Art News. Vasari Codex

trending_up market schedule Nov 18, 2025 visibility 16 link 1 artist, 1 gallery

jeffrey epstein emails leon black picasso gagosian 1234761921

Newly released emails from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein reveal that he discussed a plan by billionaire art collector Leon Black to purchase a Picasso painting from Gagosian gallery for $100 million. In a 2015 email to Melanie Spinella, a representative for Black, Epstein questioned the lack of a written contract for the overseas transfer, calling it 'fishy.' The emails also show Epstein advising Black on broader art purchasing strategies, including assigning agreements to family members, and offering opinions on Artspace, the online art marketplace acquired by Black's publishing house Phaidon.

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article culture schedule Mar 23, 2026 visibility 16 link 2 artists

‘Reality Decay’ Is at the Root of All the Bad News

The article connects a 2009 artwork by Paul Chan, 'Sade for Sade’s Sake,' to the recent release of the Jeffrey Epstein emails. The artwork, a shadow puppet projection based on the Marquis de Sade's violent text, was referenced in a 2010 email from an art adviser to Epstein, suggesting artists who could realize his desires for his private island. This link places a contemporary artwork directly into the evidence of a high-profile criminal conspiracy.

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article news schedule Nov 21, 2025 visibility 12 link 3 artists

trump epstein emails salvator mundi 2715498

Newly released emails between Jeffrey Epstein and journalist Michael Wolff reveal Epstein speculating about the $450 million sale of Leonardo da Vinci's *Salvator Mundi* and its possible connection to Donald Trump. In a May 2019 exchange, Epstein suggested that the painting's sale by Russian oligarch Dmitry Rybolovlev to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman might have been a covert bribe to secure Trump's support on Middle Eastern policy, specifically his veto of a congressional resolution against U.S. involvement in the Yemen war. Epstein also noted that his "art guy" thought the painting wasn't very good.

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article news schedule Nov 13, 2025 visibility 10 link 1 artist

jeffrey epstein emails art guy leonardo salvator mundi 1234761608

Newly released emails from Jeffrey Epstein, published by House Republicans, show the disgraced financier discussing Leonardo da Vinci's *Salvator Mundi* with journalist Michael Wolff. In a May 2019 exchange, Epstein referenced the $450.3 million painting—the most expensive artwork ever sold at auction—and suggested its sale was linked to a real estate deal involving a Russian billionaire and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Epstein also mentioned that his "art guy" thought the painting wasn't very good.

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article news schedule Nov 17, 2025 visibility 7 link 2 artists

jeffrey epstein emails show art buying plans studio visits 1234761935

Newly released documents from the House Oversight Committee reveal Jeffrey Epstein's involvement in the art world, including emails from February 2017 in which Epstein and associates Etienne Binant and Darren Indyke discussed buying art directly from emerging artists, bypassing galleries and fairs. Binant proposed a strategy to "have an impact on the ecosystem" by supporting artists early, and Indyke confirmed $1 million was available for purchases. Separate emails show Epstein commenting on the disputed painting *Salvator Mundi*, claiming it was worth only $1.5 million and linking its sale to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman via Dmitry Rybolovlev.

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