Every so often the travel website BootsnAll comes out with a
list of the most disappointing attractions in Europe. Once again at the top of the list is the Mona
Lisa. Here is what they say: “In
the 16th century Leonardo da Vinci painted a picture of a shy-looking smiling
woman. At that time he couldn’t know
what sufferings people in the 21st century will undergo to see the painting.”
The problem is people. Too many of them queue up to the see the
image. The painting sits rather high and
is encased in thick plexiglass. Each day
it is surrounded by hundreds of visitors each craning their necks to get a
glimpse and to capture a grainy photo with a cell phone camera.
The Louvre was built in 1793 and is
unquestionably the greatest museum in the world. It is, with 8.3 million annual visitors, the
most visited museum on the globe. It has
been noted that if one was to walk through the Louvre with a four second
pause at each piece of art, it would require three months to tour the
museum. For serious art lovers who need
more time, let’s say 60 seconds, it would take 500 years to complete the
Louvre.
Some of the world’s best art is not available to the public
because it does not exist or appear in public.
Theft is a problem. Art thieves aren’t
something out of the movies. They are
real. Everyone knows of the iconic painting
of “The Scream” by Edvald Munch. It is the most expensive piece of artwork
ever sold at auction. In May of last year the work was sold (legally) to
a private collector for a record $119 million. It is the most valuable
piece of art in private hands.
A little more
information… “The Scream” may be one of
the world’s most famous paintings. The work, done mostly in oil with
other media, was the result of a walk Munch was making friends. At the
top of a hill just outside the Norwegian capital of Oslo the group stopped to
enjoy a view of the city. It was at a time of year when the skies above
Norway take on a red hue. Munch thought the sky represented “an infinite
scream passing through nature.” He would later admit the scene led to a
personal panic attack and a feeling of abject despair that went unnoticed by
his companions. This is depicted in the art. Munch is terrified with a face contorted, eyes
agape, under a swirling crimson sky. All the while his friends stand
close by, unnerved.
“The Scream” was
stolen and missing for many years. Poor
security combined with ease of transport makes art theft a popular criminal
activity. Generally, stolen art is held for ransom with less than 10%
recovered. Most of the world’s stolen art simply disappears. Most serious art collectors avoid stolen works because too many are
damaged in the process. Once a framed piece
is rolled up it is no longer mint. Art
collectors, many of them, have personal fortunes and they will pay for mint
condition pieces—not stolen and damaged.
Over the past 23
years 13 pieces of art have been missing from the Stewart Museum in
Boston. In 1990 two men dressed at
police officers walked into the museum, overpowered the guards and cut the art
from their frames. To this day the
frames sit empty in the museum. None of the
art has ever been recovered or is believed to have been sold.
So, why be disappointed
with a jammed-packed museum or one with no pieces to view. Go for a bike ride. In Paris we recommend a ride along the River Seine. The river curves
through most of the city's famous landmarks with stunning views of the Eiffel
Tower, the Cathedral Notre Dame and a host of parks and historic sites. Whatever section of the river you bike along,
you are certain to enjoy a beautiful setting that has been impressing visitors
for centuries. If it is art you need
then by all means purchase some works created by local artists for sale in
small kiosks along the river.
Please visit our website www.stickybottleteam.net.
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