Christie’s has arranged the private sale of Thomas Eakins’ “Portrait of Professor Benjamin H. Rand,” 1874, from Thomas Jefferson University to the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Ark., for an undisclosed amount.
“We are pleased that the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art has agreed to purchase the Rand portrait, which in turn provides the Thomas Jefferson University with much needed funds to continue its mission as a leading academic health center,” said Marc Porter, president, Christie’s Americas. “As the world’s leading art business, we are honored to have consulted on this transaction involving two top-flight institutions committed to building on their respective missions and serving their communities.”
Eakins’ “Portrait of Professor Benjamin H. Rand” has been the property of Thomas Jefferson University since Dr Rand donated it without restriction to the university upon his retirement from Jefferson Medical College in 1877. Earlier this year, Christie’s advised Thomas Jefferson University on its sale of Eakins’ “The Gross Clinic” to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
Under the terms of the agreement, the Crystal Bridges Museum will lend the Rand portrait to the Philadelphia Museum of Art for public viewing later this spring, and the painting will be exhibited permanently at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, which is scheduled to open in 2009.
For information, 212-636-2000 or www.Christies.com .
