Swedish art academy to sell Rembrandt to raise cash

“Our funds have not been depleted, we have never had any”

" The painting was donated to the academy in 1798 'for eternity' by noblewoman Anna Johanna Grill." Stockholm, March 6 The venerable Swedish Academy of Fine Arts plans to sell a painting by 17th century Dutch ... via Nerve News

[HHC]

I hope this painting does not fall into a private collection. It would be a shame if the world would not be able to enjoy such a wonderful piece of art by Rembrandt.

[RUBEN69]

Its a terrible indictment of our society that the works of great painters such as Rembrant and Vangogh to name just two, who spent most of their lives in poverty, should now change hands for such grotesque prices and often end up locked in some safe somewhere, veiwed by its already wealthy owner as simply another way of raking in yet more money.
Then again I suppose we should be thankful for the paintings that remain in the public domain... in the end its probably the prices of the market that stop certain private individuals buying everything available and leaving out galleries empty...:)

[HHC]

RUBEN69 wrote:

Its a terrible indictment of our society that the works of great painters such as Rembrant and Vangogh to name just two, who spent most of their lives in poverty, should now change hands for such grotesque prices and often end up locked in some safe somewhere, veiwed by its already wealthy owner as simply another way of raking in yet more money.
Then again I suppose we should be thankful for the paintings that remain in the public domain... in the end its probably the prices of the market that stop certain private individuals buying everything available and leaving out galleries empty...:)

Ruben, yes, it would be a travesty if people kept such precious works of arts hidden away from the public. I fear, with the division that is between rich and poor, art and antiquities will be sold to pay for museums to remain open. Unless there are some very generous benefactors.
Another terrible loss what the antiquities that were stolen from Iraq when the U.S.A. invaded the country. I remember reading stories of items being sold on ebay as the museums and Sadam's palaces were invaded. Many of these antiquities were dated thousands of years. I am sure there are some greedy warmongers very happy with their treasures.

[HHC]

terrible loss *were the