The Art And Sports World Collide

The Wall Street Journal wrote an article yesterday about a very unconventional wager made for the Super Bowl last week.  Two Art Directors, one from each city of the competitors in the Super Bowl, wagered major art loans on the outcome of the game.   From New Orleans, the New Orleans Museum of Art put up an ante of a loan on their painting, "Ideal View of Tivoli" by Claude Lorraine (left).  From Indianapolis, the Indianapolis Museum of Art put up an ante of a loan of their painting, "The Fifth Plague of Egypt" by Joseph Turner (right).  The two museums set up the bet via their respective twitter accounts and jumped at the chance to get people who usually don't follow sports, to have an oddly vested interest in the game.  

New Orleans originally put up a loan as a wager for Renoir's, "Seamstress" painting but the IMA responded by saying that they will see their "sentimental blancmange" and raise you a "true trophy".  The trophy was a Jean Valentine-Morel, "Jeweled Cup", to imitate the giving of a chalice to the victor.  Wednesday before the game, the deal was set via their twitter accounts in the early afternoon.  They wrote:

From IMA's Anderson via Twitter: "Deal -- Claude for Turner. Two masters in spirited competition across the channel, and between our fair cities. Go Colts!"

And in polite, collegial reply, NOMA's Bullard: "Max is a gracious opponent. Thanks for accepting the wager of a Claude from New Orleans for a Turner from Indianapolis. But this is definitely the Saints year. They are the  Dream Team and in New Orleans we know that dreams come true. Geaux Saints!!!"

I love this story and think it is amazing how influential sports is in our culture and society.  I also love how these art school nerds are talking trash via painters and their skills.  Sports is a huge part of society and any well-socialized person can attest to the fact that even if you don't want to watch sports, you should have a general idea of what's going on for business or otherwise.  The Deputy's Mom always calls him to ask what is going on with the Michigan football team (which is a whole lot of nothing these days) just so she has something to throw out for her big client who is a Michigan fan.  She says he really lights up about it and it changes the relationship to a more casual, at-ease relationship.  Since the game is done, it looks like New Orleans has a little more culture arriving in the near future.  GEAUX SAINTS!