Art exports...
We are having another one of those intermittent 'we must 'save' this work of art for the nation' brouhahas, this time involving a Turner painting. We had a similar thing with Canova'a 'Three Graces' a few years back - can anyone remember where it is? No googling. And furthermore, has anyone bothered going to see it?
Anyway, these things irritate me for two main reasons:
Firstly, I am irked by the intrusion into privity of contract - there is a willing buyer and a willing seller. The trade should be their concern, and theirs alone. This applies to the sale of other consumer products, so why not art?
Secondly, if this 'principle' had been in place centuries back, art would remain where it was created, thus the Met would be singularly lacking in European art, the National Gallery would be remarkably empty, ditto the Louvre etc etc. I think the Uffizi would still be quite impressive though.
That I really do not like Turner, at all , is not hugely relevant, but my points stack up, I believe.
Anyway, these things irritate me for two main reasons:
Firstly, I am irked by the intrusion into privity of contract - there is a willing buyer and a willing seller. The trade should be their concern, and theirs alone. This applies to the sale of other consumer products, so why not art?
Secondly, if this 'principle' had been in place centuries back, art would remain where it was created, thus the Met would be singularly lacking in European art, the National Gallery would be remarkably empty, ditto the Louvre etc etc. I think the Uffizi would still be quite impressive though.
That I really do not like Turner, at all , is not hugely relevant, but my points stack up, I believe.
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on Friday, September 22, 2006 at 10:38 am.
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the nazis had the right idea,steal it all and hide it in switzerland-saves a lot of aggro
And wouldn't our French friends be in trouble if they had to repatriate all the stuff they stole under Napoleon? Meanwhile, the Gauls get almost as hissy about the Rosetta Stone as do the Hellenes about the Elgin Marbles.
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