Ballet and Royal Opera companies at Covent Garden.

data-ad-format="auto">

Hockney was commissioned to paint his portrait - which in recent years hung in the Covent Garden venue - after he stepped down in the 1970s.

It depicts Sir David sitting in profile, in front of a glass-topped coffee table and a vase of pink tulips.

According to the Christie’s catalogue, the picture was “the first of a rare handful of commissions completed by Hockney: he would not accept another until three decades later, when he painted Sir George and Lady Mary Christie of Glyndebourne for the National Portrait Gallery”.

Mr Beard said the artist had been notified of the impending sale: “We have a good relationship, but he does not much like it when any of his work is auctioned,” he told the Observer.


The Royal Opera House reopened in June with a concert which was broadcast on TV, radio and online - but without a live audience.

At the time, Mr Beard said the venue, in common with many theatres and arts venues, was facing “unprecedented financial stress”. Mr Beard was understood to have taken “a significant reduction” in pay, while music director Sir Antonio Pappano waived his salary during lockdown.

Last week, the Royal Opera House announced a limited return of public performances of ballet and opera, in front of a reduced audience, beginning later this month.

Among the productions it is hoping to stage is The Nutcracker, a traditional part of its Christmas programme since 1984.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Share on Skype (Opens in new window)

Related

Related Itemsfundshockneyhouseoperaportraitraiseroyal
Entertainment
4th October 2020
Newsexplored @newsexploredweb

Related Itemsfundshockneyhouseoperaportraitraiseroyal

More in Entertainment

  • Read More
    Ed Sheeran gives personal items to Suffolk charity auction

    Views:4 image copyrightEd Sheeran: Made In Suffolk Legacy Auction image captionEd Sheeran started performing publicly in 2005,...

    Newsexplored 4th October 2020
  • Read More
    Fast & Furious franchise to reach end of the road ‘after two more films’

    Views:4 image copyrightGetty Images image captionF9 actors Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Nathalie Emmanuel, Tyrese Gibson and Vin...

    Newsexplored 4th October 2020
  • Read More
    Hollyoaks anniversary: 25 years of memorable storylines

    Views:4 By Steve HoldenNewsbeat reporter media captionHollyoaks is marking 25 years of groundbreaking storylines. Actor Nick Pickard...

    Newsexplored 4th October 2020
  • Read More
    Bhanu Athaiya: Costume designer who won India’s first Oscar dies

    Views:4 Published 14 hours ago image copyrightGetty Images image captionDirector Richard Attenborough asked Bhanu Athaiya to work...

    Newsexplored 4th October 2020
  • Read More
    Why Africa’s animation scene is booming

    Views:4 By Vivienne Nunis & Sarah TreanorBusiness reporters, BBC News image copyrightRIDWAN MOSHOOD image captionRidwan Moshood says...

    Newsexplored 4th October 2020
  • Read More
    US movie chain AMC warns it is running out of money

    Views:4 Image copyright Reuters The world’s biggest movie chain has warned it could run out of money...

    Newsexplored 4th October 2020
  • Read More
    Association of Photographers 2020 Award winners unveiled

    Views:4 The winners of this year’s Association of Photographers (AOP) Awards have been announced, with striking images...

    Newsexplored 4th October 2020
  • Read More
    BTS in trouble in China over Korean War comments

    Views:4 Image copyright EPA Image caption RM (2nd from right) is the band’s leader South Korean K-pop...

    Newsexplored 4th October 2020
  • Read More
    Some Vue cinemas to be open part-time only

    Views:4 Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The Vue in London’s Leicester Square is one of those...

    Newsexplored 4th October 2020
  • Read More
    Tom Parker: The Wanted singer says he has inoperable brain tumour

    Views:4 Image copyright Getty Images Image caption “I’m going to be here, I’m going to fight this,”...

    Newsexplored 4th October 2020
  • Read More
    Strictly Come Dancing: 12 things we learned from this year’s celebs

    Views:4 Image caption Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly will return to host the new series of Strictly,...

    Newsexplored 4th October 2020
  • Read More
    Film: Welsh filmmakers shortlisted for Iris Prize

    Views:4 Image copyright Rhiw Goch Image caption Anna Winstone’s film, Rhiw Goch, had a budget of just...

    Newsexplored 4th October 2020
Scroll for more
Tap
data-ad-format="auto">
NewsExplored

NewsExplored - Making sure all the latest news is explored?

Contact us for help

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • Comments

  • Ervin Staub: A Holocaust survivor’s mission to train ‘heroic bystanders’
    USA5th October 2020
  • Storm Alex brings heavy rain and high winds to parts of UK
    UK2nd October 2020
  • Hull to Belgium ferry closure ‘end of an era’ for city
    UK1st October 2020
  • Transfer news: Winners and losers after deadline day
    Sports6th October 2020
  • World Series: LA Dodgers beat Tampa Bay Rays to triumph for first time since 1988
    USA28th October 2020
  • Amy Coney Barrett confirmed to US Supreme Court
    USA27th October 2020
  • Donald Trump setback in rape defamation case
    USA27th October 2020
  • Ethiopia River Nile dam: PM condemns ‘aggressions’ after Trump comment
    USA24th October 2020
  • Les Rehrer says:

    Hello Its me :P and thanks for this post

  • optumrx login says:

    Thank For News.

  • Kent Laatsch says:

    Please let me know if you're looking for a writer…

  • Bob says:

    RT News was where I learned that Erdogan controlled isis.…

Copyright © 2018 Top News Theme. Theme by MVP Themes, powered by Wordpress.

Cineworld set to close UK cinema doors after Bond movie delay
Kenzo Takada: Japanese designer dies from Covid-19
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok