In September Sotheby’s will gratify the curiosity of various art lovers, without forgetting to satisfy also those who can afford statues of exceptional value and especially of extra large dimensions.  From 9th September to 2nd November, the luxuriant gardens of Chatsworth will be animated by the presence of extraordinarily large statues.  “Beyond Limits” is at its third edition bringing pieces of mighty proportions into the charming vegetation of the magnificent residence of Chatsworth, English treasure built in the 16th century by the Duke of Devonshire, already venue of many cultural events and residence that inspired Jane Austen.
The previous editions were already very successful: in the past edition of 2007 alone, 22 pieces(and what pieces!)  were bought and there was an increase in the number of visitors in Chatsworth, that is 30,000 more than the usual.
The works realized by the emerging talents of English art will confront each other and merge with the works of big names of international sculpture. 
Some of the artists present at the last edition were Marc Quinn, Damien Hirst, Robert Indiana, Zaha Hadid, Michal Rovner and Zadok Ben David.  Marc Quinn, who will be back this year with a work entitled “Planet”, last year sold in a New York auction his “Red Sphinx” – a medium-size work (approx. 70 x 65) similar to the huge piece, exhibited in the last edition of Beyond Limits, of a Kate Moss in a contortionist version - for an amount equivalent to 414,781,30 Euros.
This year the works of the famous names belonging to contemporary sculpture, such as Fernando Botero, Kiki Smith, Bernar Venet, Marc Quinn, Jedd Novatt, Arnaldo Pomodoro, Ron Arad, Beverly Pepper, François Xavier Lalanne, Robert Indiana, Manolo Valdes, Kan Yasuda and Eric Goulder, will be placed side by side with the names of great modern artists who marked twentieth-century art with their style, such as Salvador Dalí, Henry Moore, Aristide Maillol  and Lynn Chadwick.
Throughout the years the exhibition has made progress and this third edition has an added value, since some artists have realized more site-specific works: Chilean artist Fernando Casasempere has realized a work entitled “Fusione”, inspired by a visit to Chatsworth, and Robert Hudson has created an ad hoc bronze, “Love me”, especially for the occasion.
Therefore, the 105 acres of garden will be trodden on by giants made of various materials (stone, bronze, ceramic, steel) and coming from different places (Chile, Columbia, Israel, Japan, Italy, France, the United States, etc.), so visitors may have the impression of being face to face with examples of Land-Art, as claimed by Alexander Platon, director of the department of Impressionism and Modern Art for Sotheby’s. The director, who followed also the past editions collaborating enthusiastically with the artists, continued saying: “In the past couple of years, we’ve seen sculpture emerge as one of the fastest growing sectors of the international art scene. It’s a fantastically exciting development, and one that has been particularly evident at the recent Beyond Limits exhibitions we’ve held at Chatsworth: last year’s show attracted buyers from around the world, while at the same time drawing in droves of visitors from across the UK. What to my mind makes the event here so compelling is not only the exciting nature of the pieces we’re able to bring together, but also – and very importantly – the drama of the setting: the gardens here provide the most magnificent backdrop imaginable and that, combined with the hugely powerful
juxtaposition of history and modernity, makes for an all-consuming experience.”  Even the Duke of Devonshire from his side said: “Beyond Limits is an absolutely top quality outdoor sculpture show and it generates a fantastically enthusiastic response amongst our visitors. People of all ages and backgrounds are inspired by seeing these works. It’s open to everybody and visitors are free to wander around in their own time, viewing the exhibits from different angles with the magnificent landscape giving them an ever-changing context.”
Therefore, lots of curiosity, and lots of amazement for these proud and silent titans, placed into a fairy-tale context, where British tendencies and international inspiration, as well as tradition and innovation, meet in an alchemistic fusion.

For further information:
http://www.chatsworth.org/whattodo/garden_sothebys.htm
or
http://www.sothebys.com/app/live/event/EventEduDetail.jsp?event_id=29093

(translated by Giorgina Arcuri)