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Posted on 04/29/2025 6:58:16 PM PDT by nickcarraway
A painting by American artist Mark Rothko, valued at up to €50 million, has been damaged by a child at the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam.
A painting by Mark Rothko has been damaged by a child during an “unguarded moment,” according to a Dutch museum.
The abstract painting from 1960, “Grey, Orange on Maroon, No. 8”, was “scratched” by a child visiting the Rotterdam gallery Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen where it was on display.
The museum shared a statement: “The painting Grey, Orange on Maroon, No. 8 by Mark Rothko has sustained superficial damage after a child touched the painting when it was on display. As a result, small scratches are visible in the unvarnished paint layer in the lower part of the painting. Conservation expertise has been sought in the Netherlands and abroad. We are currently researching the next steps for the treatment of the painting. We expect that the work will be able to be shown again in the future.”
While the museum declined to say how much the painting is worth, Rothko's works regularly fetch millions of dollars at auction.
For instance, his work “Untitled, 1968” sold for $23.9 million at Sotheby’s in New York in November 2023.
Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad (AD) estimates “Grey, Orange on Maroon, No. 8” to be worth up to €50million.
The costs of the repair and who will be footing the bill remain unknown.
The Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen has previously asked visitors to cover repair costs following damage to artworks. In 2011, a tourist who accidentally stepped on "Pindakaasvloer" ("Peanut Butter Floor"), a conceptual piece by Dutch artist Wim T. Schippers, was asked to pay for restoration.
When it comes to children, however, some museums deal with accidents differently.
Last year, a precious 3,500-year-old jar was accidentally shattered by a four-year-old boy during a visit to the Hecht Museum in northern Israel.
The jar, dating back to the Bronze Age between 2200 and 1500 BC, had been displayed near the museum entrance without protective glass.
“There are instances where display items are intentionally damaged, and such cases are treated with great severity, including involving the police,” said Hecht Museum director Inbal Rivlin at the time. “In this case, however, this was not the situation. The jar was accidentally damaged by a young child visiting the museum, and the response will be accordingly.”
The response? The child and his family were invited back to the exhibition for an organised tour in an effort to “sweeten” their previous experience at the museum.
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Ping
Oh boy, I could nuzzle her neck in a heartbeat.
Okay either they start putting this art behind protective glass or the ban children.
“Child Damages Mark Rothko Painting Estimated at €50m in Dutch Museum”
I don’t even know why Trump chose him for Secretary of State as he’s a HUGE TIME Neocon.
How do you damage something as worthless as a Rothko?
Yeah, how could they tell it was damaged?
Museums need to post this historic verse, and stick to the policy:
Lovely to look at, wonderful to hold.
But if you break it, consider it sold.
Child improves piece of modern art garbagey
“ Grey, Orange on Maroon, No. 8 ”......
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
the good thing it wasn’t No.7 ... that would be a real big deal.!
How about to declare it a decisive improvement of No.8 or re-name it “No.9” from now-on.
Either way the collectable value will go up without any added effort.
And hopefully they choose wisely.
Like Rothko, but understand the skepticism.
30 years ago at The Met a painting everyone would know was on loan and behind some velvet ropes when I reached over and touched the lower right corner of the masterpiece. My DNA is on that puppy.
And like most *modern art*, I wouldn’t give you $50 for it.
That’s not art and anything done to it would be an improvement.
Anyone who thinks that is worth 50M is an idiot.
That’s a masterpiece? The child could do a better job with finger paints.
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