Sadly, one of the world's greatest art collectors Count Guiseppe Panza died this past weekend and Christopher Knight discusses this event from the best vantage point.

As the elephant in the room, for yesterday's conference, Donald Judd Delegated Fabrication: history, practice, issues and implications the news gave Peter Ballantine a chance to speak on the rift between Judd and one of his greatest collectors. Famously Panza had some of Judd's work fabricated by his own people, Judd didn't approve of the workmanship, Panza didn't acquiesce and Judd declared it destroyed. On Sunday Ballantine was once again was caught in the middle and said that it was one of those unfortunate situations where two very strong willed individuals ran afoul of each other. Judd had gone to Italy hoping to see pieces that met his approval and it didn't happen that way. Ballantine felt had the fabrication been different the situation would have been averted. Clearly, Judd still controlled the final say in the matter and it shows the limits to his delegation of fabrication.

At this point Robert Storr offered that collectors, artists, curators and institutions clearly need to know their place and ultimately the final say in whether a work is considered "their"s is the artist's right and prerogative alone.


Dan Flavin in the Panza Villa

That business aside (with greatness come egos), Panza was a collector of the highest taste and discernment, principally interested in time. He collected some of the best works by Rothko, Rauschenberg, Andre, Irwin, Nauman and Flavin and was an early and instrumental patron. He created a great collection, not merely a series of prestigious trinkets and most of it went to MOCA in LA. In fact there is a local connection here, Panza collected part of Carl Andre's piece at the PCVA and it now resides in the Guggenheim's collection.

Ultimately, Panza was a man who defined his avocation in his time and his passion, eye and intellect regarding that collection are simply unmatched. When I think of great collectors, he is the the prime example that should come to mind.