Sale of Swiss-owned Gauguin painting shrouded in secrecy

[Lite Beer]

Sale of Swiss-owned Gauguin painting shrouded in secrecy
FRANK JORDANS, Associated Press

BERLIN (AP) — A painting by French post-impressionist Paul Gauguin has reportedly sold for a record-breaking sum, but its erstwhile owner won't reveal the price or buyer.

The oil painting, called "Nafea faa ipoipo?" — Tahitian for "When will you marry?" — and showing two Tahitian women, had belonged to the Swiss family Staehelin for almost 100 years. Earlier this week, Swiss media citing unidentified art world insiders reported that the 1892 painting was bought by Qatari royalty for $300 million, making it the most expensive painting ever.

Ruedi Staehelin, who speaks for the Staehelin Family Trust, would only confirm the sale.

"The contract has been signed, the sale and handover will take place in January 2016," Staehelin said in an email Saturday to The Associated Press. "According to the contract I can't provide any information on the buyer or the price."

In an interview with Swiss paper Basler Zeitung, however, Staehelin was quoted as saying about the price: "It's clear that it isn't just a figure in the double-digit millions."

The sale was prompted by the current boom on the art market, he told the newspaper.

Qatar Museums, run by the emirate's royal family, didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

The painting is currently exhibited at the Fondation Beyeler in Riehen, near the northwestern Swiss city of Basel. Before the sale is completed next year it is also scheduled to be shown in Madrid and Washington, the Basler Zeitung reported.

The Kunstmuseum Basel, where the painting had been deposited, said it regretted the sale and the Staehelin Family Trust's simultaneous decision to withdraw other works loaned to its collection.

"These works, which had been integral to our exhibitions, will be sorely missed at the Kunstmuseum, and we are painfully reminded that permanent loans are still loans," the museum said in a statement.

Staehelin's grandfather, Swiss businessman and art collector Rudolf Staehelin, had purchased the painting in 1917 from the Geneva gallery Maison Moos. The family trust has previously sold paintings by Gauguin, Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet and Paul Cezanne.

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Jill Lawless in London and Adam Schreck in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report.

-- (c) Associated Press 2015-02-08

[MJP]

Unimpressive when you consider the living and working conditions of the foreign labour force working to build Qatar.

[Drew rolf]

Very arty farty

[hansgruber]

Trying to buy culture. Good luck camel jockeys.

[ezzra]

Trying to buy culture. Good luck camel jockeys.

better spend money on art than arming terrorist and rough countries I say....

[Johnnie99]

"Shrouded in secrecy"?

How so, when the news is plastered all over the world's press and media and even makes it to this backwater?

[hansgruber]

Well isis know where to go plunder some loot now. No wonder it's shrouded in secrecy.

[boomerangutang]

I'd rather see Gauguin up there in the top 10 value slots, than some of the painters who are usually there (who I think are lacking in talent) like Picasso and Warhol. Warhol once went to visit Salvadore Dali, when Dali was hosting a dinner party at a ritzy NY restaurant. There were about 14 people seated at the table. Warhol came in and presented Dali with one of his paintings. Dali put the painting flat on the floor, stood over it and peed on it, saying nothing. Everyone laughed, including Warhol.

[Scott]

Troll post and replies removed.

[umbanda]

I'd rather see Gauguin up there in the top 10 value slots, than some of the painters who are usually there (who I think are lacking in talent) like Picasso and Warhol. Warhol once went to visit Salvadore Dali, when Dali was hosting a dinner party at a ritzy NY restaurant. There were about 14 people seated at the table. Warhol came in and presented Dali with one of his paintings. Dali put the painting flat on the floor, stood over it and peed on it, saying nothing. Everyone laughed, including Warhol.

Picasso lacking in talent???......No comments.

[mike324]

I'd rather see Gauguin up there in the top 10 value slots, than some of the painters who are usually there (who I think are lacking in talent) like Picasso and Warhol. Warhol once went to visit Salvadore Dali, when Dali was hosting a dinner party at a ritzy NY restaurant. There were about 14 people seated at the table. Warhol came in and presented Dali with one of his paintings. Dali put the painting flat on the floor, stood over it and peed on it, saying nothing. Everyone laughed, including Warhol.

I wouldn't say Picasso lacks talent, but Warhol is somewhat over rated. I think one of the most overrated and talentless artist is probably Damien Hirst.

[kieran2698]

I'd rather see Gauguin up there in the top 10 value slots, than some of the painters who are usually there (who I think are lacking in talent) like Picasso and Warhol. Warhol once went to visit Salvadore Dali, when Dali was hosting a dinner party at a ritzy NY restaurant. There were about 14 people seated at the table. Warhol came in and presented Dali with one of his paintings. Dali put the painting flat on the floor, stood over it and peed on it, saying nothing. Everyone laughed, including Warhol.

Is there any truth to that at all? The only similar incident I know of involved Dali but not Picasso and not Dali's own piss but that of an ocelot.

In a gallery, Dali was looking at a 17th Century engraving when one of his pet ocelots peed on it. Dali exclaimed, "A nuisance of Dali's can only increase their value." Allegedly he was correct and the owner put the price up by 50%. http://www.robertwernick.com/articles/Dali_Lives.htm

This story seems now to have slipped into the realms of urban legends. Who knows, perhaps Picasso was added due to his penchant for using urine in his paintings or indeed for painting people pissing?

[boomerangutang]

A talented English forger would sometimes pour coffee on a forged painting, and wipe it in with an old rag, in order to give a more 'dated' appearance.

[Seastallion]

I wish my grandad had had the money and foresight, not to mention the eye for a good artwork, to have made that sort of investment.

I love the so very diplomatic expressions of regret from the Kunstmuseum.