Picasso’s granddaughter is selling off his art… What would you do?

If your grandfather were one of the most famous painters in history and you inherited a collection of his work, would you be willing to sell it off piece by piece?

Because that is what Pablo Picasso’s granddaughter, Marina Picasso, is doing.

Despite being alienated from her grandfather and the controversy over his estate due to the lack of a will when he died, Ms. Picasso inherited 300 paintings. She has been selling her grandfather’s art for several years, first through third-party auctions. Lately, she has taken out the middle-man and has conducted the sales herself. She has said that she sells the paintings to support herself and various charities around the world. Last year, she donated about $1.7 million to the Hospital Foundation of Paris and France.

You can read an article from the New York Times with more details about Ms. Picasso and her endeavors to sell her grandfather’s work here: “Picasso’s Granddaughter Plans to Sell Art, Worrying the Market.”

What would you do if you were Ms. Picasso? Would you sell the art?

Photo credit: Business Insider

Don't Try This at Home

Hoboken, N.J.: home of baseball, Frank Sinatra . . . and Mark Lugo. “Who on earth is Mark Lugo?” you ask. Why, the man allegedly responsible for at least eight thefts of priceless art by masters like Fernand Léger and Pablo Picasso. The striking aspect to this string of burglaries was that there was no elaborate planning involved. No late-night Oceans 11, rappel-from-the-ceiling-type maneuvers. Lugo, age 30, simply walked into galleries, lifted the priceless canvases off the walls and walked out with frame in hand. How is that even possible? William Ledford, managing partner of the William Bennet Gallery in Soho, stated, “we’ve got a Picasso installation downstairs and he sort of went right to the middle of it and basically just lifted the piece off the wall. Soho is such a retail-centric area, and everybody’s got shopping bags. Our best guesstimate is that he kind of just stuffed it in a shopping bag and off he went.” Police who raided Lugo’s home said that the works were prominently displayed around his home and he may not have even been planning on selling them. A drawing by Picasso was simply hanging on his dining room wall. All we can say is that thank goodness these works were found, and that hopefully this will lead to tighter security, and of course . . . don’t try this at home and certainly not at GMOA.

Pilfering Picasso

Le Guennec (left), Picasso (right)
photo courtesy independent.co.uk

How would you like to own a work by Picasso? How about 271 works?

For retired electrician Pierre Le Guennec, 71, and his wife Danielle, 61, that was a reality. Impossible, you say?

The couple has been accused of “concealing,” the French legal term for possession of stolen goods. The goods include lithographs, notebooks, collages, sketches, prints and 7 cubist masterpieces never before seen by the general public. However, Le Guennec claims that Picasso along with his wife Jacqueline gifted them to him as a thank you for the alarm system he installed on their estate. Huh? Makes you wonder what you would get if you ever picked up a pencil for Picasso. I mean if he got 271 works of art for good electrical work, I could at least get two sketches for a good deed, right? But I digress.

The 271 works, estimated to be worth over $102 million, were stashed––wait for it––in his dusty garage for over 40 years. How did he get caught? Le Guennec went to have the works authenticated at Picasso’s estate and as you could imagine this came as a major surprise to the people there. Especially Claude Picasso, son of the late artist, who was less than amused at the electrician’s claim that they were gifts. Claude explained that even though his father was a generous man (obviously), he made it a habit to date, dedicate and sign his works because he knew some of the recipients might try to sell them.

The fate of the electrician in possession of the art collection Musée Picasso would kill for is still unknown. If convicted, he and his wife could face up to ten years in prison. On the other hand, 40 years have passed since Picasso allegedly gifted the works to Le Guennec, and with the two star witnesses, Mr. and Mrs. Pablo Picasso, deceased, it could be more complicated than lawyers think.

Oh, and for the concerned art lovers out there, the 271 works are safe and sound in the French capital. GMOA’s Picasso, a work on paper, is currently resting in the vaults but will be on view again in January or February 2012. You can read more about it in the museum’s catalogue of prints and drawings, “Tracing Vision: Modern Drawings from the Georgia Museum of Art,” available in the Museum Shop or on our website.

For pictures of the discovered Picasso works click here.

Oh Baby!

Do you find that your toddler is overly fascinated with the works of Pablo Picasso? I mean we’re all in the mood for the strong lines of Cubism every now and again, but is your baby clamoring at the sight of the “Three Musicians”? Have no fear. In a new study published by researchers at the University of Zurich, they found that babies around the age of 9 months prefer the works of Picasso to those of Claude Monet. Participants were shown works by both artists and judged based on the time they spent looking at a specific painting. Researchers credit Picasso’s bold colors and strong, contrasting lines as the reason for their appeal to infants. “Monet, on the other hand, used equiluminant colors to create blurry, shimmery effects. It is possible that infants prefer paintings with clear contrasts in luminance.” Perhaps, though, this is just proof that we begin developing a taste for the visual arts at an extremely young age. All the more reason to join us for Family Days at GMOA!

