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With the National Gallery of Canada’s controversial plan to sell Marc Chagall’s masterpiece The Eiffel Tower finally scuttled, the Gallery put the iconic painting up on the wall for the public to view Saturday.
Art lovers were keen to see the masterpiece that Canada almost lost, and many visitors had mixed feelings about the fact the 1929 oil painting was almost sold off at Christie’s auction house in New York City to potentially raise around $9 million U.S. for other works. The gallery had its sights set on a French painting by Jacques-Louis David that belongs to the Notre-Dame-de-Québec parish corporation in Quebec City. However, amid the controversy, Quebec’s minister of culture blocked the National Gallery from acquiring the painting by designating it part of Quebec’s heritage, requiring it to remain in that province.
We asked some of the early arrivals Saturday for their thoughts on the controversy and on the Chagall itself.
I was appalled when I first heard that is was being sold (but now I’m glad the Chagall painting) is back here. So in the next little while, I will probably see it more than once.
Rosemary O’Shaughnessy, Ottawa
I was appalled when I first heard that is was being sold. And I followed with great interest the ups and downs of the story, and the battle, as it were, for custody. And I’m glad Quebec won custody (of the French painting by Jacques-Louis David) because after all, that is where it does belong. But I am equally glad (the Chagall painting) is back here, we are finally going to get to see it because it really is a lovely painting and one of my favourites. So in the next little while, I will probably see it more than once.
I really felt that it was an error, that it was a mistake (to try to sell off the Chagall), said Carol De Francis.
Carol De Francis, Eastern Townships, Que.
I really felt that it was an error, that it was a mistake. Because I thing what (gallery director Marc Mayer) the gallery director) said was that that they already had other pieces of (Chagall’s) work, and they really wanted this heritage piece from Quebec City …I’ve only seen a picture in the newspaper of (The Eiffel Tower), and I went to the Chagall exhibit last year in Montreal, I just felt why give up that piece of work. And then because of the controversy, the price went sky high, so I felt it was an error on (the gallery’s) part … I felt it was wrong. Before making that decision, why not really study it closely and see whether or not it would have created that kind of controversy in Quebec.
I think (the controversy) will bring more meaning to (the Chagall painting), and perhaps some more attention, said Donna LePan.
Donna Le Pan, Ottawa
I think it’s important to hang on to it, I’m not sure who made those decisions but I don’t think it should be down to one person. I think it should be a collective decision. (As) part of the Canadian community I will say that I did not want it sold. I really looking forward to (seeing) it. I think (the controversy) will bring more meaning to it, and perhaps some more attention.
Naomi London of Montreal noted galleries often have to sell pieces in order to obtain other pieces.
Naomi London, Montreal
I understand why people would get upset but I’ve worked in an art gallery before. I understand what the art world is like and sometimes you just need funds. And when you have a piece like that with such value, it does make sense to sell it. I mean this is our national gallery and you want to have funds to purchase (the work of) emerging artists, Canadian artists. I understand the necessity … I think (Chagall) is an important artist, it’s a wonderful piece. But sometimes you have to let go of things so you can continue running an institution and doing projects that are important.
The first thought I have is that it’s great that the controversy came up because it raised the issue of art in the public’s mind, said Ed Wojczynski.
Ed Wojcznski, Ottawa (but moving back to Victoria)
The first thought I have is that it’s great that the controversy came up because it raised the issue of art in the public’s mind, which doesn’t often get raised in that way. I mean I’ve seen more in the newspaper and the media — and not just in Ottawa — on that issue than on any other art issue in Canada in 30 years. From that point of view, it is positive … I think a tradeoff of moving it around and not always having it in the same place is a good idea. And that’s as far as I go. I don’t really feel strongly one way or another whether it should or should not have gone. I think Canada should emphasize Canadian art and that was an issue on this.
I think it would have been a shame (to sell Chagall’s The Eiffel Tower), said Monique Pambrun, with François Bernier.
Monique Pambrun (with François Bernier), Montreal
I think it would have been a shame (to sell it). I think it’s import to have pieces at the national gallery that represent lots of different heritages of all the people across Canada. Obviously Chagall, a big artist, I think that it’s important to have certain pieces in the museum that will attract people so that they can come and see some of the (pieces) that are maybe a little bit less well known.
Note: The Eiffel Tower painting will be on view in the European galleries on the gallery’s second floor, alongside Chagall’s earlier painting Memories of Childhood. Both paintings will remain on view until winter 2019.
