Bond Would Sell Van Gogh ‘Irises’ if Price Is Right

Beleaguered businessman Alan Bond is prepared to sell the world’s most expensive painting, Vincent Van Gogh’s “Irises,” if the price is right, a spokesman said today.

Michael Cross, a spokesman for Bond’s private company, Dallhold Investments, said: “Over the past few months we have received a great many offers for the painting but we said it is not for sale and is not officially on the market and that remains the case.

“We are most definitely not soliciting offers but there is a preparedness at the right price to sell the painting under the right conditions on the basis of appropriate financial terms.”

The New York Times today reported that the painting was for sale.

To facilitate the sale to Bond, the auction house Sotheby’s extended him a $27-million loan on the $53.9-million price paid in 1987, using the painting itself as collateral, the newspaper said.