Guitars

Art Daily has an article this morning about the new exhibition open at the Museum of Modern Art, New York, "Picasso: Guitars 1912-1914."

The exhibition . . . takes as its point of departure two works given to The Museum of Modern Art by Pablo Picasso in the early 1970s: Guitar, assembled from cardboard, paper, wire, glue, and string in 1912, and a second version made of sheet metal in 1914. Unexpectedly humble in subject and unprecedented in mode of execution, the two Guitar constructions resembled no artwork ever seen before. Within Picasso's long career they bracket a remarkably brief yet intensely generative period of material and structural experimentation.

But did you know the Georgia Museum of Art has one of Picasso's guitar drawings on its wall right now? It won't be up for more than about three months, due to the fragile nature of works on paper, but if you come see us soon, it's on display in the H. Randolph Holder Gallery, devoted to works of European art.

Parisian Art Heist Shocks World

Police inspect the frames of the stolen paintings

The recent Parisian art heist is said to be the greatest in history due to the stolen paintings’ value as well as the museum’s location. On May 20, 2010, five paintings with an estimated worth of approximately $123 million (100 million Euros) were stealthily taken from the Paris Museum of Modern Art. The bounty included work by Fernand Leger, Georges Braque, Amedeo Modigliani, Henri Matisse and possibly the most famous artist in the world, Pablo Picasso. Thought to be the work of an individual, the work disappeared overnight while three armed guards were on duty. This tragedy raises the questions of why and how the work was stolen and if it will ever be recovered.

With every art collector, museum director and police officer on high alert, the paintings will have no chance of being sold on the open market without notice. However, if taken to the black market, the paintings could be used as collateral by Colombian drug dealers or as ransom for an insurance payout. More than likely, if sold on the black market, the art will not end up in the hands of an art enthusiast. Some officials speculate it will be sold to wealthy individuals in countries like Russia or China who likely would not check the background of the works.

According to an article in the New York Times, “police and museum officials said little about the security failure, particularly about whether the alarm system had malfunctioned or had been disabled.” The museum’s management had been aware of a problem with the security system since March, even though in 2004 the museum closed for two years to upgrade the system at the cost of $19 million. That the thief could have known about a possible flaw in the security system suggests the possibility of inside help. The black-clad burglar worked swiftly and effectively. Instead of cutting the works out of the frames, they were carefully removed, leaving the frames behind for the police to inspect. The guards discovered the paintings missing around 7 a.m., and the museum has been closed ever since to try and follow the clues. Mayor Bertrand Delanoë of Paris wants an internal investigation to take place, as this is not the first time artwork has been stolen from a Parisian museum. “Last summer, a thief snatched a red sketchbook of 33 Picasso drawings from the Picasso Museum while it was undergoing renovations. Security alarms did not sound in that case, either” (http://nyti.ms/alM0Ku).

Hopes of recovering the stolen art are slim, as it could take decades and most will not be found. “The Art Loss Register, the world’s largest database of lost and stolen art, puts that figure [chances of recovering the artwork] at 12 to 15 percent” (http://bit.ly/9FakA1). Action has to be taken quickly as clues will become more indistinct in a short time.

Invitation to the Ballet

The Royal Opera House and The Lowry will host Invitation to the Ballet: Ninette de Valois and the Story of The Royal Ballet, an exhibition that will tell the story of The Royal Ballet and pay tribute to its founder, Ninette de Valois. This unique, comprehensive exhibition will begin in October at The Lowry in Salford, England.

Invitation to the Ballet will create “a truly 360-degree view of the glorious history of The Royal Ballet.” The exhibition will showcase materials from ballets choreographed by de Valois, rarely seen sketches from LS Lowry and a recreation of the dressing room of Dame Margot Fonteyn (former prima ballerina). Set and costume designs by such artists as Picasso, Edward Burra and William Chappel will also be included. In addition, the exhibition will incorporate letters, press clips, music manuscripts, dance notation scores and memorabilia.

Educational events, interactive exhibitions and specially commissioned films will accompany the exhibition. Monica Mason, director of The Royal Ballet, comments on Invitation to the Ballet:

I am thrilled that we are able to collaborate with The Lowry on such a large-scale exhibition, one that not only explores the remarkable achievements and legacy of Ninette de Valois but also illustrates the work of The Royal Ballet through the eight decades of its existence. This partnership with The Lowry enables us to bring the Company and its history to Salford and Manchester where we have so many connections.

