The Persian Wall Expansion Project 2010

Yes, art fans, it finally happened! The Persian Wall acquired two more ancient masterpieces and is now officially "The Persian Room." Travel back in time to ancient Persia as you gaze in wonderment on these two new, or should I say "ancient," relics from the past. On the right, is a miniature painting on mother of pearl depicting the ancient sport of Polo which (did you know?) was invented by the Persians. Below is a hooka scene on bone -- a rare find among Persian art collectors. But you don't need to worry about that. Just close your eyes and imagine an ancient time where people worshipped fire, water, wind, and earth. Yes, they did!!!

PINCH ME!!!

I'm sure many of you art fans have wondered about the painting that adores the bottom of each blog entry. Well, you guessed it! It's an original Saul Schary!!! Saul Schary was born in 1904 in Newark, New Jersey. He lived and worked in New York City and New Milford, Connecticut. Schary studied at the Art Students League, New York; the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, and abroad in Paris. He was a member of the Artists Equity Association, New York City; the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (Fellow); the College Art Association of America, New York City; and the Royal Society of Artists, London. Schary exhibited at the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York City, 1932-45; Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts Annual, 1933-51; the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 1942; Carnegie Institute, 1934-44; California Palace of the Legion of Honor, San Francisco, California, 1942; Corcoran Gallery Biennial, Washington, D.C., 1945; Allied Artists of America Gallery, Los Angeles, California; and the Philadelphia Artists Alliance. In other words, folks, Schary is BIG STUFF and we are lucky to have snagged this masterpiece!!!!

INCREDIBLE!!!!!

We realize that this is the most exciting time of the year for most people but we at the Frank Mann Museum of Fine Arts (FMMOFA) are absolutely ecstatic over the acquisition of an original canvas oil by Frank Tauriello!!! Can you believe it!!! Frank Tauriello was born in New York and later settled in California. He graduated from Syracuse University and was a student at the Art Students League of New York under Frank J. Reilly, the famed illustrator. In California, he began focusing on portraiture and was an instructor and juror for the California Art Association and the American Society of Portrait Artists. Tauriello was a member of the Salmagundi Club of New York, National Cowboy Hall of Fame, and is on the Board Emeritus of The American Society of Portrait Artists. Most of his portraits are in private collections, including commissioned works by Merv Griffin and Clint Eastwood. Hey, can you imagine messing up Eastwood's portrait? I'd be afraid he would pull out that .357 magnum and fill me full of holes!

He's the MANN!

From the private collection of the artist himself, we present three fantastic Frank Manns, including two watercolors and one woodblock print. According to our curator, the first scene is from the magnificant city of Baltimore, depicting the inner harbour in all its glory. Next, this lighthouse portrait is probably from Maine and would put Edward Hopper to shame. Finally, the woodblock print, titled "Nags Head Study," is most likely a scene from Nags Head, N.C.

About the artist: Frank Mann was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1924, the son of a hard working oil executive. He began his career at an early age and continues to paint today. His work has been displayed at numerous galleries and art shows, including the Christmas Shop and Island Gallery in Manteo, N.C., which was founded by Edward Greene & Richard Lacerre and recently reopened to the surprise of millions!! (Above: A rare photograph of the artist as a young man.)

Greetings from London!

From across the pond, come these jolly old brass rubbings.

Antique October

This vintage gem depicts "Mr. Peanut," mascot and symbol of the famed Planter's Peanut Corporation. An amazing piece of Americana,
"Mr. Peanut" is sure to delight the younger visitors to the Frank Mann Museum of Fine Arts.

No amount of research can unravel the mystery behind these antique iron bookends. Despite the swastika emblems, these have nothing to do with Nazi Germany, but come from a country whose citizens speak either Portuguese or Spanish.

Our Sculpture Gallery

I confess I don't know what the hell this is.

This onyx egg was created in Cappadocia, Turkey. Notice the exquisite roundness of the oval shape.

This priceless Iranian Vase was acquired in Florence, Italy. The beautiful, handpainted design is unrivaled.

Birds! Birds! Birds!

We proudly announce the Grand Opening of our Birds "Wing." This addition is devoted to the finest in bird art, including a rare print of the deadly hummingbird (above).

The African Room!

From across the Atlantic, the Frank Mann Museum of Fine Arts (FMMOFA) brings you an exciting display of African Art, sure to inspire and intrigue you. Above: Wooden African Guy Head with Really Long Neck, age unknown but probably not old. Right: Scary African Mask, exact age unknown but at least 15 years old because that is when I got it.

Artists: Your guess is as good as mine.

Recent acquisitions from the Print Collection

The Frank Mann Museum of Fine Arts is delighted to announce the addition of the Print Collection Wing, a collection of prints from world reknown artists such as Gary Taxali, Aimee Mann, and Aimee Mann.

Above Left: Sneaky, up-to-no-good-guy, by Aimee Mann, 2009; Above Right: Stone Baby, by Aimee Mann, 2009

RECENT ACQUISITION: Grammy Shmammy by Gary Taxali

Gary Taxali is an award winning illustrator whose work has appeared in every major magazine and newspaper. He has exhibited his work in the Jonathan Levine Gallery in New York and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Rome. The work above depicts the artist's recent frustration at not winning a Grammy Award for designing the cover of Aimee Mann's latest album, @#%&*! Smilers.

Hamid

Hamid, Portrait of a Beautiful Woman, date of creation unknown.

Little is known about the reclusive artist, Hamid, except that he is of Iranian descent and is not 42. The gorgeous, elegant woman depicted in the painting is 29 and is married to a successful museum director.

New Jersey Landscape, Frank Simon Herrmann

Frank Simon Herrmann was an American artist who was best known in Germany where he spent most of his career. He created work that embraced Beaux Arts Academic Realism to Impressionism to the New Objectivity. He was a founding member of two important groups of the German avant-garde centered in Munich, the Munich Secessionist Group, SEMA, that included his friend Paul Klee, and the New Secession of German Artists, led by Wassily Kandinsky. Herrmann was also closely associated with Walter Stieglitz.

The Persian Wall

A one-of-a-kind collection of Persian Art. Special reservations required for this collection.

The Persian Collection

The Museum Director's gorgeous wife in a beautiful khatam frame, circa 2009.

A rare painting from this century depicting several people doing something.

Artist, unknown.

Below: A detail from an untitled painting by an unknown Persian artist.

Right: An old painting of a young woman. Artist unknown.

Above: An amazing collection of Persian miniature paintings, some dating back to many years ago.

Masterpieces from the Permanent Collection

Bush, Aimee Mann, 2009

Children Playing Dress-Up,

Unknown American Artist, circa 1880?

The Permanent Collection

Our permanent collection boasts some of the finest examples of American, African, European, and Middle Eastern Art.