Gauguin Painting Is Said to Fetch $300 Million

NY times ^ | February 5, 2015 | Scott Reyburn and Doreen Carvajal

[C19fan]

A sensuous Paul Gauguin painting of two Tahitian girls has been sold from a Swiss private collection for close to $300 million, one of the highest prices believed to have been paid for an artwork, according to European and American art world insiders with knowledge of the matter.

The sale of the 1892 oil painting, “Nafea Faa Ipoipo (When Will You Marry?),” was confirmed by the seller, Rudolf Staechelin, 62, a retired Sotheby’s executive living in Basel, Switzerland, who through a family trust owns more than 20 works in a valuable collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art, including the Gauguin, which has been on loan to the Kunstmuseum Basel for nearly a half-century.

[C19fan]

Supposedly the Gauguin was purchased by Qatar. It seems they are amassing an art collection. What is interesting is art showing images of humans and animals is discouraged in Islam. Although it seems Islam as practiced in Central Asia and India was looser on this as one can find plenty of manuscripts and art showing both.

[GeronL]

what is the tax on that?

[Don Corleone]

PREPOSTEROUS! I’d have painted it for 1/2 that price, maybe even 1/4 if the buyer asked politely./s

[CondorFlight]

One of the reasons for buying great art is to hedge your money; if the dollar ends up being as worthless as Weimar
money, at least you’ll still have the “stuff” you bought,
which should (eventually) retain its value.

[ifinnegan]

Nafea Faa Ipoipo

New York Slimes writer calls it "sensuous".

[molson209]

the colors are running down into other colors ,I have better paint by number paintings

[lee martell]

I for one am amazed that this painting has survived intact with colors still vivid. Maybe some wealthy owner has paid for a professional cleaning job, the kind that won’t destroy or damage the artwork. The conservators of that estate will be thrilled.

[CivilWarBrewing]

[laplata]

the colors are running down into other colors ,I have better paint by number paintings

---

You stayed within the lines. Good for you.

[dainbramaged]

It’s a beautiful painting, but 300 million? That’s some big league money right there.

[elcid1970]

IIRC, the title of the painting is,

“And...when are you getting married?”

The question is being asked of the girl who is now dressing more modestly.

[huldah1776]

It must be a good time for hostage negotiators.