Denver Art Museum Under Investigation

It’s been a bit slow artlaw wise lately, and we’ve also been keeping busy trying to figure out how to manage and remaneuver our investments. Speaking of investments and shenannigans, another interesting story from The Art Newspaper:

In April, the Denver Art Museum gave a half interest in its Charles Deas painting Long Jakes (The Rocky Mountain Man), 1844, to local billionaire Philip Anschutz. In exchange Mr Anschutz bought a Western American painting by Thomas Eakins, Cowboy Singing, 1892, and conveyed a half share in it to the museum.

Now the unorthodox arrangement has spurred an enquiry by the Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD) to determine whether the deal meets the organisation’s standards for collection stewardship, deaccessioning and relationships with private collectors. AAMD sets non-binding guidelines for its members, which represent 190 of the most prominent museums in North America.