Comments on: Help me find a picture, and help me help myself.

Question: Help me find a picture, and help me help myself.

ersatzkat — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 16:56:40 -0800

Two-part question about tracking down a piece of art...

Have you found a really good web resource for finding out where a piece of art resides? Someplace where I could go find out who has this Cornell Medici box or that de Kooning angry woman painting?

The reason I ask is that I'd like to know which museum (if any) owns Chagall's "La Mairee". I've googled, and I can't seem to turn it up. I know that means it may be in private hands, but it got me thinking about that first thing I asked. So if you could answer either, I'd appreciate it.

By: weapons-grade pandemonium

weapons-grade pandemonium — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 17:24:34 -0800

You misspelled it. Mariee.

By: weapons-grade pandemonium

weapons-grade pandemonium — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 17:40:28 -0800

Still hard to find. Wikipedia lists museums, but not for that painting. You could be an art thief, right?

By: R. Mutt

R. Mutt — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 17:53:45 -0800

I couldn't find it either.

By: weapons-grade pandemonium

weapons-grade pandemonium — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 18:04:25 -0800

Marié means married in French. The added e makes it feminine, hence The Bride.
Nobody lists the collection. I don't think you'll find this one.
It was featured in the film Notting Hill, but they wouldn't have used the origiinal.

By: Flamingo

Flamingo — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 18:06:08 -0800

This is kind of a stretch, but the wiki for Chagall says the painting was used in the film Notting Hill. Maybe at the end of the credits they thank the museum/owner?

By: Flamingo

Flamingo — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 18:06:43 -0800

ack doubled, sorry.

By: MonkeySaltedNuts

MonkeySaltedNuts — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 18:22:32 -0800

Bluebell art selling reproductions ($396) says: private collection.

By: MonkeySaltedNuts

MonkeySaltedNuts — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 18:29:58 -0800

EW says

"the one used in the film is a fake; some experts say the real canvas could be worth between $500,000 and $1 million -- proved nearly as difficult as deciphering Picasso. First 'we had to get permission from the painting's owners,' says Michell. 'It was in a private collection in Japan.'

By: weapons-grade pandemonium

weapons-grade pandemonium — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 18:41:09 -0800

It's worth waaaaaay more than that. Chagall is very collectible, and this is one of his best. I'd give you a million and sell it for fifty. Prices are ten times what they were in 1989.

By: ersatzkat

ersatzkat — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 19:30:00 -0800

Thanks for the digging, all! MonkeySaltedNuts wins the "deep dive" award for the EW reference. I was unfamiliar with the movie use you and flamingo and weapons-grade mentioned, as Hugh Grant gives me the wiggins. I guess I'll just hope this "private collection in Japan" is kind enough to loan out for a retrospective some day.

I'd still appreciate if anyone has a better web resource for this kind of search, beyond "google 'til your eyes cross". Thanks again.

By: penchant

penchant — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 09:56:50 -0800

2 art libraries, Art Resource and Bridgeman Art Library are usually helpful in this situation. I couldn't find the Chagall, though.