More Bellowing Over the Maier Museum

Just in: A motion to stop the sale of four paintings from Randolph College's Maier Museum at Christie's until two lawsuits brought against the school are settled has been filed with the Lynchburg Circuit Court.

George Bellows' Men of the Docks, Edward Hicks' A Peaceable Kingdom, Ernest Hennings' Through the Arroyo, and Rufino Tamayo's Troubador — what a season for Tamayo — were hauled out of the museum earlier this month based on the claim that Randolph needed to sell them to bolster its endowment. Students, alumni, museum staff, university faculty, and no less five state and national associations of museums oppose the planned sale, which is being characterized as a flagrant violation of museum ethics (i.e. don't sell work from a collection unless the proceeds are to be used for the acquisition of new pieces).

The Bellows is the marquee lot in Christie's sale of American paintings, drawings, and sculpture on November 29th. It's expected to bring $25 million - $35 million. If it's not pulled, that is.