A World Series matchup between the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays has inspired an art-world wager between their home cities. The Milwaukee Art Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, have each offered a Monet painting for a temporary loan to the museum in the winning city.
Milwaukee's entry is Waterloo Bridge, Sunlight Effect, painted around 1903. It is the only Monet in the Milwaukee Art Museum's collection and was donated to the institution in 1950. The painting depicts London's River Thames, where Monet created numerous works during visits to the city.
The Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, has put forward Houses of Parliament: Effect of Fog, London, completed in 1904. Like the Milwaukee painting, it captures a view of the Thames. The work is currently displayed in a gallery while its usual space is being prepared.
The friendly contest connects professional sports with public access to art, offering the winning city's museum a chance to present a celebrated Impressionist work from another collection. Such collaborations may help cultural institutions reach new audiences and create fresh ways to experience both sport and art.
