Tuesday night, Holly brought you the news that the Indianapolis Museum of Art and the New Orleans Museum of Art were working on a wager for this year’s Super Bowl, with IMA director Max Anderson proposing a loan of an Ingrid Calame painting, which was laughable (apparently). After some more back and forth, NOMA’s director, E. John Bullard, brought the ether on Tuesday.
A Turner For A Claude Lorrain: The Greatest Super Bowl Bet Ever
↵↵“I am amused that Renoir is too sweet for Indianapolis. Does this mean that those Indiana corn farmers have simpler tastes? If so why would Max offer us that gaudy Chalice -- just looks like another over-elaborate Victorian tchotchke. Let’s get serious. Each museum needs to offer an art work that they would really miss for three months. What would you like Max? A Monet, a Cassatt, a Picasso, a Miro? Sorry but we have no farm scenes or portraits of football players to send you.”
↵↵See, it’s funny because the Indianapolis Museum of Art owns a farm. Also, it’s Indianapolis. The two sides reached an agreement Wednesday. The IMA will be risking a Turner against NOMA’s painting by Claude Lorrain, Ideal View of Tivoli.
↵↵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!!!”
↵↵This is my favorite sports wager in the history of ever.
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