The 717 Items in the Smithsonian Catalog

Daniel Garber, "Towering Trees" - acquired 1911




There are currently 717 American paintings/sculpture
that belong to the Art Institute
as cataloged by the Smithsonian.

But at least of them are not on display,
and not all of the ones on display
are in the Smithsonian catalog.

Which is a bit puzzling.

Deaccessioned: Part One

Jean Louis Forain "Sentenced for Life", 1910

This painting was acquired by the Winterbotham fund in 1921 (a fund that specialized in contemporary work)

It was sold at auction in 2005 for $31,000 -- which is probably substantially less than its purchase price 80 years earlier -- so I guess that Forain's star is setting.

But is it such a bad painting ? I suppose it's outside the narrative of modern art -- and best belongs in some attorney's collection. But I'm also wondering -- who does this kind of narrative any better ?