A painting by artist Mark Rothko broke the record for postwar art (by more than a little) at an auction at Sotheby’s in New York. The painting sold for $72.8 million dollars on Tuesday. Although “White Center (Yellow, Pink, and Lavender on Rose),” was expected to go for high dollars (presale estimates had put it around $40 million), the over-the-top boost can most likely be attributed to the big name of owner and seller David Rockefeller Sr. — who says he plans to donate the proceeds of the sale to charity (the charity went unnamed and how much of the proceeds are unknown).
I know that the name Rockefeller equates to having a wealth that is almost beyond comprehension, but how does one wake up and say, “I think I’ll write a check for 72.8 million today. I could use a new painting. That’s what I’ll spend the money on.” It just seems to me, that if David was harboring some philanthropist desires, (the proceeds of the sale went to charity) that money could have been much better spent. Imagine what that amount of money could do for the still unlivable sections of New Orleans. Jon Bon Jovi donated $1 million dollars to Oprah’s Angel Network and that money built an entire neighborhood for displaced families in New Orleans.
We always hear about the wealthy spending disgusting amounts of dough on silly trinkets. If Rockefeller so desired to spend $72.8 million on a painting, then of course, that is his prerogative and he has every right to do so. Also, if Rockefeller needs to justify this purchase by saying that some proceeds went to charity, then I hope that comforts him as well.
