The Epstein papers, launched by the US Division of Justice, reveal that investor Leon Black owned Van Gogh’s portray Quarry close to Saint-Rémy, valued at $60m in 2016. He additionally had one of many artist’s most costly drawings, Backyard with Flowers, then value $25m, together with three different Van Gogh works on paper.
All appear to have been purchased privately, somewhat than by means of auctions. It’s only now that Black has emerged as probably the most necessary Van Gogh collectors of the early twenty first century.
Black figures within the newly launched paperwork as a result of Epstein supplied him with monetary recommendation. A billionaire businessman, Black was additionally chairman of New York’s Museum of Fashionable Artwork from 2018 to 2021, however he didn’t search re-election within the wake of revelations about his hyperlinks with Epstein (though he stays a MoMA trustee).
Epstein was convicted of soliciting prostitution and soliciting a minor in 2008. He died in jail in 2019 in what was dominated a suicide, whereas awaiting trial on federal intercourse trafficking fees.
Black’s look within the Epstein papers doesn’t indicate wrongdoing. Black has beforehand denied any wrongdoing in his dealings with Epstein and any information of Epstein’s legal actions. His consultant had not responded to The Artwork Newspaper’s request for remark by the point of publication.
Leon and Debra Black on the Museum of Fashionable Artwork, New York in 2018
Picture: Andrew Toth; Getty Photos for the Museum of Fashionable Artwork
Quarry close to Saint-Rémy (September 1889), which had earlier been owned by Las Vegas on line casino proprietor Steve Wynn, was purchased by Black for $46m, most likely within the early 2000s. By 2016, when it was valued by one of many main public sale homes, it was value an estimated $60m. This made it among the many most costly Van Gogh work to have modified palms. In 2014 Black lent the panorama to the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, for its exhibition Van Gogh/Artaud: Le Suicidé de la Société.
Van Gogh’s Backyard of Flowers (August 1888)
Black additionally owned an necessary giant drawing, Backyard of Flowers (August 1888). The work featured on the duvet of {the catalogue} for the 2005 exhibition of Van Gogh’s drawings at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Artwork and Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum. Black purchased it for $8.5m, however by 2016 its worth had rocketed as much as $25m. Up till now the costliest Van Gogh drawing bought at public sale has been Sower in a Wheatfield with setting Solar (July 1888), which bought final November at Sotheby’s for $11.2m.
Van Gogh’s Roofs, Arles (March-April 1888)
Black additionally owned two different Arles drawings, from the artist’s best interval. Roofs, Arles (March-April 1888) was purchased for $1.25m, however was later valued at $3m. He paid $2.3m for Wheatfield with Sheaves (July-August 1888), which in 2016 was estimated to be value $7m. As well as, Black owned a duplicate of Van Gogh’s solely etching, Portrait of Dr Paul Gachet (June 1890). Though he paid $287,000, it subsequently fell barely in worth to $250,000.
Van Gogh’s Wheatfield with Sheaves (July-August 1888)
Possession of the Van Goghs might have resided with Black alone, together with his household or with one in all his firms, trusts or foundations. It stays unclear whether or not he nonetheless owns the Van Goghs, though none have publicly surfaced at public sale.
As for Epstein himself, he isn’t recognized to have owned any Van Goghs, however in 2012 he was emailed with an enquiry to ask if he was within the Arles work “Les Meules” (Wheat Stacks, dimensions 79.7 x 90.2cm), together with 4 Previous Masters. The message to Epstein learn: “Extraordinarily off Market! However completely actual transaction. I solely have for this for 2 weeks. Qatari group will purchase after that.”
There isn’t any recognized Arles portray of wheat stacks in a personal assortment, so the id of the work stays unclear. No matter it was, Epstein handed on the supply.
Martin Bailey is a number one Van Gogh specialist and particular correspondent for The Artwork Newspaper. He has curated exhibitions on the Barbican Artwork Gallery, Compton Verney/Nationwide Gallery of Scotland and Tate Britain.
Martin Bailey’s latest Van Gogh books
Martin has written a variety of bestselling books on Van Gogh’s years in France: The Sunflowers Are Mine: The Story of Van Gogh’s Masterpiece (Frances Lincoln 2013, UK and US), Studio of the South: Van Gogh in Provence (Frances Lincoln 2016, UK and US), Starry Evening: Van Gogh on the Asylum (White Lion Publishing 2018, UK and US) and Van Gogh’s Finale: Auvers and the Artist’s Rise to Fame (Frances Lincoln 2021, UK and US). The Sunflowers are Mine (2024, UK and US) and Van Gogh’s Finale (2024, UK and US) are additionally now accessible in a extra compact paperback format.
His different latest books embrace Dwelling with Vincent van Gogh: The Houses & Landscapes that formed the Artist (White Lion Publishing 2019, UK and US), which supplies an summary of the artist’s life. The Illustrated Provence Letters of Van Gogh has been reissued (Batsford 2021, UK and US). My Pal Van Gogh/Emile Bernard supplies the primary English translation of Bernard’s writings on Van Gogh (David Zwirner Books 2023, UKand US).
To contact Martin Bailey, please electronic mail vangogh@theartnewspaper.com
Please word that he doesn’t undertake authentications.
Discover all of Martin’s adventures with Van Gogh right here
