Italian government revokes export licence for Frick acquisition

Our daily round-up of news from the art world

Italian government revokes export licence for Frick acquisition | Italy has revoked the export licence it granted for the only known portrait of Prince Camillo Borghese, which was acquired by the Frick Collection in December 2017, the Art Newspaper reports. Maria Vittoria Marini Clarelli, an official at the Italian culture ministry, told the Art Newspaper that the government had not previously realised ‘the importance of the painting for national patrimony as a rare and significant document of the Napoleonic era in Italy’. The export office began proceedings to revoke the licence on 16 May, which were completed on 14 June. The decision remains open to appeal.

Oslo blocks artist’s plans for ‘death house’ near Munch’s studio | Oslo city council has voted to reject the plans of controversial Norwegian artist Bjarne Melgaard to build his ‘House to Die’ project near the site of Edvard Munch’s winter studio, The Local reports. A joint statement from city councillors expressed the wish for ‘the site where the death house was intended to be placed to remain a green area for the benefit of the local population’.

Lauren Halsey wins the Hammer Museum’s $100,000 Mohn Award | Lauren Halsey has won this year’s Mohn Award, reports ARTnews. The prize, worth $100,000, is awarded by the Hammer Museum to a participating artist in the Made in L.A. biennial. Halsey displayed prototypes at the biennial for her Crenshaw District Hieroglyph Project, which will see a temple made of gypsum and plywood installed at the site of a former African market.

Sotheby’s Japan announces new Chairman and Managing Director | Sotheby’s has announced the reappointment of Yasuaki Ishizaka to the position of Chairman and Managing Director, Sotheby’s Japan. Ishizaka rejoins Sotheby’s Japan after a three-year hiatus, during which he established an eponymous art advisory business.