Maastricht is where museums go on shopping sprees
A fair in a small Dutch city is a window on the art world and collecting trends
THE PAINTINGS are spotlighted, so you can see every brushstroke and crack. Next to each work is a placard, outlining its history and to whom it once belonged. Here is an elaborately framed painting, probably offered by the King of Naples to Pope Benedict XIV in the 18th century (pictured). Nearby is a 470-year-old portrait of a sibyl wearing ermine, once owned by Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, two American actors. The artwork on display in Maastricht is reminiscent of a museum exhibition, except for one catch. Here, everything is for sale.
This article appeared in the Culture section of the print edition under the headline “Where museums shop”
Culture March 16th 2024
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