General Discussion

CTyankee

(67,897 posts) Thu May 8, 2025, 01:50 PM May 2025

Does anybody remember the film "Shoes of the Fisherman"?

In that film the new Pope decides to sell the vastly precious art in the Vatican's collection and use the money to feed the poor. This horrified folks in the Vatican, but while I liked the social justice part of it I wondered about who would end up buying these masterpieces and keeping them privately, thereby denying it's access to the ordinary people.

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Does anybody remember the film "Shoes of the Fisherman"? (Original Post) CTyankee May 2025 OP

The same would be true of any non-profit museum. Sell the artifacts and help the poor or Wonder Why May 2025 #1

Yes, of course. There are better ways to both help the poor and maintain art museums at the same time. CTyankee May 2025 #3

A lot of wealthy people who buy art either donated it to a museum Ocelot II May 2025 #2

what % of the collection is actually on display? mopinko May 2025 #4

In STLMO, they actually do sell off some of their things, so they don't get 'lost' in the overwhelming clutter of SWBTATTReg May 2025 #5

Wonder Why

(6,630 posts)

1. The same would be true of any non-profit museum. Sell the artifacts and help the poor or

Reply to CTyankee (Original post)

Thu May 8, 2025, 01:52 PM

May 2025

keep them so people know art, history or whatever the museum is teaching.

CTyankee

(67,897 posts)

3. Yes, of course. There are better ways to both help the poor and maintain art museums at the same time.

Reply to Wonder Why (Reply #1)

Thu May 8, 2025, 01:58 PM

May 2025

Ocelot II

(129,684 posts)

2. A lot of wealthy people who buy art either donated it to a museum

Reply to CTyankee (Original post)

Thu May 8, 2025, 01:56 PM

May 2025

and take the tax deduction, or lend it to be exhibited.

mopinko

(73,395 posts)

4. what % of the collection is actually on display?

Reply to CTyankee (Original post)

Thu May 8, 2025, 02:19 PM

May 2025

most museums have tons of stuff that never, ever sees the light of day.
not infrequently, a trustee twists arms to get the museum to acquire someone they collect, even if if goes straight to the warehouse. it ups the value of what they own.
dirty little secret- that’s y many ppl serve on museum boards.

SWBTATTReg

(26,140 posts)

5. In STLMO, they actually do sell off some of their things, so they don't get 'lost' in the overwhelming clutter of

Reply to CTyankee (Original post)

Thu May 8, 2025, 02:25 PM

May 2025

stuff that they have in the back, in storage, etc., they just don't have the space to show off even a fraction of what they have. Some of the things I've gotten are pretty decent, nice, and I do treasure them, and do understand why they dispose of these items, they just don't have the space etc., and they are using the money raised for other good things they need (the Mo. Botanical Gardens is like this).

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