The Union League Club of Chicago, home to one of the most significant private art collections in the American Midwest, is reportedly planning to liquidate a portion of its collection, including a coveted Monet painting, to alleviate economic strain resulting from the pandemic, Art Market Monitor reported. But if not, we can only hope Monet’s masterpiece will end up someplace where it can be enjoyed by the public for decades to come, even if it is not here, its longtime home, Chicago. Chicago’s public-television station included the 141-year-old club in a series of video features it has posted on its website while cultural landmarks and museums in the area have been closed because of pandemic-imposed restrictions. By the late 1950s, it was valued at $20,000, and in 1985, it was said to be worth $900,000. Displayed on nearly every floor and room throughout the Club, it enhances the beautiful Beaux-Art Building erected in 1926 and lends it the feel of a museum. Perhaps a generous donor will swoop in to save the painting. The Union League Boys and Girls Club has been in existence for almost 100 years and has done a lot of good for the community through its philanthropy. Get our latest editorials, commentaries and columns delivered twice a week in our Fighting Words newsletter. In an email, President Nancy A. Ross told members that its large fixed costs “are normally paid from guest rooms, food & beverages sales, and large events revenues. Collections Menu. Chicago’s Union League Club Board Approves Sale of Prized Monet, Other Works The Union League Club, home to one of the most significant private art collections in the American Midwest, is reportedly planning to liquidate a portion of its collection, including a coveted Monet painting, to alleviate economic strain resulting from the pandemic. The art task force, which includes Metzler as well as current and former board members, “helped to identify the right time, for the right piece, without jeopardizing the integrity of the art collection,” Tunney said. The Union League Club of Chicago, founded in 1879 to serve mostly civic and business leaders, amassed an art collection worth boasting of over the years. Club member Judge John Barton Payne acquired the work and later sold it to the Union League for $500. According to that report, Union League president Nancy A. Ross confirmed the board’s approval to sell the Monet. Losing $400,000 a month, it has slashed staff, cut managerial salaries and persuaded members to contribute $520,000 to help weather the storm. and pieces are often lent to museums. In 1903, the A.I.C. Courtney Key was found dead on Christmas, shot in the head and dragged by a car. Union League Club votes to sell its prized Monet painting to cover pandemic losses The story of Claude Monet’s “Apple Trees in Blossom” and Chicago is lengthy, important and now — with the Union League Club’s determination to sell its most useful artwork work … Union League Club of Chicago General Manager Mark Tunney joins John Williams to talk about the art donned by the walls of the historical private club. People view the Union League Club-owned "Apple Blossoms in Springtime" at the exhibit "Monet in Chicago" on Sept. 10, 2020, as it opens at the Art Institute of Chicago. There’s a kind of familiarity with Monet in Chicago that make people like him. Editorial: Get. A ‘healthy’ doctor died two weeks after getting a COVID-19 vaccine; CDC is investigating why, FBI warns of plans for armed protests at all 50 state capitals next week, Coronavirus in Illinois updates: 4,776 new confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases and 53 additional deaths reported as CPS schools reopen today after 10 months, Capitol attack far more sinister than it initially appeared: ‘The direction was to go get people,’ Nancy Pelosi says. 14th-Century Painting to Sell at Auction Under Restitution Settlement with German-Jewish Art Historian's Heir Send us a tip using our anonymous form. All Rights reserved. Finish the job, Democrats. But Ross expects that “the financial operations of the Club may not fully return to pre-pandemic levels until late 2023 or 2024.” The effects of the virus and the resulting economic slump leave few good options. The Union League Club of Chicago, home to one of the most significant private art collections in the American Union League of Chicago Approves Sale of Prized Monet Painting – ARTnews.com - Artmarketstv Monet and Chicago by Gloria Groom, preface by Adam Gopnik, Yale University Press, 2020. Ross said in the letter to the club’s members that, alongside the Monet, a selection of works could potentially go up for sale, including ones by George Inness, Victor Higgins, William Wendt, and the Chicago Imagist Jim Nutt. In the week since the website Politico first reported … In dire fiscal straits, the club has authorized the sale of its art collection's "jewel" but hopes it won't come to that. For a museum to sell an exceptional artwork is rare, but the club, despite its extensive and prestigious art holdings, is a social and civic organization, not a museum. Monet and Chicago From September 5, 2020 through January 18, 2021 The Art Institute of Chicago. The art collection of the Union League Club Chicago represents the Club’s commitment to culture for over a century. Subscribe today! The story of Claude Monet’s “Apple Trees in Blossom” and Chicago is long, significant and now — with the Union League Club’s decision to sell its most valuable artwork to cover pandemic-year losses — … Union League Club is an excellent choice for travelers visiting Chicago, offering a luxury environment alongside many helpful amenities designed to enhance your stay. With 2020 drawing to a close (and none too soon), I want to personally thank you the members for your great support this year and especially over the last 9 months. Coronavirus in Illinois updates: 4,776 new COVID-19 cases and 53 more deaths reported as Gov. In 2015, at Christie’s, the club sold