Leonardo da Vinci's Christ as Salvator Mundi
Maxwell Anderson, director of the Dallas Museum of Art, confirmed Tuesday that the DMA would like to acquire the celebrated Leonardo da Vinci painting Christ as Salvator Mundi. The reported asking price is $200 million.
?I think it would be a significant change for the museum and the city,? Anderson told The Dallas Morning News.
Beyond that, the new director chose his words carefully.
?Our approach has been to say that the picture is here,? Anderson said. It?s housed at the DMA temporarily, pending consideration of a possible sale. It is not available for public viewing.
?It?s being actively?considered for acquisition,? Anderson said. ?But beyond that, there really isn?t much to say.?
Would it be a fiscal challenge to put the money together to acquire the painting?
?Well, I think that you could answer that question yourself,? he said with a laugh.
But it?s something you?re considering. It sounds as though you?d like to do it if possible.
?Yes.?
Have you approached your board or your donors about it?
?Of course.?
What was their reaction?
?Well, I?m going to frustrate you by stonewalling. The pledge I?ve made to everybody involved is that we really don?t have any comment because we?re considering it and all that?s implied behind that. I?m trying to be both considerate to my intrepid reporter and acknowledge the realities of how complicated something on this scale is.?
To give readers an idea of how daunting the reported price is, $200 million is the value of the embattled Museum Tower. It is FIVE times what the AT&T Performing Arts Center needs ($40 million) to finish its elongated capital campaign.
Artinfo.com reported this week that the painting was ?just reattributed to the Italian master last July.? Artinfo.com contends that the DMA is after a ?destination painting.? Art in America?s Brian Boucher reports that the price would require ?many? major donors to assemble the funds.
Artinfo.com goes on to say: ?That may prove to be an insurmountable hurdle: not everyone is convinced it is worth the fat price tag, as it is not in top condition.?
New York-based Old Masters dealer Richard Feigen told Art in America: ?For me, Dallas would make a more serious splash by going after several lesser priced paintings in very fine condition.?
Artinfo.com reports that the Salvator Mundi is owned by a group of private dealers including Alex Parish and Robert Simon. It appeared at London?s National Gallery for the exhibition, ?Leonardo da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan,? which ran from November 2011 through February 2012. Simon told Bloomberg?s Scott Reyburn: ?I?ve assured the National Gallery that the painting isn?t on the market and that there are no plans to sell it after the exhibition.?
We shall see.
Click here to read the post by artinfo.com.
?
?
new years eve times square 2012 2012 holidays prosperity japan earthquake bosom buddies diplo rodney atkins
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.