This one takes Second Hand Embarrassment Syndrome to a new level: Some dude drunkenly lost, lost, a $1.4 million painting. Specifically, Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot’s “Portrait of a Girl” (1857-58).
Kristyn Trudgeon and Tom Doyle co-owned the Corot and enlisted James Carl Haggerty — her acquaintance, his friend — as an agent to help sell it. Haggerty was to be paid $25,000 upon the sale.
On July 28, according to the complaint, Doyle learned that a London dealer, Offer Waterman, was interested in buying the piece, valued at $1.35 million.
So Haggerty met Waterman at a hotel bar to show him the painting, as you do, and got tanked with him, as you do. Then Haggerty left the hotel bar with the painting (after drunkenly “colliding with the doorman”), as you do, went home and woke up in the morning without the painting, AS YOU DON’T DO.
You know those days when you wake up after a night of serious drinking and there is a split second when all is well and then EVERYTHING from the night before comes rushing back and manifests itself in the most giant headache you’ve ever had? Imagine that, plus losing a $1.4 million painting. And it’s not like it’s a suitcase full of money, it’s a painting. A work of art of immense historical value. And then imagine having to make that phone call saying that you don’t know where the painting is because you were too wasted. Now imagine she’s white. (Sorry, couldn’t resist A Time To Kill reference).
“Yeah, I’ve checked everywhere. Under my bed, in the closet…It’s just not here! Have I retraced my steps? Well, the thing about that is that I don’t so much remember anything from last night…yeah, good idea! I’ll pray to Saint Anthony.”
I want to throw up from my SHES right now. At least I’ve learned a lesson: Never get wasted whilst carrying around a valuable work of art that isn’t even mine. Oh, wait. I ALREADY KNEW THAT ONE.
