squiffy2
September 29th, 2006, 03:02 PM
As you all know, American millionaires have a tendency to become
avid collectors, often of the strangest things. This was certainly
true of one particular millionaire whom I shall call John.
John collected impressionist paintings, but not the ones you might
think. He specialised in Eastern Bloc artists, being especially fond
of those from Bohemia. Over the years, he accumulated hundreds of
such paintings. Individually they weren't that valuable, but as a
collection they were of considerable interest to art historians.
Realising this, he many years ago altered his will so that all of
his collection was to be presented to the museum in the town where he
had grown up. Also included was a quite handsome sum to cover
security and display costs.
Time passed, as it always does, and last year, John died peacefully
in his sleep.
What John hadn't foreseen was the breakup of the Soviet Union, and
the opening up of the former communist countries to Western eyes. The
value of John's collection had shot through the roof, in comparison
with what he had considered its monetary value, and his surviving
relatives began to cast envious eyes on the artwork.
The situation was made considerably worse when, during cataloguing,
it was discovered that the collection included a long lost work by a
famous French impressionist, with a value commensurate with its
creators fame.
All the relatives screamed loudly, and demanded that the will be
contested in court. Some of them wanted all the paintings for
themselves, but most were willing to allow the museum to have all
except the French example and maybe even that one, as long as the
museum was willing to pay a "reasonable price" for them.
As with all such cases, the more money involved, the faster the case
is heard, and the longer it takes to hear it. Thus, it was only last
week that the judge handed down his decision.
He found that the provision in the will was clearly stated, and
perfectly reasonable. He therefore awarded the paintings to the
museum, doing so in the clearest terms he could find. Indeed, his
summation is a masterpiece of clarity.
"From the terms of this will it is plain to see you get your Monet
for nothing, and your Czechs for free."
"I have abandoned responsibility and have embraced frivolity"
avid collectors, often of the strangest things. This was certainly
true of one particular millionaire whom I shall call John.
John collected impressionist paintings, but not the ones you might
think. He specialised in Eastern Bloc artists, being especially fond
of those from Bohemia. Over the years, he accumulated hundreds of
such paintings. Individually they weren't that valuable, but as a
collection they were of considerable interest to art historians.
Realising this, he many years ago altered his will so that all of
his collection was to be presented to the museum in the town where he
had grown up. Also included was a quite handsome sum to cover
security and display costs.
Time passed, as it always does, and last year, John died peacefully
in his sleep.
What John hadn't foreseen was the breakup of the Soviet Union, and
the opening up of the former communist countries to Western eyes. The
value of John's collection had shot through the roof, in comparison
with what he had considered its monetary value, and his surviving
relatives began to cast envious eyes on the artwork.
The situation was made considerably worse when, during cataloguing,
it was discovered that the collection included a long lost work by a
famous French impressionist, with a value commensurate with its
creators fame.
All the relatives screamed loudly, and demanded that the will be
contested in court. Some of them wanted all the paintings for
themselves, but most were willing to allow the museum to have all
except the French example and maybe even that one, as long as the
museum was willing to pay a "reasonable price" for them.
As with all such cases, the more money involved, the faster the case
is heard, and the longer it takes to hear it. Thus, it was only last
week that the judge handed down his decision.
He found that the provision in the will was clearly stated, and
perfectly reasonable. He therefore awarded the paintings to the
museum, doing so in the clearest terms he could find. Indeed, his
summation is a masterpiece of clarity.
"From the terms of this will it is plain to see you get your Monet
for nothing, and your Czechs for free."
"I have abandoned responsibility and have embraced frivolity"