The Value of Art: Money. Power. Beauty. (New, Expanded Edition)

Name: The Value of Art: Money. Power. Beauty. (New, Expanded Edition)
Rating: 5.0 (8 reviews)

by: Michael Findlay (0)

On the tenth anniversary of its publication, this updated edition of a work ARTNews hailed as “one of the best books ever published on the art world” features new material on the latest art deals, reflections on race and culture, the impact of the pandemic on the art world, and more.

Internationally renowned dealer and market expert Michael Findlay offers a lively and authoritative look at the financial and emotional value of art throughout history.

In this newly revised, updated, and generously illustrated edition Findlay draws on a half-century in the business and a passion for great art to question and redefine what we mean by “value,” addressing developments in this conversation since the book was first published in 2012: the rise of NFTs and digital art; the auction house as theatre; the pressing relationship between art and society’s fraught political landscape; and the impact of the pandemic.

With style and wry wit, Findlay demystifies how art is bought and sold while also constantly looking beyond sales figures to emphasize the primacy of art’s essential, noncommercial worth.

Coloring his account with wise advice, insider anecdotes involving scoundrels and scams, stories of celebrity collectors, and remarkable discoveries, Findlay has distilled a lifetime’s experience in this indispensable guide, now updated for today’s sophisticated and discerning audience.

The Reviews

The intense media coverage of the international art market is a fascinating and absorbing interest, not only to dedicated art lovers but also for all collectors, whether the focus is fine art or any collectable. So often renowned experts write hefty tomes on their chosen field which are dry, tedious and which all too often assume the reader has great knowledge. Not so in this case. Michael Findlay knows his stuff. He writes in a readable style for those with limited knowledge of the art world but also for the cognoscenti. Mr. Findlay, from his brief BIO in the book is clearly one of the world's major experts in the art market and his book is an absolute must for any collector or those with a mere passing interest in this exciting world.

Just received it and skimmed through it. It’s a beautiful book with valuable information. Can’t wait to start reading it!