Leonard Lauder Cubist Art Collection Given To The Met

A collection of Cubist art has been given to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. And not just any old collection. It is the collection of Lauder Cosmetics heir, Leonard Lauder. Containing works by Picasso, Braque and others, the 78 pieces in the collection are valued at over a billion dollars.

Below the selections I've included is video from the PBS Newshour about the gift and I found one exchange to be particularly telling.

MARGARET WARNER: "Could any museum, even with a large budget for acquisitions, go out on the market today and acquire a collection of this kind of size and depth in one field?"

 REBECCA RABINOW: "It would be absolutely impossible to replicate Mr. Lauder's collection. These important cubist works are simply not on the market, in private hands, because his collection is not only about fantastic works of art. He bought the best of the best."

I'll be in line when it shows, next year.

'Nude Woman in an Armchair' Pablo Picasso 1909

'The Scallop Shell' Pablo Picasso 1912

'The Smoker' Fernand Leger 1914

'Bottle of Rum' Georges Braque 1914