How much have you lost on a bet? Money, dignity? What about a priceless painting by one of Impressionism’s greatest masters?
That’s what the Milwaukee Art Museum has staked on a Brewers World Series championship: Claude Monet’s Waterloo Bridge, Sunlight Effect, where a dark blue haze brilliantly blankets a city landscape. (Sounds like our weather these past few days.)
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Of course, ownership is not actually at stake. In the latest of good-natured municipal wagers, including Mayor Johnson betting a Hoan Bridge lit in Tampa Bay Rays blue, the art museum has agreed with the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg that the losing city will loan a Monet painting to the winning city. The stipulations? If the Brewers emerge victorious, the Florida institution will send Houses of Parliament: Effect of Fog, London (1904) to our fair galleries. If the Rays win, MAM’s painting is jetting off to the Sunshine State.
No matter what, the Monet exchange of sorts means one city will get the chance to view a masterpiece along with their World Series trophy.
“When I moved to Milwaukee, I became a part of the Brew Crew,” said director Kim Sajet in the announcement. “They’re the best team in baseball, and I’m backing them with one of our most beloved paintings. Two Monets will look incredible in our galleries.”
St. Petersburg’s executive director Klaudio Rodriguez fired back. “We admire Kim’s enthusiasm, but we think Milwaukee’s Monet would enjoy a little Florida vacation,” he said in the same announcement. “We’re backing the Rays all the way, and we’re ready to welcome Milwaukee’s masterpiece to St. Petersburg. Let’s see Milwaukee put its Monet where its mouth is.”
Once the series is decided, the museums will announce the terms and exhibition dates for the temporary loan. Until then, Waterloo Bridge, Sunlight Effect remains on display at MAM, where you can stare at the dreamy landscape until you see a blue and yellow parade crossing that bridge.
