Monday, December 15, 2008

The 15 Most Expensive Paintings in the World

The 15 Most Expensive Paintings in the World.
I wonder what ole poverty-stricken Vince would have thought about his having four paintings on that list, 120 years after his death. I suspect he would have chuckled and then shook his head, and then gone back to his easel.



Especially since just one of those sales could have supported him and his whole family for three generations.

8 comments:

Pascal [P-04referent] said...

I'm a moderate fan of Vinnie. Some of his stuff I like, some leaves me cold.
But this scenery makes me warm. It's pretty.

Then again, a faithful poster-size reproduction on glossy paper would make me just as happy. More, perhaps: I would dare display it in my living room, not worrying about getting robbed by fierce armed gangsters, or about the children playing inside.

I know it's a cliché, but those originals "they belong in a museum". (Isn't this a quote from young Indiana Jones, episode 1?)
It is fortunate that the images are in the public domain today. Anybody can print decently-priced reproductions for the general public.

Anonymous said...

I'd guess any success whatsoever would simply fill Vincent with even more self-doubt and anxiety. Pollock managed to become somewhat successful during his career, and I don't sense any relief found in that success. There seems to be 2 common sides to genius in art (probably elsewhere) smug, successful, and ever-confident versus the endlessly self doubting.

Eolake Stobblehouse said...

"I'd guess any success whatsoever would simply fill Vincent with even more self-doubt and anxiety."

Suspect you're right. His bio hints at it. "Lust for Life", excellent book.

Pascal, we just need good files to print from. It's hard to photograph well in museums, you're not allowed to use either flash or tripods.

Anonymous said...

I suspect he would have chuckled and then shook his head, and then gone back to his easel.

I don't think that fits with what we know of his personality, from the people who knew him.

Anonymous said...

I know it's a cliché, but those originals "they belong in a museum".

It's funny how these things are only safe in museums these days. Michelangelo's David (I know we're talking about paintings here, but just go with me on this) was originally displayed out in the open back in the day. (Okay, it suffered some damage.) The artifacts from the Parthenon which are now displayed in museums were of course out in the open.

For paintings I guess it works best to have them in museums so that the rest of us can see them, but why can't more of the uber-rich open their houses up, a la Buckingham Palace?

Eolake Stobblehouse said...

I think it does fit his personality. He is mostly known for his fits and "suffering", but that was not his personality. He had a well-educated mind and a wry humor. And when he sat, he often had the chair leaned back on two legs, suggesting a basic, well, laid-back-ness.

Anonymous said...

As I said - based on what the people who knew him said. Including his brother. I don't think one of those people was you, unless you're an immortal. They disagree with your assessment.

Anonymous said...

why can't more of the uber-rich open their houses up, a la Buckingham Palace?

The whole point of becoming uber-rich is to get away from the "little people."