A stolen Jackson Pollock painting and a family's heartache - an intriguing tale unfolds.
The Power of a Painting
Imagine standing in a gallery, overwhelmed by a single painting. This was the experience of Merry White, who, in 1984, found herself in front of a Jackson Pollock masterpiece. The painting, titled "Number 7, 1951," held a special significance for Merry. It had once hung above her bed as a child, a constant reminder of both the artist's genius and the complex emotions it evoked.
This particular Pollock piece is a unique blend of figurative and abstract art, with a female figure on the right, almost Picasso-esque, and a thicket of vertical lines on the left, reminiscent of his famous "Blue Poles." But for Merry, it represented more than just art - it was a link to her past, a past filled with both admiration and discomfort.
"Number 7, 1951" was acquired by Merry's father, Reginald Isaacs, directly from Pollock himself. Reginald, a professor at Harvard University, was an early supporter of the artist, purchasing his works before Pollock's fame exploded. However, the painting also served as a reminder of the volatile and often uncomfortable visits to Pollock's home, where the artist's intense anger and volatility left a lasting impression on the young Merry.
The Theft and its Aftermath
In 1973, thieves broke into the Isaacs' apartment in Cambridge, Massachusetts, stealing "Number 7, 1951," along with two other Pollock paintings. One of these, "Painting 1028," remains missing to this day, with an estimated value of up to $20 million. The theft triggered a cascade of emotions for Merry, bringing back memories of those visits to Pollock's home and the subsequent loss of the paintings.
The impact of the theft extended beyond the financial. It disrupted Reginald Isaacs' peace of mind, already fragile due to his anxiety and depression. He became terrified of publicizing his connection to Pollock, even going as far as requesting the removal of his name from museum labels and art catalogues. The legal and financial battles that followed only added to his stress, with his notes from that period resembling the chaotic scrawls of an artist struggling to maintain sanity.
The Recovery and the Missing Piece
Despite the turmoil, there was a glimmer of hope. In 1975, one of the stolen Pollocks, "Number 7, 1951," was recovered from a hotel room in Newton. This led to a legal battle and a settlement that valued the painting at around $1 million. However, the other two paintings remained elusive.
Fast forward to 1991, and a Connecticut lawyer brought a Pollock-like work to Christie's auction house in New York. After initial doubts, the painting was authenticated as "21 (Drawing with poles)," one of the missing Isaacs Pollocks. Unfortunately, by the time of its recovery, Reginald Isaacs had passed away, leaving his family to benefit from the sale.
Today, only one Pollock painting remains missing - "Painting 1028," a combination of paint and collaged ink drawings. Its recovery could provide financial security for Merry White and her descendants.
A Visit to the Past
In a recent visit to the Pollock-Krasner House, a place she hadn't been to in almost 70 years, Merry White prepared herself for the emotions that might arise. But instead of being overwhelmed, she felt calm and curious. The studio floor, still spattered with Pollock's paint, triggered her strongest memories. And there, in the gift shop, she noticed a postcard of "Number 7, 1951," the painting that had once hung over her bed.
"I said to my friends, 'This painting was hanging over my bed in my bedroom!'" remembers Merry. "Everyone gasped."
And with that, they went to have coffee, leaving behind the drama and complexity of the past, and embracing the present.
