LACMA to sell 42 of Its artworks

Los Angeles Times ^ | Sept. 17, 2005 | Christopher Reynolds

[Republicanprofessor]

In its boldest collection-culling since 1982, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art will sell off 42 artworks in November, including paintings by Amedeo Modigliani, Camille Pissarro, Alfred Sisley and Max Beckmann, sculptures by Alberto Giacometti and Henry Moore, and works on paper by Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse and Edgar Degas.

Sotheby's in New York will offer the works at auction Nov. 2 and 3 and expects them to bring in $10 million to $14 million. The headliner is a Modigliani, "Portrait of Manuel Humbert Esteve," that is expected to fetch $4 million to $6 million.

The idea, said LACMA Deputy Director Nancy Thomas, is to prune redundant and unrepresentative items and spend the income on works that will fill in gaps — especially modern works that could shine when the museum expands, reorganizes and rehangs its collection in 2007.

[Republicanprofessor]

The third of the art posts suggested by Woofie. Thanks Woofie!

[PAR35]

Yes, sell all the stuff by the dead white guys to make room for modern 'art'.

[dighton]

The headliner is a Modigliani, "Portrait of Manuel Humbert Esteve," that is expected to fetch $4 million to $6 million.

This one.

Heaven knows what some of his nudes might fetch.

[Republicanprofessor]

Here are some of the images I could find on line. These are not necessarily the same ones that are being auctioned.

A portrait by Modigliani, but not the "Portrait of Manuel Humbert Esteve.

A sculpture by Giocometti.

A work by Beckmann; I could not find a landscape. He is most know for these twisted, Expressionist reactions to war and torture.

Ernst, The Sea from San Francisco.

Pissarro Mme. Pissarro

Sisley La Station de Sevres

Again, I wonder what works they will buy. I think some these are fine works (with perhaps the exception of the Ernst), and my fear is that they will buy something that is trendy now but which is ultimately empty and will not be valued later on. But perhaps I am wrong.

[Republicanprofessor]

Art ping.

Let Sam Cree or me know if you would like on or off this ping list.

[Republicanprofessor]

I could not find that work. How did you do it?

I like that portrait a great deal. It shows a very thoughtful, sensitive man with huge eyelashes. Thanks.

[solzhenitsyn]

Kinda like selling Treasuries to buy junk bonds ...

[nkycincinnatikid]

Nope I don't think this here is Manuel either professor

[GladesGuru]

Real case of Thunder Thigh syndrome in that painting.

[woofie]

Thanks for putting these up there