The untold story behind the priceless Rockefeller art collection, set to be the largest art auction in history
If it’s priceless it cannot be sold because we’ll not find a price to sell it at. If it’s being sold at auction then it cannot be priceless, can it? The auction being the method of finding out what the price is.
The OED offers ‘inestimable’ which works pretty well here.
Too pendantic (sic) Tim.
“Priceless” is a piece of hype very often used in life. In advertising the word would be what the law terms a “mere puff”.
Hardly proof itself of declining standards–tho’ I agree there is no shortage of such proof.
Emendation No. 2: it’s the previously untold story, since David Robson (the bylined hack) has already been told it and is now passing it on to us hapless readers, assuming, that is, that we have been so improvident as to penetrate the paywall of the Barclay Twins’ esteemed organ.
Tim’s point will fail if the collection cannot find a buyer, of course. Personally I would pay £5 never to have heard of any of the Rockefellers, the Club of Rome, etc., etc.
Priceless to me. I won’t be at the auction. Probably wouldn’t be let in.
The real “untold story” is that rich families can only remain rich as long as they are fairly well disciplined. Money is divided in each generation and if you produce too many Paris Hiltons, well she may have restored her fortune one way or the other but her family will clearly be dirt poor in another generation or two.
The temptation for worthless offspring to spend all their family’s money is often too great.
So this is the Art collection of David R. Grandson of John D. Who has had an admirable life in many ways for a member of the idle rich. And he has done the world a service by marrying a good wife and having six children. The children are largely worthless though which is a bit of a poor reflection on the man:
But I do agree with one thing – his art collection is priceless:
Impressionist to post-modern? You don’t say. In the sense that it is worthless anyway.
Priceless until sold?
So, SMFS, if someone offered you Two Women Chatting by the Sea or Dance at Bougival, you’d sniff disdainfully and say, “fie to your Impressionist daubs!” Me, I’m wondering how many fingers I’d be willing to cut off if that were the price. Over/under is three, and a thumb.
BiCR, I’d be happy to cut off three of your fingers; the picture would be going straight on to ebay afterwards though.