We get a lot of emails through our website these days. Most are people interested in either buying or selling. Buyers typically request information and prices, while sellers, more often, describe the work and include a few images. Occasionally, we get one from… let’s say someone acting strangely or unreasonably. Maybe you can tell me why?
Earlier this week, we received an email from Michael S. who lives in Wisconsin. He stated that he had a painting by Martin Rico y Ortega titled Sunny Venice. He wrote, “I own this painting and I’m wondering if you may be interested in it.” I replied that we would need some information about the painting, such as its dimensions and condition. We also asked for good images of the painting.
Then I got two replies: “So you want me to send you images of a piece of Rico Ortegas work that the world knows nothing about and you want these images for free?” He then followed up with, “I’m going to have to pass on your immediate gratification.” We were confused. You’re asking us to sell a painting for you, but you won’t show us what it looks like? You expected us to take your word for it? After relaying this to him (in a more professional way, obviously), Michael doubled down. He wrote that the painting is in “mint condition”, and then said that he wouldn’t send us images because we would “start printing them yeah ok I would rather go into the printing business myself.” If his mastery over English punctuation is anything to go by, he may have just as much success in the printing business as the next guy.
My response: “You really have no idea who you have contacted. We have an art gallery… we do not print images. Again, good luck with your journey.” He then offered to sell us the images for $5,000 each (“If you want immediate gratification it’s going to cost you $5,000 a picture.”). Oddly, he then sent us two detail images (below). We did not pay him!!
I told him that what he had was likely a reproduction of a Rico y Ortega painting. But he dismissed our opinion by asking how anyone could make a reproduction of a painting “that isn’t even online”. Yes, because prior to the Internet, no one was ever able to make copies of anything. Michael referenced that he had consulted an “expert”, and said that he would take this mysterious specialist’s initial advice that it’s an original painting by the artist. We’re happy that he’s no longer bothering us, but we were still baffled. Why do people contact a well-established gallery, known for their expertise in nineteenth-century European art, and treat them this way? We’re just trying to help them. Would it be too cynical to think that this guy was out to scam someone? Perhaps.