Sotheby’s contradicts Jackson Pollock report

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Sotheby’s has issued a statement that contradicts a recent report from the University of Iowa concerning the UI Museum of Art’s pivotal 1943 painting, ‘Mural,’ by Jackson Pollock.

The report, undertaken by the university in the wake of devastating summer floods and issued Friday, said: ‘In 2007, Sotheby’s, Inc. proposed to assist the University in selling ‘Mural.’ .... Sotheby’s also suggested the possibility of selling other UIMA pieces, such as Max Beckmann’s ‘Triptych,’ although the exploration of such possibilities is not documented further. No agreement to offer any of these works was ever executed.’

The statement from Sotheby’s spokeswoman Diana Phillips says: ‘While our conversations with the University of Iowa were and remain confidential, all information provided to the UI was in direct response to the specific requests of the former Director of the University Art Museum and there was no proactive contact on Sotheby’s behalf.’

Phillips declined to say whether Sotheby’s would ask UI to amend its report.

--Christopher Knight