How To Safely Navigate The Art Market: Authenticity
Over the next year, we will revisit some of the things we feel are important for people to consider when looking to buy a work of art – condition, size, title, value, price, etc. (topics from many of my very … More…
Bonhams – 19th Century European, Victorian & British Impressionist
There was another warm-up sale in London – this one at Bonhams. As you can tell by the title, it covered a wide range of styles and periods… a good indication that the salerooms are having trouble prying loose enough … More…
Not Exactly a Pot of Gold – Irish Art (Sotheby’s London)
There wasn’t much auction action in the month of September, but Sotheby’s did host a rather eclectic Irish Art sale over in London a few weeks back. Let’s see what changed hands… Works in the sale ran the gamut, ranging … More…
University scammed out of $19,000 in fake acquisitions
Former Emory University employee Travis Myers and a non-Emory-affiliated friend, Maicah Hendrix, have been arrested and charged with theft and forgery. According to the school newspaper, The Emory Wheel, officials at the Michael C. Carlos Museum contacted local police when … More…
Salvator Mundi – A Provenance Update
For those of you who are thirsting for more about da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi, here is some new information on the painting’s provenance — how and when it traveled from Europe to the United States. It is sad to think … More…
Art, New Taxes & Market Opacity
Scott Reyburn touches on a number of interesting topics in his New York Times article. First, there is a growing belief that art is a great alternative asset. While most historically important art will achieve some level of price appreciation, … More…
The Damien Hirst Market
Over the past few years, I have written about the decrease in value many works by Damien Hirst have experienced. His market peaked around 2008 and now prices continue to drop. Hirst’s works were once the darling of the Contemporary evening sales. Today, many … More…
A Mess-toration!
It appears that another amateur artist has decided to try their hand at restoration. María Luisa Menéndez, a shopkeeper in Rañadorio, Spain, felt that the figures in a 15th-century wood sculpture were in need of some tender loving care. The results were … More…
Gotta Love Creative Accounting … Except When You Get Caught.
It was revealed today that art dealer Mary Boone pled guilty to falsifying her 2011 tax return to the tune of $1.6M! In 2011, Boone reported a business loss of over $52K when, in fact, there was a $3.7M profit. … More…
Comments on the Art Market – Volume 214
We are pleased to present Volume 214 of our Comments on the Art Market. In this issue, we cover two upcoming shows: Texas Contemporary (which opens on October 4th in Houston) and The Modern Muse (opening at the gallery on … More…