Another masterpiece, this time Pablo Picasso's Le Reve (The Dream), has been hogging the spotlight recently -- thanks to Las Vegas magnate Steve Wynn's not-so-perfect eyesight and restless elbow.
The painting, which Wynn had earlier agreed to sell to hedge fund tycoon Steve Cohen for a record price of $139 million, is a portrait of Picasso's mistress Marie-Therese Walters.
This unfortunate incident occurred when the casino tycoon invited a few guests over at this office to gaze at the famous artwork days before it would be shipped to its new owner. According to Norah Ephron (one of the guests), Wynn, who suffers from retinitis pigmentosa (which affects peripheral vision), was making one of his sweeping hand gestures when suddenly his right elbow struck the canvas. There followed a ripping sound, which left everyone gasping in shock.
Wynn's elbow left a coin-sized hole, branched by two 3-inch rips in the middle of the canvas (on the subjects left forearm).
The 64-year-old mogul's reaction, according to Ms. Ephron's account, was: "Oh shit, now look what I've done!" He added ruefully that it was a good thing it was no one else's fault but his. He afterwards called his wife, saying, "You'll never believe what I just did." Mrs. Wynn reportedly believes that the incident was a sign that they should hold on to the artwork.
Deciding to call off the deal with Cohen, Wynn has sent the painting to a restorer, who promised to repair the damage within weeks. The painting, which Picasso finished in 1932, was originally bought by Wynn in 1997 for $48.4 million.
Whew! All this talk about millions being exchanged for a single painting leaves me a little dazed. But more than that, I would have loved to be in Steve Wynn's office (a fly on the wall) right when that 'ripping' incident happened, freezing everyone's facial expression in a single timeless moment of shock, dismay and disbelief. I'm sure that, too, would make a nice photographic masterpiece.
