Why the Art Gallery of Hamilton sold one of its most significant pieces

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For the first time in its 100-year history, the Art Gallery of Hamilton has sold one of its paintings. The government of Hungary purchased Munkácsy’s Christ Before Pilate for $5.7 million (U.S.)

At 14 feet by 21 feet (426 cm x 640 cm), moving the 500 pound (226 kg) painting to its new permanent home at the deri museum in hungary was no easy task. packing and shipping alone cost 15 to 20-thousand dollars… but it’s worth the grind.

Art Gallery of Hamilton CEO Shelley Falconer says Christ Before Pilate is an extraordinarily important work for Hungary. “It is in fact part of a trilogy so it is being reunited presently actually as we speak in Hungary.”

Since it was donated to the AGH in 2002, the painting has been on loan to the Deri Museum twice for 5 year periods where the three paintings in the trilogy were exhibited in a specially-built gallery, visited by tens of thousands of people each year.

“We’re not in the business of buying and selling art. We’re an art museum.”

This marks the first time the AGH has de-accessioned a painting – a complicated process that took years. The gallery had to follow the Canadian Art Museum Director Association guidelines. That means the $5.7 million (U.S.) cannot go toward operating or programming costs.

“The funds are restricted. We’re only permitted to use those funds for acquisitions and the collection.”

But Falconer says parting with Christ Before Pilate was the right thing to do.

“I think it’s back at home where the artist intended it to be with the works it’s intended to be with.”

The painting’s 134 years old. The last time it was exhibited at the AGH was in 2008.

While the $5.7 million (U.S.) has to go toward acquisitions or the collection, Falconer says it’s too early to say exactly what the gallery will be doing with the money. That decision will have to be made along with the board of trustees.