Super Bowl Game Starts Online Betting Between Indianapolis, New Orleans Art Museum Directors

Two art museum directors started an online betting match on the Super Bowl that turned into a very real wager, with the prizes being major works of art. It all began on Twitter and seemed to be just a random tweet by arts blogger Tyler Green (found under the name @tylergreendc here on Twitter).

He tweeted that he'd love to see the Indianapolis Museum of Art and the New Orleans Museum of Art engage in a Super Bowl Bet on the upcoming game between the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints. "Would love to see @IMAmuseum and @NOMA1910 make a Super Bowl bet," Tyler tweeted on January 25, adding a suggestion of "a painting-loan-to the winning city."

Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints Betting Turns From Tweets to Reality for Indianapolis and New Orleans Museum Directors

Indianapolis Museum of Art Director Maxwell L. Anderson started the betting. He suggested the loan of an Ingrid Calame painting from the IMA's collection - if the New Orleans Saints won the Super Bowl. Although he agreed that the painting would be given to the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) for three months if the Saints won, he couldn't resist adding a dig. He wrote that "We're already spackling the wall where the NOMA loan will hang." Clearly, Anderson has great confidence in Peyton Manning and the rest of the Indianapolis Colts.

Not to be outdone, New Orleans Museum of Art Director John Bullard came to the defense of the New Orleans Saints and offered a Renoir if the Saints lost the Super Bowl. He also responded by noting that "Max Anderson must not really believe the Colts can beat the Saints in the Super Bowl. Otherwise why would he bet such an insignificant work...?" Bullard then urged Anderson offer a more valuable work, something to equal the Renoir painting ( Seamstress at Window,1908). The painting is currently being shown in a major Renoir exhibit in Paris.

IMA Director Shows Strong Support for Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts Super Bowl Win

The bantering went back and forth, with Bullard suggesting that each museum offer a work of art that would "truly" be missed for three months (apparently, the Renoir wasn't tempting enough for Anderson). Anderson send out a tweet, with a part that read, " Colts will win; here's how sure I am:IMA Turner for Vigee Lebrun's Portrait of Marie Antoinette."

Anderson was now offering the The Fifth Plague of Egypt, painted in 1800 by the renowned artist Joseph Mallord William Turner for Lebrun's portrait of Marie Antoinette. However, Bullard felt the Marie Antoinette piece was too delicate to send to Indianapolis.

After some more tweets and emails, a deal was struck. Final results? The New Orleans Museum of Art will be shipping Claude Lorrain's painting, Ideal View of Tivoli, if the New Orleans Saints lose to the Indianapolis Colts in the Super Bowl.

Museum Directors' Colts and Saints Wager Draws Attention to Indianapolis and New Orleans Museums

I spoke with Katie Zarich, director of public affairs for the Indianapolis Museum of Art. She noted that the wager on the Super Bowl had turned into a great way to draw attention to the artwork in both museums, including world class collections at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. For those watching the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints, remember that there will be more on the line this year than the Super Bowl win. After the game, Indianapolis or New Orleans will also lose a major painting - or gain one - for 3 months.

Sources:

Katie Zarich, Director of Public Affairs for the Indianapolis Museum of Art (phone and email).
Twitter tweets from Tyler Green, Maxwell Anderson and John Bullard.