Who knows the real story about this painting?

At least six bidders do (definitely not the auction house estimator):

An 18th-century unsigned oil painting of the Grand Canal in Venice, estimated at a modest $6,000 to $8,000, sold for $687,125 Sunday afternoon at Sloans & Kenyon auction house in Chevy Chase. It is believed to be the most expensive painting ever sold at a Washington area auction.

Thirteen phone bidders competed against live bidders in the gallery for this work from the "school of" the 18th-century artist Giovanni Antonio Canaletto.

Interesting, nu?

"It is highly probable the painting is by Michele Marieschi," said London art dealer Charles Beddington, who was an adviser to the painting's runner-up, who stopped bidding at $550,000. Marieschi, another 18th-century artist, never signed his work and died young, Beddington said.

Read the WaPo story here.

Wanna go to a GMU opening this Friday?

The work of 22 GMU students and alumni opens this this Friday with a reception from 6 to 9PM. While there check out the work of Ryan McCoy.

FTC'ing bloggers

The Federal Trade Commission will require bloggers to clearly disclose any freebies or payments they get from companies for reviewing their products.

It is the first time since 1980 that the commission has revised its guidelines on endorsements and testimonials, and the first time the rules have covered bloggers.

Details here.

Matt Sesow at MFA

I hear that Matt Sesow had a great opening at Mayer Fine Art in Norfolk with loads of sales. Congrats to both!