No A/C? It’s Gonna Cost You!
In early May, the Frieze Art Fair took place on Randall’s Island in New York. In case you do not remember, that weekend was a scorcher … temperatures rose above 90 degrees. Since it was still early in the season, … More…
Family Bickering – All About Greed And Control!
Just when we thought this book was closed, another chapter emerges. Last month, Hubert Neumann tried to stop the sale of a Basquiat that his daughter, Belinda Neumann-Donnelly, was trying to sell at Sotheby’s. (You Cannot Sell The Basquiat … … More…
It’s A Looted Painting? Then I Want My Money Back!
When the provenance of a painting is missing from the mid-1900s (c.1930-1945) it is important for the buyer (and seller) to do their due diligence — making sure there is no connection to Nazi-looted art. During World War II, the … More…
Pulling Back The Curtains, But Not All The Way
The Berkshire Museum is trying to gain the public trust and put the whole deaccessioning matter behind them. Recently they stated that as they move forward it will be done “transparently, cooperatively, and thoughtfully.” While that is all well and good, … More…
Yellow Fades To Brown – Light Sensitive Pigments
It appears that some of Van Gogh’s paintings will be changing colors. Recent X-ray analysis (chemical mapping) determined that the artist used two types of chrome yellow paint … one of which is more sensitive to light. Over time, the … More…
The Americans Take Center Stage In New York
Last week, we saw both Sotheby’s and Christie’s take their shot at the American Art market with sales in their New York bases. After seemingly endless sales from the weeks prior, expectations were mixed… and the results were modest at … More…
Told You I Could Sell The Basquiat!
We recently reported on a family squabble that pitted father against daughter. It came to a head over a painting once owned by Dolores Ormandy Neumann (wife and mother) who was a leading figure in the 1980s supporting New York’s … More…
Vodak & Art – A Recipe For Disaster
On May 25th, Igor Podporin, a 37-year-old Russian who had a bit too much to drink, took a metal pole and attacked one of Russia’s most famous works of art, Ilya Repin’s Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan on November 16, … More…
Sanctions Imposed, But So What?
The Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD) announced that they are imposing sanctions on La Salle University Art Museum and the Berkshire Museum for selling works to support operating budgets and/or expansion initiatives. That is all well and good; but … More…
European 19th Century
Sotheby’s 19th-century sale took place on the morning of the 22nd and when the estimates were in line with the quality and condition, all went well; when they were not, they either sold well below expectations or passed. It’s worth … More…
Contemporary’s Upper End Is Still Very Hot!
Is anyone else exhausted by all of this art?? I need a nap. Sotheby’s and Christie’s are at it again with another set of sales… this time we are talking Contemporary art. Up first was Sotheby’s, and after a not-so-impressive … More…
Now We Know When Too Many Picassos Are Too Much
After Sotheby’s uninspiring performance, expectations were a bit tempered heading into Christie’s evening sale of Impressionist and Modern works… that feeling would be short-lived as the sale got off to a hot start and kept it going! The first lot … More…
When Are Too Many Picasso Paintings Too Much?
Another round of sales are underway at the big auction houses in New York this week… Sotheby’s was first to present their offerings of top-level Impressionist and Modern Art in their evening sale last night; Christie’s (and Bonhams) will both … More…
Rockefeller – Another Great Buy And Hold Story
The Rockefeller series of sales are over, and the results were STRONG … even though they did not hit the $1 billion whisper number. But can anyone really complain about a sale of household contents that made over $832 million? … More…
The Americans … We Are Now At $765M And Still Going!
Part two of the Rockefeller sale took place last night, and while nearly incomparable to the night prior (part 1), there were still many incredible works up for grabs and some impressive results in the end. Part two featured an … More…
Comments on the Art Market – Volume 210
We just released Volume 210 of our Comments on the Art Market. In this issue, we cover the gallery’s hours for the month of June, Stocks, Tales from the Dark Side (there were some good ones this month), Really, and … More…