Clark Art Wagers Homer Masterpiece on Patriot's Win
 |
|
 |
The Clark's 'West Point, Prout's Neck' is being wagered against the Seattle Art Museum's 'Puget Sound on the Pacific Coast.' The winner of the Super Bowl wager will have the loser's painting for three months. |
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Clark Art Institute is in getting in on the good-natured wagering that attends the Super Bowl.
It's a ritual enjoyed by prominent leaders who like lay down high stakes such as cupcakes and chowder against the home team's chances.
While Gov. Charlie Baker and his peers Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan ante up Boston cream pie cupcakes from Koffee Kup Bakery in Springfield, a 1,000 cups of clam chowder from Ivar's Chowder in Seattle and bacon from North Country Smokehouse in Claremont, N.H., (all going to food pantries, win or lose) the Clark's betting big.
Director Michael Conforti is putting up the Clark's Winslow Homer masterpiece "West Point, Prout's Neck" (1900), "painted fifteen minutes after sunset — not one minute before," according to Homer.
In the highly unlikely occurrence that the New England Patriots lose Super Bowl XLIX, one of the greatest works in the Clark's noted Homer collection will find itself headed for the Seattle Art Museum.
Well, not forever.
The winning museum will receive a three-month loan of the other's prized artwork. All shipping and expenses will be paid by the losing museum.
Kimerly Rorschach, Illsley Ball Nordstrom director and CEO of the Seattle Art Museum, is backing the Seattle Seahawks with the eight-foot-wide view "Puget Sound on the Pacific Coast" from 1870 by Albert Bierstadt.
The masterpieces that have been gambled showcase the beautiful landscapes of the Northwest and the Northeast.
"The way we see it, nobody loses with this wager," said Conforti. "Albert Bierstadt was raised in New Bedford, Mass., so we will be very happy to welcome the work of a native son back to New England following the Patriots' win on game day. Having just opened our new building, we've got just the right spot to show this remarkable Bierstadt and know our visitors will love the chance to see it."
Not so fast, says Rorschach.
"I am sure that this beautiful Homer painting will be coming to Seattle after our Seahawks defeat the Patriots for another Super Bowl win. We are already making plans to host this incredible work of American art in our galleries so that the 12s can enjoy it," said Rorschach.
We here in the Berkshires look forward to viewing that lovely Bierstadt.
Tags: Clark Art, museum, super bowl, wager,
