The Worth of Art

This is a magnificent book. Original, deep and detailed. It is a must read for anyone interested in understanding the intersection between markets and art. -- Sebastian Edwards, Henry Ford II Distinguished Professor of International Economics, Anderson Graduate School of Management, UCLA In The Worth of Art, two sophisticated quantitative analysts demonstrate the value of applying the powerful tools of financial economics to a wide range of issues involving art markets. Arturo Cifuentes and Ventura Charlin have written a genuinely innovative book. Their careful exposition of statistical techniques will be required reading for participants in art markets, and their conclusions will be of interest to anyone who enjoys thinking systematically about art and what makes it valuable. -- David W. Galenson, University of Chicago The authors have presented a compelling way to value art, drawing on tools used in financial markets and adjusting for the idiosyncrasies of the asset class. This work, which advances an understanding of investing in art, should be welcomed by both the art world and the financial community as it deftly straddles both spheres. -- Timothy Goodell, international banker As art continues to be accepted as a bankable asset class unto its own, any investor looking to enter this complex marketplace should be armed with the necessary quantitative tools to complement any qualitative analysis. This book is a “must have” guide for any serious art investor—new or seasoned—looking to navigate the often rocky terrain of the art market. -- Judd Grossman, founder and managing partner, Grossman LLP This book will help demystify the art buying process for novice and expert art collectors alike. The tools provided for financial analysis will give readers a better framework to make educated collecting decisions and buy with their head as well as their heart. -- Amelia Manderscheid, Vice President and Senior Director for Post-War & Contemporary Art, Bonhams The Worth of Art is full of thought-provoking research and intriguing observations that provide a novel—and revelatory—lens on the world of art. Cifuentes and Charlin are invaluable guides to the complexities and intricacies of the art market. -- Bianca Bosker, author of <i>Cork Dork: A Wine-Fueled Adventure Among the Obsessive Sommeliers, Big Bottle Hunters, and Rogue Scientists Who Taught Me to Live for Taste</i> Illuminating and riveting. The Worth of Art is indispensable for anyone making an initial foray into art as a vehicle for building wealth. Its techniques and insights will also be new to many seasoned art investors. * CFA Institute’s Enterprising Investor * Selected as one of Martin S. Fridson's 3 favorite reads of 2023 * Shepherd * Two decades ago, Arturo Cifuentes, a Chilean financier, used his quantitative skills to parse financial derivatives with great effect: long before 2008, he warned that a financial crisis loomed (influencing my own journalism). Now, however, Cifuentes has another mission: he is redeploying his skills to analyse art, exploring issues such as the relative return and risk profile of Jean-Michel Basquiat’s paintings. (Complex calculations in his co-authored book The Worth of Art suggest that Basquiat not only outperforms US equities, but also works by Renoir and Matisse.)… At art fairs, financialisation remains a dirty word. But if this trend drives more money into the art world, those artists should have reason to raise a glass to it. As Cifuentes says, even algorithms can create beauty. * Gillian Tett, Financial Times *