A closer look at what the Brooklyn Museum is selling off

[left-of-center2012]

The Brooklyn Museum is auctioning 12 works to raise money for the care of its collections. Not long ago, this deaccessioning move would have stirred strenuous objections and even precipitated penalties from the Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD), which has long mandated that museums sell works only to finance additional art acquisitions. But in April, the association revised its rules to help American museums struggling with a financial crisis triggered by the coronavirus pandemic. Until April 2022, they are free to use the proceeds of art sales for “the direct care” of their collections.

Anne Pasternak, the director of the Brooklyn Museum, says that the institution is planning to set up a $40m fund to pay for the collection’s care that could generate $2m a year for that purpose. The proceeds from the sale of the 12 works, all consigned to Christie’s for auctions in October, may amount to as much as $3.5m.

“The proceeds will be used to create a permanent restricted Collections Care Fund to support in perpetuity the work of our curators, registrars, conservators and others in preserving, protecting and caring for our collections—one of the most important functions of any museum,” Pasternak says in an email. She adds that the money will go toward purposes like proper storage, conservation, framing as well as toward the salaries paid to staff members involved in caring for the collection.

The biggest-ticket item is Lucas Cranach the Elder’s 16th-century Lucretia, an oil on panel valued by Christie’s at $1.2m to $1.8m.

An 1868 landscape painting by Courbet, Bords de la Loue avec rochers à gauche ... its sale estimate is $400,000 to $600,000.

Corot’s Italienne debut tenant une cruche from the 1820s, with an estimate of $200,000 to $300,000.

A full-length 15th-century Saint Jerome by Donato de’ Bardi ... estimated at $80,000 to $120,000.

Also consigned to Christie’s are works by Giovanni dal Ponte, Francesco Botticini, Lorenzo Costa, Henrik Willem Mesdag, Charles-François Daubigny, Philip Wilson Steer, Jehan-Georges Vibert and an unidentified artist from the Netherlandish School.

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/a-closer-look-at-what-the-brooklyn-museum-is-jettisoning

[marble falls]

1. Sometimes de-acquisition looks a lot like looting.

[Coleman]

2. The hope is that the buyer lets the Museum continue to show it

Much of the art in museums are owned by private collectors and loaned to the museum.

[left-of-center2012]

3. "The hope is ..."

Whose 'hope' are you referring to?

[appalachiablue]

5. Most artwork shown and stored in museums

is from the museum's permanent collection, not private owners.

In organizing special exhibitions and shows many museums and galleries often contact other institutions and individuals to borrow and display works of art on loan.

I don't doubt that many museums hope to be able to borrow and exhibit items that they sell to outside owners, but how often that happens I have no idea.

[Hugin]

4. I could use some new art on the walls to cheer up the old 'rona bunker.

Being a good 'murkan and all.

That there NSFW "Lucretia" would look great hanging next to the black velvet "Poker Dogs" in the fancy eating room.