We saw that the Indianapolis and New Orleans mayors made their incredibly lame Super Bowl bet, but fortunately all is not lost; the Indianapolis Museum of Art and the New Orleans Museum of Art have come up with something interesting.
On Monday IMA's director Max Anderson and NOMA's director E. John Bullard took to Twitter and email to trash talk one another. First Anderson proposed that if the Saints won the IMA would loan an Ingrid Calame painting to NOMA (of course he also Tweeted "We're already spackling the wall where the NOMA loan will hang," so he's feeling pretty confident) Bullard took that as an insult, emailing back:
"Max Anderson must not really believe the Colts can beat the Saints in the Super Bowl. Otherwise why would he bet such an insignificant work as the Ingrid Calame painting? Let's up the ante. The New Orleans Museum of Art will bet the three-month loan of its $4 million Renoir painting, Seamstress at Window, circa 1908, which is currently in the big Renoir exhibition in Paris. What will Max wager of equal importance? Go Saints!"
On Tuesday Anderson responded, Tweeting to NOMA: "We'll see the sentimental blancmange by that "China Painter" and raise you a proper trophy: [A Jean-Valentine Morel jeweled cup, which won the Grand Medal at the 1855 Paris World Fair.]"
Bullard was less than impressed with this offer though, snidely emailing back: 
"I am amused that Renoir is too sweet for Indianapolis. Does this mean that those Indiana corn farmers have simpler tastes? If so why would Max offer us that gaudy Chalice -- just looks like another over-elaborate Victorian tchotchke. Let's get serious. Each museum needs to offer an art work that they would really miss for three months. What would you like Max? A Monet, a Cassatt, a Picasso, a Miro? Sorry but we have no farm scenes or portraits of football players to send you."
Ooh! Burn! Is there anything better than catty art museum directors verbally jousting? I think not.
A couple hours later, Anderson replied on his Twitter, "Colts will win; here's how sure I am: [the IMA's four-by-six-foot JMW] Turner (above left) for Vigée Lebrun's Portrait of Marie Antoinette."
(after the jump, the bet gets interesting and agreed to!)
NOMA's Bullard responded with:
"I'm glad to see that Max has gotten serious. Certainly the Turner painting in Indianapolis is a masterpiece, worthy of any great museum. Regretably the size, over ten feet high with its original elaborate frame, and the fragile condition of New Orleans' Portrait of Marie Antoinette prohibits it from traveling. I propose instead our large and beautiful painting by Claude Lorrain, Ideal View of Tivoli, (right) 1644. This great French artist is considered the father of landscape painting and was one of Turner's great inspirations. These two paintings would look splendid hanging together in New Orleans -- or miracle of miracles, in Indianapolis."
Bullard's final respons: "Max is a gracious opponent. Thanks for accepting the wager of a Claude from New Orleans for a Turner from Indianapolis. But this is definitely the Saints year. They are the Dream Team and in New Orleans we know that dreams come true. Geaux Saints!!!"
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