查看原文...
Art lovers were keen to see the masterpiece that Canada almost lost, and many visitors had mixed feelings about the fact the 1929 oil painting was almost sold off at Christie’s auction house in New York City to potentially raise around $9 million U.S. for other works. The gallery had its sights set on a French painting by Jacques-Louis David that belongs to the Notre-Dame-de-Québec parish corporation in Quebec City. However, amid the controversy, Quebec’s minister of culture blocked the National Gallery from acquiring the painting by designating it part of Quebec’s heritage, requiring it to remain in that province.
We asked some of the early arrivals Saturday for their thoughts on the controversy and on the Chagall itself.
I was appalled when I first heard that is was being sold (but now I’m glad the Chagall painting) is back here. So in the next little while, I will probably see it more than once.
Rosemary O’Shaughnessy, Ottawa
I was appalled when I first heard that is was being sold. And I followed with great interest the ups and downs of the story, and the battle, as it were, for custody. And I’m glad Quebec won custody (of the French painting by Jacques-Louis David) because after all, that is where it does belong. But I am equally glad (the Chagall painting) is back here, we are finally going to get to see it because it really is a lovely painting and one of my favourites. So in the next little while, I will probably see it more than once.
I really felt that it was an error, that it was a mistake (to try to sell off the Chagall), said Carol De Francis.
Carol De Francis, Eastern Townships, Que.
I really felt that it was an error, that it was a mistake. Because I thing what (gallery director Marc Mayer) the gallery director) said was that that they already had other pieces of (Chagall’s) work, and they really wanted this heritage piece from Quebec City …I’ve only seen a picture in the newspaper of (The Eiffel Tower), and I went to the Chagall exhibit last year in Montreal, I just felt why give up that piece of work. And then because of the controversy, the price went sky high, so I felt it was an error on (the gallery’s) part … I felt it was wrong. Before making that decision, why not really study it closely and see whether or not it would have created that kind of controversy in Quebec.
I think (the controversy) will bring more meaning to (the Chagall painting), and perhaps some more attention, said Donna LePan.
Donna Le Pan, Ottawa
I think it’s important to hang on to it, I’m not sure who made those decisions but I don’t think it should be down to one person. I think it should be a collective decision. (As) part of the Canadian community I will say that I did not want it sold. I really looking forward to (seeing) it. I think (the controversy) will bring more meaning to it, and perhaps some more attention.
Naomi London of Montreal noted galleries often have to sell pieces in order to obtain other pieces.
Naomi London, Montreal
I understand why people would get upset but I’ve worked in an art gallery before. I understand what the art world is like and sometimes you just need funds. And when you have a piece like that with such value, it does make sense to sell it. I mean this is our national gallery and you want to have funds to purchase (the work of) emerging artists, Canadian artists. I understand the necessity … I think (Chagall) is an important artist, it’s a wonderful piece. But sometimes you have to let go of things so you can continue running an institution and doing projects that are important.
The first thought I have is that it’s great that the controversy came up because it raised the issue of art in the public’s mind, said Ed Wojczynski.
Ed Wojcznski, Ottawa (but moving back to Victoria)
The first thought I have is that it’s great that the controversy came up because it raised the issue of art in the public’s mind, which doesn’t often get raised in that way. I mean I’ve seen more in the newspaper and the media — and not just in Ottawa — on that issue than on any other art issue in Canada in 30 years. From that point of view, it is positive … I think a tradeoff of moving it around and not always having it in the same place is a good idea. And that’s as far as I go. I don’t really feel strongly one way or another whether it should or should not have gone. I think Canada should emphasize Canadian art and that was an issue on this.
I think it would have been a shame (to sell Chagall’s The Eiffel Tower), said Monique Pambrun, with François Bernier.
Monique Pambrun (with François Bernier), Montreal
I think it would have been a shame (to sell it). I think it’s import to have pieces at the national gallery that represent lots of different heritages of all the people across Canada. Obviously Chagall, a big artist, I think that it’s important to have certain pieces in the museum that will attract people so that they can come and see some of the (pieces) that are maybe a little bit less well known.
Note: The Eiffel Tower painting will be on view in the European galleries on the gallery’s second floor, alongside Chagall’s earlier painting Memories of Childhood. Both paintings will remain on view until winter 2019.
查看原文...
