No sale for rare religious artwork
The Rev. Michael Komechak may have to find another way to finance an art gallery at Benedictine University because a piece of religious artwork failed to sell Thursday at a Christie's auction in New York.
Komechak and the university had received the portable triptych illustrated with religious images from a former student and longtime friend, former Wheaton resident Paul Donovan. Donovan had bequeathed the piece to the university in Komechak's name to be displayed in a gallery or to help fund construction of a facility to house artwork.
Komechak, a Benedictine monk, is curator of the university's art collection that he has been accumulating since 1978.
When he realized the triptych was worth far more than the initial estimates of $5,000 to $10,000 and would be costly to insure, he and university officials decided the best option would be to sell it. Christie's estimated its value at $500,000 to $700,000, but it failed to fetch a bidder during the auction, said Karen Lennox of Karen Lennox Galleries, who had been helping the university with the process.
"I'm very surprised but I'm not in the least bit discouraged," Lennox said. "Sometimes it's all about timing and where buyers are around the world."
Lennox said the piece still could sell. Sometimes potential buyers are unavailable to bid on a piece during the auction and they will approach the auction house afterward and negotiate with the owners, she said. Art collectors might not have wanted to commit to a major piece until after seeing what transpires at some upcoming auctions, she said.
"Our intent is to sell this piece and build his gallery," Lennox said. "Meanwhile we'll fundraise for the gallery. We're redirecting our efforts."
Benedictine University representatives also were taking a philosophical view.
"It might've just been the wrong time, the wrong market," university spokesman Phil Brozynski said. "You don't know what kind of audience you will have.
"We have quite a collection here. It would be nice to have it someplace that it can be viewed. It could now become our centerpiece of the collection."
The piece, created by Florentine artist Niccolo Di Tommaso in the 1350s, features the Madonna and Child with Saint John the Baptist and Saint Peter and depictions of the Crucifixion and the Virgin Annunciate. A factor in its estimated value is that it remains intact, while many other triptychs were dismantled and sold off in pieces, Lennox said.
Komechak had gone to New York to watch the auction and could not be reached for comment Thursday.
Anyone interested in the piece or interested in supporting Komechak's efforts to build an art gallery may contact the university at (630) 829-6000. Donations, with notes earmarking them for the gallery, can be sent to Benedictine University, 5700 College Road, Lisle, IL 60532.