Picasso's "The Actor" Returns to Met Walls

After a a damaging accident in January, the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s rare Rose Period Picasso,“The Actor,” returned to the institution's walls last week. A six-inch vertical tear was caused when a woman taking an adult education class accidently fell into the painting. Three months of work went into repairing the now barely visible tear and the 105-year-old painting can now be included in the museum's exhibition "Picasso in the Metropolitan Museum of Art" opening next Tuesday. Except this time, "The Actor" will be behind a protective sheet of plexiglass.

The exhibition will include nearly all of the Met's collection of Picasso's oeuvre: paintings, drawings, sculptures, prints and ceramics. You can read the whole article on "The Actor" in the NY Times today.

Discount tickets for "Picasso at the Lapin Agile"

Friends of the Georgia Museum of Art will be able to receive a "buy one, get one free" discount on tickets for the production of Steve Martin’s play “Picasso at the Lapin Agile” and the post-performance audience talk-back with the director, cast and GMOA’s own Lynn Boland, Pierre Daura Curator of European Art.

This offer is available only for the matinee on Sunday, April 10, at 2 p.m.. All Friends have to do is mention the discount at the Town and Gown Players’ box office to receive it. The regular ticket price is $12.

An earlier blog post provided detailed information about Boland’s background and participation in this event. For more information about the performance, check out the Town and Gown Players’ site, and to make reservations call 706-208-TOWN (8696).

Giacometti's sculpture sells for a record-breaking $104.3 million

Last week’s record-breaking sale of Alberto Giacometti’s “L’Homme qui marche I” (Walking Man I) provoked many questions concerning the relationship between money and art and how it does or does not affect the perceived importance of artists in relation to one another.

On Wednesday, February 3, Giacometti’s sculpture was purchased for $104.3 million (with fees) by an anonymous bidder at Sotheby’s in London. Previously, Pablo Picasso’s "Garçon à la Pipe" (Boy with a Pipe), was the record holder, having been auctioned for $104.1 million in 2004.

When a work of art is purchased at such an astonishing price, it is understandable that there will be new considerations regarding the work’s and the artist’s importance to the development and theories of art. Many sources are discussing whether or not Giacometti has been elevated to the position of the most important artist of the 21st century or if, like the price of his work of art, he has at least surpassed Picasso in importance.

In response to these musings, the Telegraph reminds readers that it is important not to confuse monetary value with aesthetic worth.

Another interesting facet of this sale brought up in the Telegraph is the fact that “L’Homme qui marche I” is part of a series of six sculptures. One might expect that a collector willing to fork over $104.3 million for a work of art would prefer to purchase something unique rather than a sculpture with several very similar companions.

Overall, this record sale encourages members of the art community to take into consideration the power of the art market and its influence on shaping the discourse of and opinions on artistic merit and significance.

For more information about the sale of “L’Homme qui marche I” check out articles at CNN and the New York Times.

American Gothic XXL

Chicago, a city well know for its prolific public art scene, has just added a new sculpture to the mix. Unlike the famous domineering Picasso in the business sector, not far from the Art Institute of Chicago, the new 25-foot-tall sculpture inspired by iconic painting Grant Wood’s "American Gothic", stands as an ironic homage to the cliché of Midwestern lifestyle. "God Bless America", by J. Seward Johnson, is on loan from The Sculpture Foundation, an organization famous for promoting public art. Although the sculpture has been criticized as a knockoff, and a bit trite, people seem to love it! "It speaks to Midwesterners, especially the farmer aspect of it," said Melissa Farrell, an executive assistant at Zeller and the liaison to Johnson's The Sculpture Foundation, which owns the work. Indeed, since being put up in Pioneer Plaza for display last December, God Bless America has become, by most estimates, one of the top public-art attractions in a city that believes, even with a tight budget, in buying and displaying art and boasts several superstars of the genre. These include the Picasso sculpture in Daley Plaza, Calder's Flamingo in Federal Plaza and, surpassing everything in popularity these days, Cloud Gate, commonly known as The Bean, in Millennium Park.

Not only that, but the Chicago-Herald Tribune also says that this exhibition is encouraging people to go to the Art Institute of Chicago, and see the painting on which the sculpture is based. Unlike "Cloud Gate" or the Picasso, which appeal to the cognoscenti and passersby, this photo-op, tongue-in-cheek sculpture has really only garnered a lot of attention from passersby. In fact, Johnson gets mediocre reviews from art critics."It's very successful," Kelley said. "I really like it. It is incredibly well crafted. It's high craftsmanship as a public art piece. It doesn't inspire me as a work of art the way Cloud Gate or the Picasso does. As an art historian, it's not my favorite genre where one artist appropriates another artist's imagery. But to everybody his own right."

Perhaps critics shun this piece, but it’s friendly to the masses, and perhaps encourages aspiring art lovers. So why not?