I recently read that the Picasso paintings were authentic and had been borrowed for use in this movie. Does anyone know if any of the other paintings were authentic?

-- WEP (WEP@carol.net), January 29, 1998

Answers

I don't know the answer to your question, but if the Picasso paintings are authentic, then I'm puzzled. With all of Cameron's attention to historic detail, I can't imagine him putting a famous picture-which obviously still exists-on a boat which sank. I assumed they were paintings done in the same style as the artists mentioned, but were not authentic paintings which are known to exist today. Anyone have a comment?

-- Amy M. (amym@sirius.com), January 30, 1998.

Well, I'm sure they wouldn't take authentic Monets and Picassos and dunk them in a tank of seawater!

I've read (in a couple of negative reviews) that they used **copies** of actual paintings by these and other artists. I would think, though, that Cameron would not have used known works, since the're still obviously hanging somewhere today.

Cheers!

-- Kip Henry (kip-henry@ouhsc.edu), January 30, 1998.

This is an answer to my own question. One of the Picasso paintings is "The Guitar Player," flown in from the Musee National d'Art Moderne, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris.

-- WEP (WEP@carol.net), January 30, 1998.

Actually I recognized a Picasso and a Monet - I can't tell you the names of the paintings, but my daughter has a print of the water lilies and the ballet dancers were from Picasso's "blue period." Obviously the originals did not go down with the ship. Gaffe!

-- Bonney Prince (hauptman@sover.net), January 30, 1998.

now remember...the sinking boat was just a model in the movie. the rest of the movie(inside the boat) was shot separate on a dry stage. so it is quite possible(yet puzzling if true) that those were the real paintings...

-Daxit

-- Daxit (daxit83@hotmail.com), February 09, 1999.

The idea that Cameron would have gone as far as to acquire priceless works of art for a ten-second appearance in a movie, and that the museums that owned them would remove them from their collections to transport them to such a relatively uncontrolled environment as a soundstage in Mexico (as well as graciously removing them from their frames and cleaning them so as to appear new), is laughable. Come on, folks. Think. Take a look at the canvasses - they are obviously amateurish copies, and appear freshly painted. They had no patina of age, as you would expect - Cameron DID get that right.

I take it that we are asked to assume that Picasso and Monet, having heard that their paintings, purchased by that charming young woman with an uncanny eye for great modern art who was leaving for New York on that new White Star liner (Something..."Titanic"?), were not found on the Carpathia when it docked in New York.

How did they know? This was confirmed when that caddish fiance's insurance claim adjuster wrote, inquiring as to whether they could provide some proof of purchase - the receipts would now be inaccessible in an ugly green safe somewhere at the bottom of the North Atlantic for the next 84 years. Until, that is, a 200 lb remote- controlled sub - capable of hauling a ton of chain through 100 feet of deteriorating, debris-filled passageways without hopelessly snagging itself, and with the agility to secure the chain to the 300 lb safe so it could be pulled out along these same deteriorating decks without falling through straight down to the keel - was invented. Even so, when found, the receipts would still be an illegible pile of brown goo.

But I digress.

And so, not wanting to waste a good idea, both Monet and Picasso decided to repaint the same subjects. Hey, they were running out of inspiration in the shattered world of exposed greed, overweening pride and human folly that was Post-Titanic. Being great artists, this time they decided to do a better job....

-- Dalton (foo@bar.com), February 10, 1999.

I love picassos paintings he is very athentic in his work. I have seen you put many pictures of picasso's paintings in some movies and they are very fantastic

Lindsay Norby

-- Lindsay Norby (duceswild_13@hotmail.com), September 18, 1999.

I think I heard on a review programme that they were not authentic. They are 'prefessional copies', which are apparently worth a few bob all the same.

-- Kip Webster (kipatkip@aol.com), January 25, 2000.

I don't have any answer to your question but I do have a question about a sketch a friend of mine has. It's a signed sketch by Picasso. It looks like one of King Arthur's knights. I'm trying to find the best way to sell it for her.She has no idea of the value or what to do with it, I suggested selling it but I don;t know how to go about doing that either. Can anyone out there help me out?

-- Lydia S (mandd57@bright.net), March 04, 2000.