a Félix Ziem landscape for $62,500 to benefit its acquisition fund. THE BUZZ SCOOP: The Union League Club is making plans to sell pieces of its artwork, including its coveted Monet, to help it weather the economic blow from Covid-19. The work’s inclusion in the Monet showcase at the Art Institute of Chicago could increase the work’s value if it comes up for auction. Five Experts Discuss Monet's Most Beguiling Paintings. The club’s general manager, Mark Tunney, told the ARTnews in an interview that plans to sell the Monet and other works are not finalized. In an email to the club’s members, she wrote, “Key to the board’s decision is the inherent uncertainty of the length of the negative effects of the pandemic on the club’s operations and Chicago’s economy.”, Related Articles The Union League Club, a longtime mecca for the city’s movers and shakers at 65 W. Jackson Blvd., has always bustled with an endless series of seminars, panel discussions and fundraisers, as well as power lunches among political and business bigwigs. Dr. Metzler serves as the point of contact for the art with auction houses upon selection for sale. The Union League Club of Chicago, home to one of the most significant private art collections in the American Midwest, is reportedly planning to liquidate a portion of its collection, including a coveted Monet painting, to alleviate economic strain resulting from the pandemic. Union League Club on selling a Monet to recover funds lost during the pandemic Editorial: The exit sign for Mike Madigan is lit. The collection has historically been available for public view. A Jim Nutt painting titled Look This Way (1977) from the club’s holdings, purchased in 2005 by the Union League Club Art Committee, has already been sold. Show up. It went for $225,000 with buyer’s premium during Christie’s contemporary art day sale on December 3. Editorials reflect the opinion of the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board. Brad Biggs’ 10 thoughts after the 21-9 playoff loss to the New Orleans Saints. Sign up here. the board of the Union League Club, so there is this kind of synergy between these two important cultural institutions in Chicago. Claude Monet, Pommiers en fleurs, 1872. Get our latest stories in the feed of your favorite networks. Join the discussion on Twitter @chitribopinions and on Facebook. … The profit would be roughly the size the Louvre. His vision and reinvention of art history through the lens of the Black experience was pioneering, and he continues today to create meaningful artistic narratives of reflection. Her friends in LGBTQ community fear it was a hate crime. The Union League Club-owned "Apple Trees in Blossom" at the "Monet in Chicago" exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago on Sept. 10, 2020. The Union League of America was founded during the American Civil War to support Abraham Lincoln and preserve the Union. In 1895, the Union League Club of Chicago purchased Apple Trees in Blossom (1872), which was also shown at the Art Institute that year in the exhibition 20 Works by Claude Monet, the artist’s first solo show at a museum in the United States. The club has seen its membership plummet. Purchased by the Union League Club of Chicago, this canvas was the first Monet painting bought by a Chicago institution from the Art Institute’s 1895 exhibition. Tunney confirmed that two tranches of works were selected by the task force. It’s also home to a massive art collection that includes a Monet and a passel of Paschkes. The Monet landscape is considered the gem of the Union League Club’s collection, which comprises more than 700 works by the likes of Donald Judd, Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, Kerry James Marshall, and Angel Otero, as well as Chicago artists Ed Paschke, William Conger, and Dawoud Bey. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. Losing members and burning through cash during a punishing pandemic, the club has decided to sell one of its most prized assets: an 1872 painting by the French Impressionist Claude Monet that it bought in 1895. The ULC is unique in our commitment to serving our country, building our communities and experiencing the culture around us. The art collection of the Union League Club Chicago represents the commitment to culture for more than a century. Politico first reported news of the potential sale. Editorial: A plea to Chicago teachers: Your kids need you. Sally Metzler, the club’s art director, served as a member of a task force overseeing the deaccessioning, according to the Chicago Tribune. 144 pages, 25 dollars. Copyright © 2021 Penske Business Media, LLC. Some 141 years ago, a local club formed to support good government – and a third term for President Ulysses S. Grant. The Union League Club of Chicago, founded in 1879 to serve mostly civic and business leaders, amassed an art collection worth boasting of over … The Union League Club of Chicago, home to one of the most significant private art collections in the American Midwest, is reportedly planning to liquidate a portion of its collection, including a coveted Monet painting, to alleviate economic strain resulting from the pandemic. Collections People Favorites People Favorites Currently on loan at the the Art Institute’s “Monet in Chicago” exhibition, the Monet first showed at the museum in 1895, at which point its value was $1,500, according to its authenticity record. Tunney confirmed some of the works have already been courted by auction houses for sale. J.B. Pritzker’s latest order, meetings and other events have been suspended, along with indoor dining. More than 700 works strong, the collection embraces diversity of style, geography and chronology. The Union League Club-owned "Apple Trees in Blossom" at the "Monet in Chicago" exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago on Sept. 10, 2020. What’s the holdup? Significantly, the purchase of Apple Trees in Blossom made the Union League Club