Ivanishvili buys Pirosmani’s Arsenal Hill at Christie’s auction
By Tea Mariamidze
Wednesday, June 3
Pirosmani’s painting 'Arsenal Hill at Night' is going to be granted to the Art Museum of Georgia.
The decision was made by its new owner, businessman Bidzina Ivanishvili, who bought the painting for 1,486, 100 dollars at Christie’s auction on June 1.
The former Prime Minister of Georgia has been collecting famous paintings for a long time. This time his new purchase will be given to the Art Museum and everybody will have the opportunity to see it.
Arsenal Hill at Night is a famous masterpiece of Niko Pirosmani painted in 1907-1908 years and until now it was the property of a private collector.
In 1957-1982 years the painting was in the collection of French Poet Louis Aragon, which was given to him as a birthday present.
In 2007 it was sold at Sotheby’s action for 1.8 million dollars in New York and in 2010 it was sold for 1, 672 542 dollars on MacDougall’s auction in London.
At the Christie’s auction the painting was located in the category of Russian art and its start price was 800 000-1 200 000 pounds.
Georgian artists and musicians wanted to return the painting to Georgia and set up a campaign, which aimed gathering the money to buy the painting, but they failed due to lack of time.
They called upon the businessmen and government and asked for help.
Finally , Ivanishvili managed to buy it and the cultural heritage of Georgian Art is soon coming home.
