Art Museums Look to Sell Art to Shore Up Bloated Budgets

Last week, I wrote about good news from European museums. Museums in Paris, Dublin, London, and Florence announced initiatives directly related to . . . drum roll, whistles, 76 trombones, and shocked and awed gasps . . . art, of all things. We shouldn’t be shocked and awed. Through schisms, invasions, wars, despotism, and depressions, from Huns to Flagellants, Jacobins, Reds, and Nazis, custodians of heritage in the Old World keep their collective eye on what’s sculpted, painted, gilded, and wrought.

Evidently, not so much here in America. I can’t remember a week of more mirthless news in the museum world. Grabby hands aren’t in the till. They’re in the vault, trying to raid art for cash. “Money can’t buy me love,” the Beatles sang, but it does pay the electric bill and helps balance budgets.

About the Author

Brian T. Allen

Brian T. Allen is National Review’s art critic.

Last week, I wrote about good news from European museums. Museums in Paris, Dublin, London, and Florence announced initiatives directly related to . . . drum roll, whistles, 76 trombones, and shocked and awed gasps . . . art, of all things. We shouldn’t be shocked and awed. Through schisms, invasions, wars, despotism, and depressions, from Huns to Flagellants, Jacobins, Reds, and Nazis, custodians of heritage in the Old World keep their collective eye on what’s sculpted, painted, gilded, and wrought.

Evidently, not so much here in America. I can’t remember a week of more mirthless news in the museum world. Grabby hands aren’t in the till. They’re in the vault, trying to raid art for cash. “Money can’t buy me love,” the Beatles sang, but it does pay the electric bill and helps balance budgets.