#FRANCE DINGS TAXPAYERS A BILLION DOLLARS TO SEE #ART

Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris; 

The Louis Vuitton Foundation in #Paris has been called a “gift to France.” But according to some critics, the private museum founded by billionaire art collector Bernard Arnault was a gift that came at a spectacular cost to French taxpayers. Now, an anti-corruption group has filed a complaint accusing the foundation of fraud and tax evasion in the Court of Auditors in #Paris, France’s financial taxation watchdog.

The final construction cost of the Frank Gehry-designed building on the edge of #Paris was nearly €790 million (around $900 million), according to French media, seven times the original estimate when Arnault first announced the project. This figure has been revised significantly upward since the museum first opened in 2014. At that time, the New York Timesreported that the cost was closer to $135 million. (The foundation declined to comment to artnet News about the final cost.)

Read rest of article here: https://news.artnet.com/art-world/louis-vuitton-foundation-fricc-1406812

View this video about an Artist of a Thousand Faces “Artist of Thousand Faces” https://youtu.be/dECP7O3ftUo

 

 

THE #WARMTH OF #SPAIN

#Max and #DiegoVoci™ PART FOUR 

DiegoVoci

“Scene Espagnole” was purchased through Diego’s home in June of 1976.

“During our tour in #Europe we spent many wonderful #vacations and traveled throughout #Spain. It was during these vacation trips we came to appreciate the vibrant #culture and #beauty of the #Spanish people. When we saw the painting “Scene Espagnole” we understood immediately that it reflected our own feelings of the beauty of #Spain.

 Diego’s ability to articulate the #life of people through his #art is unparalleled.

We not only have our own memories of Spain, we appreciate a constant visual reminder of these memories through this #painting and Diego’s art. It was 1976 during our final visit to #Diego’s home in #Schwetzingen we instantly developed a deep appreciation for “Scene Espagnole”. We had by this time, in preparation for our repatriation, converted all of our funds to #Canadian #Dollars and transferred our finances to #Edmonton. Diego’s extraordinary insight and sensitivity focused like a laser beam on our situation and our attraction to this painting. Understanding this, Diego gave us the painting without deposit, simply on our promise we would pay for it on our return to #Canada.

When a few years later I had the opportunity to discuss his trust in me with this painting, I asked Diego what he would do if I hadn’t paid him as I promised, to which he immediately replied, in his playful good natured way  “I would have come to Canada and killed you”.

 

To view quotes by Helga and more information on this painting, visit this link

http://www.artifactcollectors.com/diego-voci-painting-of-the-week-5154118/Page3.html#58927