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Edited by: TJVNews.com
In a surprising move, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City has decided to part ways with a significant piece of American history—a Gilbert Stuart portrait of George Washington, which has been in the museum’s possession for a staggering 80 years, as was recently reported by the ArtNews.com web site. The decision to auction this 1795 painting will unfold during a prestigious Christie’s auction of American art scheduled for January, the report added.
The portrait captures George Washington during the twilight of his presidency, offering a glimpse into the revered leader’s countenance during a pivotal period in American history, according to information provided on the Artnews.com website. Gilbert Stuart, a prolific portraitist, created over 100 portraits of Washington, making this particular piece part of a distinguished collection.
Interestingly, the Met already boasts another Stuart masterpiece from the same year, 1795, portraying Washington, as was indicated in the Artnews.com report. However, the painting set for auction is overshadowed by its counterpart in the museum’s holdings, which is considered more famous and stands among the institution’s most prominent works, the Artnews.com report added.
Christie’s, a renowned auction house, anticipates the Gilbert Stuart portrait to fetch between $1.5 million and $2.5 million. The Artnews.com report also revealed that while this places it as one of the top lots in the upcoming auction, it is unlikely to surpass Stuart’s auction record, established in 2018 when another Washington portrait, previously owned by Peggy and David Rockefeller, sold for a substantial $11.5 million.
The decision to part with such a historically significant piece falls within the broader practice known as deaccessioning, where museums opt to sell works from their collections, according to the report on the ArtNews.com web site. Typically, this occurs with duplicates or pieces deemed no longer relevant to the institution’s focus.
In the case of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the proceeds from the sale will contribute to a dedicated fund for future acquisitions. Moreover, the information in the Artnews.com report indicated that this aligns with guidelines set by the Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD), allowing institutions to deaccession objects as long as the process aids in maintaining and enhancing their collections.
During the pandemic, the AAMD temporarily relaxed deaccessioning guidelines, providing museums with greater flexibility in selling artworks at auctions. This adjustment allowed institutions to navigate financial challenges resulting from the pandemic. However, such decisions were not without controversy, as seen in 2020 when the Baltimore Museum of Art faced backlash for attempting to sell works by renowned artists like Andy Warhol and Brice Marden in the name of diversity, only to abandon the plan at the last minute due to mounting opposition, as was noted in the report on the Artnews.com report.
Notably, the Metropolitan Museum of Art has previously deaccessioned works, including a Pablo Picasso sculpture that garnered $45 million at a Christie’s auction in 2022, according to ArtNews.com.
As the gavel falls on the Gilbert Stuart portrait of George Washington at the upcoming Christie’s auction, it marks not only a shift in the Met’s collection but also underscores the evolving landscape of museum practices and financial strategies in the art world. The funds generated from this sale will undoubtedly contribute to the museum’s ongoing commitment to acquiring and preserving significant artworks for future generations.
