Category: 20th Century Art

Francis Albert Sinatra!

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Portrait Of Frank Sinatra

Veni… Vidi… Vici!

Happy 100th Birthday Frank!

That’s Life

Vocals: Frank Sinatra

Album: That’s Life (1966)

Label:  Reprise

Writers: Dean Kay & Kelly Gordon

Funny how some songs capture a time and a moment.  Late 1982, Merlin was in town and though he was subletting the Trockadero Loft in Chelsea on Sixth Avenue, we had checked into the Chelsea Hotel – why did it have to close? – for a romantic weekend.  The Chelsea had always been Merlin’s favourite New York Hotel.  Merlin chose a suite on the third floor.  The first night as we staked a passionate claim on each other’s hearts, from the suite above, one of Hotel Chelsea’s many tenants played this song over and over and over and over through the night.  The room was too hot and it wasn’t too cold that night; so, we left the window opened a crack whilst we loved, sinned and forged our bond anew in this lifetime to Frank Sinatra’s stellar magic.

Photo: Promotional studio portrait of Frank Sinatra, 1950s. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

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© 2013-2026 Arvin da Brgha.  All Rights Reserved.

In Remembrance: Hugh Steers.

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Breathing 1987

Breathing

Oil on Paper

11 x 15 in

1987 Hugh Steers

Provenance: Estate of Hugh Steers

Signature 1991

Signature

Oil on Canvas

66 x 56 in

1991 Hugh Steers

Provenance: Estate of Hugh Steers

Sick Room Hugh Steers 1990

Sick Room

Oil on Canvas

38.12 x 40

1990 Hugh Steers

Provenance: Estate of Hugh Steers

Hugh Steers Self Portrait 1987

Self-Portrait 

Charcoal and Watercolour on Paper

30 x 22 in

1987 Hugh Steers

Provenance: Estate of Hugh Steers.

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I have always loved the works of this young American Brahmin artist who was felled by AIDS – far too soon.  He was, of course, related by marriage to two of the most iconic Americans – at least for me – of the 20th Century: Gore Vidal (whose Michael Overleaves are to be found on the Michael Overleaves Appendix page) and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis – both of whom were king souls.

I remember… this World Aids Day, 2015

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© 2013-2026 Arvin da Brgha.  All Rights Reserved.

Man Changing into Thunderbird VI of VI

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20150609_123817[1]

Oil on Canvas

© 1977 Norval Morrisseau

Provenance: The Leitz Collection,

Art Gallery of Ontario.

http://www.ago.net/

Love these works especially more so as they have been recently relocated within the gallery; they are better displayed now.  A true shaman of the first order, Norval Morrisseau.

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© 2013-2026 Arvin da Brgha.  All Rights Reserved.

Sick Room.

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Sick Room Hugh Steers 1990

Oil on Canvas

38.1 x 40.0 Inches

© 1990, Hugh Steers

Provenance: Estate of Hugh Steers.

One of the most poignant AIDS-related paintings of the last century.  Truly moving.

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© 2013-2026 Arvin da Brgha.  All Rights Reserved.

I Remember.

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Michael by Warhol

Michael Jackson by Andy Warhol.  On this the anniversary of Michael Jackson’s birth, I thought to pay tribute to one of the most inspiring creative geniuses to have ever graced this world.  This is a work by Andy Warhol which is part of the Revolver Gallery’s Andy Warhol: Revisited – A Pop Art Exhibition in Yorkville at 77 Bloor Street West, Toronto.  One of the truly fantastic shows to have graced Toronto in long ages.

I finally got to attend a couple of weeks ago with my brother and my only nephew –  in town for the summer from the Bahamas.  We had a good visit and the show was the most spectacular show I have seen in long ages.  Beautifully curated and just intimate enough that it doesn’t end up being overwhelming or, more importantly, underwhelming.

https://warholrevisited.com/

Michael_Jackson_as_Captain_EO

Michael Jackson: August 29, 1958 [-O-] June 25, 2009.

Here’s a dream, previously shared in this unique and utterly unrivalled blog of mine, of Michael Jackson being his marvellously shamanic wonderful self.  I love you more, Michael – sweet and blissful dreams.

https://dreampoetica.com/2014/09/17/oh-what-joy/

https://www.youtube.com/embed/LeiFF0gvqcc“>http://

Remember The Time, Michael Jackson, © 1992 MJJ Productions Inc.

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© 2013-2026 Arvin da Brgha.  All Rights Reserved.

What Beautiful Magic This! Make Some Noise!

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Oscar Peterson                                           Oscar Peterson 15/8/1925, Montréal!

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C Jam Blues.

1964.  Live Denmark

Piano: Oscar Peterson

Bass: Ray Brown

Drums: Ed Thigpen

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Boogie Blues Etude.

1974.  Ronnie Scott’s Club

Piano: Oscar Peterson

Bass: Niels Pedersen

Guitar: Barney Kessel

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Night Train.

Piano: Oscar Peterson

Bass: Ray Brown

Drums: Ed Thigpen

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Cakewalk.

1987 Live Tokyo

Piano: Oscar Peterson

Bass: Dave Young

Guitar: Joe Pass

Drums: (Martin Drew)

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1964 Live Denmark

Piano: Oscar Peterson

Bass: Ray Brown

Drums: Ed Thigpen

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© 2013-2026 Arvin da Brgha.  All Rights Reserved.

Happy Canada Day!

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New-Flag-Feb-10-2014

New Flag

Oil on Canvas

Charles Pachter

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Wheatland – Canadiana Suite – Oscar Peterson Trio 1964.

Piano:  Oscar Peterson

Bass:  Ray Brown

Drums: Ed Thigpen

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Oyster Catcher 5_91 Robert Davidson 2009 Serigraph

Oyster Catcher

Serigraph

24 x 30 inches

Edition: 91

© 2009 Robert Davidson

Provenance: 5/91 Art Collection Arvin da Braga.

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Happy 148th Canada – for more than half my life, I have had some truly remarkable, uplifting experiences whilst living here.  Too, I shared a great love with my Canadian-born task companion, Merlin.

Regrettably, I could neither find the dimensions nor year of creation for the masterful Charles Pachter flag which I would presume is an Oil on Canvas.

Happy Canada Day – my life experience has been immensely enriched for having remained focussed here in this great land.

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© 2013-2026 Arvin da Brgha.  All Rights Reserved.

Les Femmes d’Alger (Version “O”).

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Picasso

Oil on Canvas

114 x 146.4 cm

© February 14, 1955

Pablo Picasso

Speculative Provenance: Likely the Al-Thani family.  I would like to think that Sheikha Al Mayassa Al-Thani has acquired this masterpiece for her family’s burgeoning collection.  Possibly the most powerful woman in art today; she also happens to be the daughter of the most stylish woman on the planet at present, Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al-Missned!

Sold today, May 11, 2015, which would have been my mother, Harella da Braga’s 95th birthday – she is now reincarnated. Harella died in August 1980 in Toronto. Reborn male in London, England; he is male biracial (Caucasian/East Indian) and upper middle class. The winning bid in New York City was 179$m!

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© 2013-2026 Arvin da Brgha.  All Rights Reserved.