one of the early Chicago collectors of Monet. Nine of them are now part of the Art Institute of Chicago’s distinguished Impressionist collection. Union League Club, Chicago Picture: Monet 2nd floor - Check out Tripadvisor members' 51,069 candid photos and videos of Union League Club The sale would not mark the first time the Union Club has deaccessioned art in recent years. Union League of Chicago The Union League Club of Chicago, home to one of the most significant private art … Claude Monet Chicago’s Union League Club Board Approves Sale of Prized Monet, Other Works artnews.com - Angelica Villa The Union League Club, home to one of the most significant private art collections in the American Midwest, is reportedly planning to liquidate a … [The Union League Club of Chicago traces its origins to the Union League of America, a movement to establish patriotic clubs to marshal support for President Abraham Lincoln and the Union during the Civil War (1861-1865).] Kathryn Kremnitzer: Another interesting fact to consider is that the painting was included in Monet’s first solo exhibition at a U.S. museum. Purchased for $500, “Apple Trees in Blossom” could sell for tens of millions of dollars. Pritzker says some areas can move to next phase of vaccine plan. The organization has cut around 75 percent of its full-time staff, from 275 to 67 employees, and issued 10–20 percent salary cuts for management figures and raised $520,000 in member donations. The Union League Club of Chicago offers members guest room accommodations, a state-of-the-art health and fitness center, ... (including a Monet!) Monet found an enthusiastic audience in Chicago, notable Potter Palmer (founder and owner of the Palmer House Hotel) and his wife Bertha, who bought some 29 of Monet’s works and 11 of Pierre-August Renoir’s. Hard times demand painful measures, and for the Union League Club of Chicago, like so many other establishments in downtown Chicago, these are hard times. The Union League Club - The Union League A quiet sanctuary and relief from the hustle of the city Located on the corner of Park Avenue and 37th Street, The Union League Club is home to a distinguished art collection and gallery, library, squash and fitness facilities, fine dining and catering, conference and banquet rooms, and rich history. Grant didn’t get the nomination, but the Union League Club of Chicago still welcomes presidents and explores public policy. Maybe the pandemic will subside and the economy rebound quickly enough to ease the financial pressures on the club. Displayed on nearly every floor and room throughout the Club, it enhances the beautiful Beaux-Art Building erected in 1926. Its centerpiece was a painting by Claude Monet, Pommiers en fleurs (Apple Trees in Blossom) (1871), purchased by the club in 1895 for $500, and today valued at between $5m and $15m. With the Chicago Bears’ season over, what will George McCaskey decide about the franchise’s future? Seventeen years ago, the ULCC inducted Marshall as a Distinguished Artist. “We have a very active membership and a very active art community in the club,” Tunney said, adding, “This is not an easy decision.” The hope is for the first cache of works to generate enough revenue so that the Monet can stay in Union League hands. Dr. Martens Unveils New Collaboration with Keith Haring Estate, 14th-Century Painting to Sell at Auction Under Restitution Settlement with German-Jewish Art Historian’s Heir, Following $12 M. Pollock Sale, Everson Museum Acquires Contemporary Works by Shinique Smith, Ellen Lesperance, More, Tarsila do Amaral Work at Center of Legal Dispute Sells for Record Price in Brazil, 14th-Century Painting to Sell at Auction Under Restitution Settlement with German-Jewish Art Historian's Heir, Five Experts Discuss Monet's Most Beguiling Paintings. While staying at Union League Club, visitors can check out Buckingham Fountain (0.5 mi) and Navy Pier (1.4 mi), some of Chicago… The Union League normally hosts public tours of its extensive collection, which includes a work by Claude Monet valued in the millions, but… The historic private social club, a 501(c)(7) tax exempt organization, has already made moves to deal with financial fallout from the pandemic. There are only so many ways to cut expenses and generate income before the sale of assets has to be considered as a means of survival. The first group comprises five or six works, one of which was pulled out last-minute. Founded in 1879, the Union League Club of Chicago (the Club) traces its roots to the earlier Union League of America.. Us. We want to hear from you! As the pandemic has shuttered businesses, forced many former commuters to work from home and strangled tourism, the Loop and surrounding neighborhoods have emptied out. But for a city that has a long, proud association with the artist, the sale would be a “great tragedy,” Northwestern University art historian Alicia Catichatold the Tribune’s culture writer. The Union League Club is also trying to sell a building next to the main building. She will be tasked with finding “the best opportunity for the best prices available,” said Tunney. Today, its market value is estimated to be between $5 million and $15 million. The pandemic has eliminated these revenue streams.”. But under Gov. The Union League Club of Chicago applauds Vogue Magazine for its September cover featuring artwork by Kerry James Marshall. Top ranked private social club for professionals, wine enthusiasts, art lovers, digital nomads, wellness seekers & culinary experiences. The Monet painting would be a multimillion dollar lifeline. The Union League painting was included in its recent exhibition, “Monet and Chicago.”. Watch live: Gov. History. became the first American museum to purchase a painting by Monet. But financial reality cannot be denied. For more information on the Club's Art Collection, visit the links, PDFs and photo gallery below. J.B. 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