vatican

It's still possible to set a record in this art market; it just takes an amazing lot from a far-off period in time. On December 8, 2009, a drawing by Italian renaissance artist Raphael will go under the gavel. The piece is expected to pull in a world record $19.7 million. The 12-inch drawing (in black chalk) will be auctioned by Christie's at its Old Masters auction. It was a study used for a muse in Raphael's fresco of Parnassus, which is in the Stanza della Segnatura in the Vatican. This is the highest quality piece by Raphael to come to auction since the 1980s.

Christie's is selling the Raphael drawing on behalf of an anonymous private collector, though it's been owned in the past by Sir Thomas Lawrence and King William II of Holland. It hasn't shown up at auction in more than 150 years. The history associated with this piece, as well as the piece itself, are what make it a threat to the record of 8.1 million pounds paid for the drawings "The Risen Christ" (Michelangelo) and Leonardo da Vinci's "Horse and Rider." They sold in July 2000 and July 2001, respectively.

The drawing was completed between 1508 and 1511 at the request of Pope Julius the II. The artist died in 1520 at the age of 37.

The sale will feature other major works including a masterpiece by Rembrandt, shown at right. Unseen in public for almost 40 years and offered at auction for the first time since 1930, Portrait of a man, half-length, with his arms akimbo, 1658, is offered from a distinguished private collection and is expected to bring in £18 million to £25 million. One of the most significant Old Masters to be offered in recent years. Saint John the Evangelist by Domenico Zampieri, called Il Domenichino (1581-1641), will be presented for sale for the first time in over 100 years. It is expected to sell for £7 million to £10 million.

The Pope can't just ride around in any old car. That's why he had to sell his Volkswagen before ascending from Cardinal to the Papacy. But the head of the Catholic church and head of state of Vatican City has a well-equipped motor pool at his disposal, including sport-utility vehicles donated to the Vatican by Volvo and BMW, a W12 Phaeton luxury sedan by Volkswagen, and of course the specially-made Popemobile from Mercedes-Benz. The latest, by comparisson, may seem the least prestigious, but desperate times call for desperate measures. So while touring the aftermath of the earthquake in Abruzzo, Italy, the Pope is riding around in a specially-equipped Fiat Ducato Panorama van.

The Ducato is one of the most prolific vehicles in Italy, with some 2 million on the road. But the Pope's, of course, is special, equipped with a white leather interior including a five-seater sofa, the latest electronics and deployable steps to allow the gowned pontiff easy ingress and egress.

Everyone is flying charter these days. The latest charter news comes from the Vatican. The Vatican's travel office has partnered with a small Italian jet company, Mistral, to offer flights to holy sites around the world. The jets will have interiors decorated with sacred inscriptions and will travel to a wide-ranging variety of holy sites in the Holy Land, Spain, Mexico and other places. BBC News reports that the first flight will be on August 27 from Rome to Lourdes, France and that the vicar of Rome, Cardinal Camillo Ruini, is expected to be on the first flight.

Is it a sin to own a Ferrari? It certainly seems like the Pope thinks so, at least according to a 'rules of the road' document issued by the Vatican that warns against using cars "as a means for outshining other people and arousing a feeling of envy."

Ferrari doesn't seem too ruffled by this news, with the general manager addressing the issue with the response that most Ferrari owners buy the vehicles because they love to drive, not because they see it as a status symbol. And although I can't say I disagree with him (and I admit I do not and have not ever owned a Ferrari myself) I think it's fair to say that there's at least a little "status symbol" to be found in every Ferrari.