Parthenon Marbles Talks, Dalí Theft, Koons Auction: Tuesday's Art News Roundup
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis sees the possibility of a UK-EU reconciliation as an opportunity to address the reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures, which were taken by Lord Elgin in the early 1800s and subsequently sold to the British Museum in 1816. He favors the term "reunification" instead of "return." New UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has recognized the influence of Brexit on future relations with the EU. The British Museum asserts its ownership of the sculptures. In another development, Le Monde reported that a bronze cover by Salvador Dalí, valued at two million francs in 1958, was stolen from a private museum in Issoire, France. Mayor Bertrand Barraud described the piece, weighing 150 kilograms, as "immeasurable." Investigations are underway. Meanwhile, Jeff Koons is set to auction nine pieces at Christie's, with expectations of surpassing $100 million.
Key facts
- Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the Parthenon Sculptures will be part of discussions amid a potential UK-EU rapprochement.
- The Parthenon marbles were removed by Lord Elgin in the early 19th century and sold to the British Museum in 1816.
- Mitsotakis prefers the term "reunification" and wants the sculptures displayed together at the Acropolis Museum.
- UK PM Andy Burnham said Brexit harmed Britain and left open options for EU relations, including rejoining.
- Salvador Dalí's 150-kilogram bronze cover for the "Livre de l'Apocalypse" was stolen from a private museum in Issoire, France.
- The Dalí cover, created in 1958 for a book initiated by Joseph Forêt, was valued at two million francs at its creation.
- Jeff Koons is auctioning nine works from his private collection at Christie's, including Picasso's "Le Baiser" estimated at around $40 million.
- Collector Beth Rudin DeWoody relisted her 465-square-meter Gracie Square apartment for $12 million, with monthly maintenance of nearly $12,800.
Entities
Artists
- Kyriakos Mitsotakis
- Lord Elgin
- Andy Burnham
- Salvador Dalí
- Joseph Forêt
- Christian Karoutzos
- Bertrand Barraud
- Zachary Small
- Jeff Koons
- Pablo Picasso
- Édouard Manet
- Cornelis van Haarlem
- Beth Rudin DeWoody
Institutions
- British Museum
- Acropolis Museum
- European Union
- Le Monde
- AFP
- New York Times
- Christie's
- Curbed
- New York Magazine
Locations
- Greece
- Athens
- United Kingdom
- London
- France
- Issoire
- New York
- Los Angeles
- Florida
- Gracie Square