Louvre for Sale

Abu Dhabi is apparently making a bid to become the cultural capital of the world. It's trying to buy its way into the top tier of art and sophistication. And what better way to do that than to buy a franchise of the Louvre? Although I hadn't realized that the Louvre was available for franchising, but I've never offered them $520 million, either.

Actually, the deal that the Louvre has worked out with Abu Dhabi is even more complicated than that. There's another nearly $750 million added to the mix to pay for the loan of artworks and exhibitions. And then there's also the interesting tidbit that the United Arab Emirates just agreed to buy 40 new Airbus 380 jetliners from the transnational company headquartered in Toulouse, although that may have nothing to do with the Louvre deal. Nothing at all.

But it's not just the Louvre. The Guggenheim is also looking to go into Abu Dhabi with a new building designed by Frank Gehry. That's a bit different, though, because the Guggenheim already has branches in Spain, Germany, and Italy, so moving into the Middle East isn't as much of a stretch.

But you have to wonder how that will work, exactly. Will Abu Dhabi patrons be interested in the Louvre's vast collection of European Renaissance paintings? I believe there are a number of them that feature Jesus Christ. Also, if I recall, there are a fair number of classic pieces of art that celebrate the female form--will they themselves be celebrated in the UAE? In truth, the United Arab Emirates is one of the more liberal places in the Arab world, so there's a better chance of seeing some of these things there than in, say, Saudi Arabia. Still, an art museum should celebrate free expression wherever it might lead. Will the Abu Dhabi Louvre be open to such impulses, or will it cater to predominant prejudices of the region?