Council collectors of modern art - with a heartrending example)))

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Paris, June 1952 U.S. billionaire Bill O'Neill was a passionate lover of art. All their time and money he devoted to collections of contemporary art, which he decided to pass on the legacy in museums. But this attractive feature of his character is not overshadowed or inherent also incredible stinginess and strife - for example, he never in his life no one has left a penny tip. It is clear that such a person was a mass nedobrodzhelateley, including art dealers. One of them - Jean Duvernay, gallery owner in Paris. However, just throw him out, he could not: of course, Bill Bill O'Neill was odinm of the most obnoxious of his clients, but bought a lot and regularly, and knew painting.

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But the American still got our Marchand, and one day he decided to pay him for the many insults, and in addition also to profit at his expense. On this day, Bill O'Neill came to after long negotiations, to pay a few works by contemporary artists. Together with Jean Duvernay he went into the office to check and obtain the necessary documents for purchased paintings. In the office Duvernay always stood in anticipation of sending pictures or sale. O'Neill gave them look - m pale: he saw a magnificent canvas Utrillo, which was depicted Place du Tertre. When he asked Duvernay casually replied: "Ah, my fake Utrillo? Not bad fake, right? ". O'Neill could not take his eyes from the landscape. Of course, he was not an expert on Utrillo, but considered himself competent enough to recognize the original Utrillo his best period. Hoping to make a deal of his life he offered to buy Duvernay his "fake" at a very reasonable price.

But Duvernay not agree: he does not sell falshakami. O'Neill did not insist, but a few days later he sent the gallery Duvernay expert, as if by chance passing by. Those not hugging to his attention, looked at the picture and have confidence in its authenticity. O'Neill again went to the gallery and tried to persuade him to sell fake Duvernay landscape Utrillo. In the end, Duvernay reluctantly agreed to a deal, but "that no one could suspect him of dishonesty," set a condition: O'Neill to write a document confirming that he was warned that the painting, which he bought a fake. Satisfied O'Neill wrote: "I, the undersigned, Bill O'Neill, certify that bought fake Utrillo, Jean Duvernay two million francs (about 300,000 euros). Jean Duvernay warned me that the picture that I bought - a fake, and that it is not worth the money that I paid for it.

Awfully pleased with himself, O'Neill left the gallery with the picture under his arm. Back at the hotel, he opened it and was stunned: this was not the picture that he saw a mediocre copy! Urgent caused expert confirmed: "Yes, of course, is a copy. This is not the picture that I have examined.

Oh yes, forgot! The Board referred to in the title theme: collectors of modern (and if you think well, and not just modern) art, behave politely and do not hurt gallerists, rude behavior can cost you more than you think!