Without doubt, the biggest art story this week was the Christie's auction of the "last Da Vinci," an event that not only resulted in the record-breaking $450 million dollar sale, but also in one of the biggest art world spectacles in recent memory. Spilling out into the mainstream press, all of the predictable shock and awe about the price paid along with the hype surrounding every nuance of the painting and its mystery buyer once again reinforces all of the worst stereotypes and misconceptions about the art world. But undeniably, the sale also exposes many of its ugly realities.

Not surprisingly, the perceived historical, social, and art historical value of a work of art is once again being conflated with the value of a work of art paid at auction. Looking at the way art functions as a commodity, and how the art market can often skew perceptions of value inside and outside the art world, I am reminded again how such an important subject is often misunderstood, ignored, or not addressed at all in the education and training that many artists and art historians receive in art school and/or university. This week's links open with one of the more illuminating commentaries on what went down this week, and then ends with the raw photage of the event. I will be processing and gathering my own thoughts about the Da Vinci sale and perhpas make a longer post in the near future. Have a great week and happy reading/viewing!