U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing
"I've seen a look in dog's eyes, a quickly vanishing look of contempt, and I am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts."
John Steinbeck
Art is a commodity. But, that's old news. On July 3, 1497, Michelangelo received the final payment of 150 gold Florins for the statue of Bacchus. This "represented what his father would have earned in six years in the customs job he had obtained from Lorenzo de Medici" John T. Spike, Young Michelangelo. Upon completion of The Ghent Altarpiece in 1432, Jan van Eyck was given a bonus that was "the equivalent of the annual salary of twenty skilled workers" Noah Charney, Stealing The Mystic Lamb. So it shouldn't seem shocking when a Venetian painting from the 18th Century fetches nearly 43 million dollars at auction. Of course, the artist didn't receive the money. He has been dead for some time.
Art is a commodity. But, that's old news. On July 3, 1497, Michelangelo received the final payment of 150 gold Florins for the statue of Bacchus. This "represented what his father would have earned in six years in the customs job he had obtained from Lorenzo de Medici" John T. Spike, Young Michelangelo. Upon completion of The Ghent Altarpiece in 1432, Jan van Eyck was given a bonus that was "the equivalent of the annual salary of twenty skilled workers" Noah Charney, Stealing The Mystic Lamb. So it shouldn't seem shocking when a Venetian painting from the 18th Century fetches nearly 43 million dollars at auction. Of course, the artist didn't receive the money. He has been dead for some time.
New benchmark for any Venetian view painting established when Francesco Guardi’s Venice, a View of the Rialto Bridge, Looking North, from the Fondamenta del Carbon sold for £26,697,250/ $42,865,105/ €29,834,146.
Photo: Sotheby's.
The age-old question comes to my mind- 'Are the things around us increasing in value or is the dollar decreasing?' Perhaps it is a matter of perspective, which reminds me of a story Alan Smith told-
One fellow said to another, "I just bought an amazing huntin' dog."
"Huh, how much did pay for it?"
"1,500 dollars."
"Well, let's see him hunt!"
So, they take the dog out and the 1st fellow shoots a bird. As the bird falls over a pond, the dog runs on top of the water and retrieves the bird. The second fellow says, "You got jipped. You bought a dog that can't swim!"
As a child, I watched clouds travel across the sky. To my mind, the clouds remained still- it was the earth that moved. Perspective is a strange creature. We give life to erroneous notions. When it comes to the visual arts, WTMWB (whatever the market will bare) is ever expanding. Sotheby's and Christie's both report record art sales. Artists thought by some to be cheap carnival conjurers seem to financially thrive. For an interesting article from a UK perspective, click here.
So, what in the world is going on?
The world, of course.
As a child, I watched clouds travel across the sky. To my mind, the clouds remained still- it was the earth that moved. Perspective is a strange creature. We give life to erroneous notions. When it comes to the visual arts, WTMWB (whatever the market will bare) is ever expanding. Sotheby's and Christie's both report record art sales. Artists thought by some to be cheap carnival conjurers seem to financially thrive. For an interesting article from a UK perspective, click here.
So, what in the world is going on?
The world, of course.
1967 Gibson J-160E Sunburst Electric-Acoustic
Originally owned by John Lennon
gifted to Bob Dylan
To be auctioned July 29,2011
(Minimum opening bid- $100,000.00)
Monkeys As Judges of Art
Gabriel Cornelius von Max
1840-1915
On a completely different note,
here is one of my favorite songs from Rich Mullins-
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