There are so few occasions in life when you can truly say that, ‘you did it for love’. The experience of falling in love with an original work of art, together with those other moments when Cupid’s arrow strikes home, for most of us, can be counted on one hand. Wives, children, automobiles, jewelry, beautiful homes and exotic vacation spots can all evoke rapid heart palpitations and deservedly so. But surely, few of these earthly pleasures endure without a commitment from each of us to carry them close to the core of our being. And none certainly compares to a loving family and the life partner who made that all possible with you. Children too, are a perpetual blessing that evoke emotions that often exceed our wildest expectations (sometimes in ways we hadn’t counted on!).

I often point out in my lectures that art is a fickle mistress, for whom mutual appeal and attraction can change on a dime. With so many artists in the world and so much art to choose from, how does one go about selecting the right piece for you? This question becomes much more complex when considering market trends, artist reputation, auction activity and, for that matter, global markets. My advice: shut all of that out and buy what you love.

Art endures. It carries us, like only family can, because it serves as a constant reminder of how precious and beautiful the world can be when we are in the presence of an object created merely for its own sake. Art has little or no utility, in the absolute sense. It exists to give us joy. Few things are valued and passed on after we go. The house and cars are sold, the furniture discarded, clothing given away, the jewelry and silver divided up.

But good art persists. It may be gifted to museums or collections for future generations to enjoy. It soon enjoys a place of honor in the home of the next generation. Its message gets stronger with the passage of time; its colors and composition never get tired or commonplace.

Love endures beyond our years here on earth in the memories of our loved ones. Art can deliver a timeless message that serves as a symbol or beacon of our good taste, our values and our commitment to surround ourselves with the very people and objects that truly matter. Art, like love, is eternal.

 For Kathy, with love

illustration: detail: Gustav Klimt, The Kiss (1907-08); William-Adolphe Bouguereau, Cupidon, 1756