Saudis stage multi-million dollar art sale

Press, 18 April 1979, Page 21

Saudis stage multi-million dollar art sale

By

RON POPPER,

“Observer,” London

More than 120 paintings from private collections around the world, including works by Goya, Monet, Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Rubens and Picasso, are being assembled in Saudi Arabia for a twoweek showpiece sale next month. Three Goyas, worth an estimated $l.l million, have already been carried through Riyadh airport customs by the man who has done much to organise the sale, Jorge Garcia Santinei, a weathy Mexican. The sale presents two worries for the art world. Under Islamic law insurance is not allowed, so

that from the moment the aircraft carrying the paintings touches the Riyadh airport tarmac, they will not be insured. Saudi Arabia prides itself on its strict border controls which, it is felt, will prevent the paintings leaving the country illegally. The second worry is that, although invitations to the exhibition and sale are being sent out to international dealers and collectors, many of the paintings will not reemerge from private collections in Saudi Arabia. Prince Mish’aal bin Mohammed bin Saud bin

Abdul Aziz, who is sponsoring the event, recognises that competition among international dealers for the works will be fierce. At present he is on a world tour of museums, talking to curators, but he will be back in Riyadh by the time the frenetic buying starts on May 5. “What else can you give a country which has just constructed a marvellous museum and has more well-to-do citizens per capita than practically any other country in the globe,” says Prince Mish’aal. “There are many affluent

Europeans and Americans residing in Saudi Arabia and they will want to purchase these famous art works perhaps before Saudi Arabians have the chance. Saudi Arabia is probably the only country tn the world in which it is safe enough to build a collection without concern for safety.” Saudis hope that the sale will be the first of many in a country which has so far lacked major collections of Western art. Plans are under way for other similar exhibitions and to establish a national art gallery. — O.F.N.S. Copyright.