New York's Metropolitan Opera is considering selling two monumental Marc Chagall murals, 'The Sources of Music' and 'The Triumphs of Music' (1966), valued at $55 million by Sotheby's, to address a severe financial crisis. The Met has already drawn $120 million from its endowment, reduced performances, and struck a controversial $100 million deal to perform in Saudi Arabia, which has drawn scrutiny over human rights abuses. The murals, which hang in the Grand Tier, would remain in place even if sold, and the Met is also exploring naming rights and theater leasing.
The potential sale underscores the deepening financial pressures facing major cultural institutions, forcing them to consider selling treasured artworks to stay afloat. It also raises ethical questions about partnerships with nations like Saudi Arabia, given its human rights record. The Chagall murals are iconic to the Met Opera's identity, and their sale—even if left in situ—marks a significant shift in how institutions value art as an asset versus a cultural legacy.