The Detroit Institute of Arts writes on its website that “The heart of a great museum is its collection and The Detroit Institute of Arts is proud to claim one of the largest, most significant art collections in the nation. From the first painting donated in 1883 to the most recent acquisition, our collection of over 60,000 works brings the culture and creativity of the world to Detroit’s doorstep. Ranging from classic to cutting-edge, the works housed in the DIA will challenge perceptions and enrich perspectives, leaving you with a fresh outlook and a jolt of inspiration”,
With the City of Detroit facing bankcruptcy due to its $18 billion of debts, Christies the auction house were asked to assess the value of some 2,773 works that had been bought in times of prosperity using public funds, as opposed to donations.
” Pieter Bruegel the Elder’s study of peasants whirling through the woods in The Wedding Dance is said to have a fair market value of $100-200 million. Van Gogh’s self-portrait of the artist as a tortured soul is said to be worth up to $150 million. There is a Torso of Apollo from the first century, a Rembrandt, a Monet and a page of drawings by Michelangelo as he worked over a plan for the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.”
While the City states that it has no intention of selling the works, the thought of which has shocked art galleries and curators across the country, it is looking to find a way to realise some value to contribute $500 million towards the restructuring of the city’s finances. It will be interesting to see how this plays out as the debts are so large that, even if works were sold, it would hardly make any difference, but the loss to the people of Detroit would be immense.