An exquisite masterpiece by Mark Rothko, whispered to command a price tag in the tens of millions, has been reluctantly removed from its esteemed pedestal in a Dutch museum after an unfortunate mishap involving a inquisitive child visitor. The conservation experts are now entrusted with the challenging task of restoring "Grey, Orange on Maroon, No. 8," which bore the brunt of an accidental scratch orchestrated by a youthful guest at the Rotterdam gallery, where it was prominently displayed.
This abstract masterpiece from 1960, standing at an impressive 7 feet 6 inches tall and spanning 8 feet 6 inches wide, was the highlight of Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam, albeit temporarily stationed at Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen due to the museum's extensive renovation.
In an email statement to CNN, the museum acknowledged the mishap, stating, "Mark Rothko's 'Grey, Orange on Maroon, No. 8' has suffered superficial damage after a child's touch marred its display. Consequently, minute scratches mar the unvarnished paint layer near the painting's lower section." Seeking expertise from both national and international conservation circles, the museum continues to deliberate on the most prudent course of restoration. "We harbor optimism that the artwork will once again grace our walls in the foreseeable future," they affirmed.
The museum declined to divulge the artwork's monetary value, the potential repair costs, or the entity liable for the expenses. Addressing inquiries about the painting's worth on their website, they revealed that it was acquired in the 1970s for an undisclosed sum, adding, "An esteemed appraiser from an international auction house would appraise a masterpiece by a luminary like Rothko. The final price hinges heavily on factors such as condition, size, and framing."
Rothko, the Latvian-American artist who passed away in 1970, was renowned for his "color field" creations. His works fetch millions at auctions; notably, "Untitled, 1968" sold for an astonishing $23.9 million at Sotheby's in New York in November 2023.
Museums and galleries often welcome families with young children, nurturing an early passion for art through tailored programs and workshops. However, the unpredictability of children is an inherent risk. Maxwell Blowfield, a renowned writer and creator of the popular "maxwell museums" newsletter, shared with CNN, "Every museum and gallery meticulously considers the delicate balance between providing meaningful physical access to artworks and safeguarding them. While most strike the right chord, accidents can still occur, irrespective of visitors' age. Preventing every potential mishap is next to impossible. Fortunately, such incidents are rare amidst the millions of visits daily."
