"The Epstein papers, released by the US Department of Justice, reveal that investor Leon Black owned Van Gogh's painting Quarry near Saint-Rémy, valued at $60m in 2016. He also had one of the artist's most expensive drawings, Garden with Flowers, then worth $25m, along with three other Van Gogh works on paper. All seem to have been bought privately, rather than through auctions. It is only now that Black has emerged as one of the most important Van Gogh collectors of the early 21st century."
"Black figures in the newly released documents because Epstein provided him with financial advice. A billionaire businessman, Black was also chairman of New York's Museum of Modern Art from 2018 to 2021, but he did not seek re-election in the wake of revelations about his links with Epstein (although he remains a MoMA trustee). Epstein was convicted of soliciting prostitution and soliciting a minor in 2008. He died in prison in 2019 in what was ruled a suicide, while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges."
"Quarry near Saint-Rémy (September 1889), which had earlier been owned by Las Vegas casino owner Steve Wynn, was bought by Black for $46m, probably in the early 2000s. By 2016, when it was valued by one of the major auction houses, it was worth an estimated $60m. This made it among the most expensive Van Gogh paintings to have changed hands."
Investor Leon Black owned Van Gogh's painting Quarry near Saint-Rémy, valued at $60m in 2016, and the drawing Garden with Flowers, then worth $25m, plus three other Van Gogh works on paper. All acquisitions appear to have been private purchases rather than auction buys. Black appears in the Epstein papers because Jeffrey Epstein provided him with financial advice. Black was chairman of New York's Museum of Modern Art from 2018 to 2021 and remains a MoMA trustee. Epstein was convicted in 2008 of soliciting prostitution and a minor and died in prison in 2019 while awaiting federal sex trafficking trial.
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