America's No. 1 financial conglomerate

Chapter 459 Picking Up a Bargain

After the formal dinner, a private cocktail party without media participation took place.

Ernst stretched his body; he hadn't left yet, intending to see what treasures were up for grabs at the upcoming private auction.

Woodgate and Malibu mansions are both under construction, and he wouldn't mind buying them and putting them in as decoration if suitable collectibles come along.

However, the items obtained through these auctions have their pros and cons. The good thing is that they are cheap enough, at least 20% cheaper than those at regular auction houses.

The downside is that many things cannot be publicly displayed after they are purchased.

It's quite possible that the collectible you buy is something that was stolen from a collector or even a museum.

"You've really stolen the show tonight." Just as Ernst was pondering the auction, a slightly teasing voice came from beside him.

He looked up and saw Jobs standing beside him, holding a plate.

Ernst glanced at him, a meaningful smile playing on his lips. "I'm waiting for you to beat him up."

The organizers were quite savvy; not only did they arrange for him and Bill Gates to enter together, they even put Steve Jobs at the same table with them.

Of all the guests, quite a few had disagreements with Bill Gates, but the biggest conflict was definitely between these two.

Upon hearing Ernst's words, Jobs first pursed his lips, unwilling to dwell on the topic any longer. "I've already used the USB flash drive that your AI Technology has launched, and I must say, it's absolutely another groundbreaking masterpiece."

The USB flash drive from iTech has not yet been officially released to the market. The one Steve Jobs has is one he begged Cook for.

Ernst originally thought Jobs was simply there to offer his congratulations, but little did he know that Jobs had ulterior motives.

"But why don't you make iTech's USB drives stop being compatible with Windows?" Jobs put down his plate, leaned forward slightly, and said with a hint of anticipation in his eyes, "If this little thing isn't compatible with Windows, I guarantee that Microsoft's market share will drop significantly."

Ernst couldn't help but find it amusing, and didn't even bother to look at the other person.

Incompatibility with Windows allows Apple to reap the benefits, while iTech faces an antitrust lawsuit from Microsoft.

This old guy is treating himself like an idiot; every single word he replies is a tacit admission.

As the two chatted, the lights in the party room suddenly dimmed, and a tall, elegant, and mature woman in a black evening gown slowly walked onto the stage, holding a document.

The second auction has finally begun.

Good evening, distinguished guests.

There were no formal pleasantries; a simple greeting was exchanged, and the first item was displayed.

"The first work in this auction is 'Ballet Dancers' by Edgar Degas, a 19th-century French Impressionist painter. Degas, as one of the important representatives of Impressionism, is known for his unique perspective and exquisite technique, and is especially skilled at depicting the dynamic beauty of ballerinas."

"The painting depicts three ballet dancers practicing in a rehearsal room. The brushstrokes are delicate, the colors are soft, and it vividly captures the elegant postures and focused expressions of the ballet dancers during practice..."

On stage, the host gave a detailed introduction to the painting's background, artistic style, technical features, and market value. Many guests interested in Impressionist works began to adjust their posture, ready to raise their paddles and bid.

"Aren't you going to make a move?" Jobs glanced at Ernst beside him and, noticing that Ernst showed no sign of returning to his seat, asked curiously.

His construction of a mansion in Malibu has been reported by the media. A private mansion of this caliber would certainly include a private museum. When Jobs saw him stay, he assumed that Jobs was there specifically to fill his private museum at this auction.

Ernst slowly shook his head. "This is clearly an early work by Degas. Both the brushstrokes and the color combinations still have a distinct academic style, and his unique artistic style had not yet developed. In comparison, I prefer the women he painted in his middle and later periods."

Ernst has a certain understanding of Western calligraphy and painting appreciation. He graduated from USC and has participated in many such art exhibitions, so he has learned a thing or two from his experience.

When Impressionist painters are mentioned, most people usually think of Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, Camille Pissarro, Paul Gauguin, and others.

Monet was known for his extreme pursuit of light and shadow, and his "Water Lilies" series is hailed as the pinnacle of Impressionism. Cézanne, with his innovative exploration of color and form, is revered as the father of modern art. Both of them created their own unique artistic styles.

However, within the Impressionist camp, there was a special painter who always walked on the fringes of Impressionism. He neither agreed with some of the artistic concepts of Impressionism nor maintained a distance from the academic school. At the same time, he also incorporated the creative techniques of Realism. He can be called an artistic master who integrated the characteristics of multiple schools. That was Edgar Degas.

Degas never married, yet he devoted all his energy to depicting female figures.

However, some people say he is psychologically abnormal, a complete voyeur who enjoys this kind of thrill.

Artists, whether they're considered abnormal or not, are understandable.

It just goes to show that a master is a master. Even his early works, and at such an auction, still sold for a high price of $110 million.

The auction continued, and the next few lots were diverse, including 18th-century European court-style furniture, 19th-century French realist landscape paintings, and several modern sculptures, all of which sold for good prices.

Ernst and Jobs also found a table and sat down casually, and bought two pieces from the collection.

During the auction, another Degas work appeared. This painting was also created in Degas' early period, but compared with the previous "Ballet Dancers Practice," the style had gradually matured. The depiction of the female body lines in the painting was more delicate, and the use of light and shadow was more skillful.

In the end, this piece was bought by a man who had little presence in the public eye for $180 million.

To say he has no presence is exactly what it sounds like.

If he hadn't offered to buy the painting, Ernst wouldn't have even noticed that there was such a person present.

"Who is he?" Ernst asked Jobs, who was standing nearby.

The other person shook his head. "I don't know him, but as you know, representatives of reclusive families often appear in such situations."

That's true. Families like the Rockefellers, Morgans, and Kochs rarely appear in public anymore.

Even at such high-end parties, they rarely attend; if they have something they want, they will send someone over.

"Distinguished guests, the next lot is the highlight of this auction. It is the only seascape painting by the great 17th-century Dutch painter Rembrandt Harmensson van Rijn, titled 'Christ in a Storm on the Sea of ​​Galilee'."

"This painting, created in 1633, is an important work from the middle of Rembrandt's artistic career. It depicts the scene of Jesus calming a storm on the Sea of ​​Galilee. The composition is grand and the colors are rich. It not only demonstrates Rembrandt's superb realistic technique, but also contains profound religious connotations."

"The starting bid for this artwork is $1800 million, with each bid requiring a minimum of $100 million..."

"FXXK." Before the host could finish speaking, Ernst couldn't help but mutter a curse under his breath. "Is this the artwork stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum?"

In 1990, two thieves posing as police officers successfully entered the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, USA, under the pretext of investigating a riot.

After taking control of the museum's security personnel, they stole 13 precious works of art in just 81 minutes, including Johannes Vermeer's masterpiece "The Concert," Rembrandt's "Christ in a Storm on the Sea of ​​Galilee," and five paintings by Edgar Degas, worth over $5 million.

This is one of the biggest unsolved art theft cases in art history, and the FBI still has no information.

Ernst was surprised to see two pieces from Degas's collection today.

After reading "Christ Encountering a Storm on the Sea of ​​Galilee," he finally understood the reason.

"What does it matter? Would the FBI dare to investigate?" Jobs looked indifferent, as if he was used to such things.

"That's true." Ernst nodded, even showing a hint of delight.

If it were to be auctioned normally, this painting would fetch at least $60 million, and if someone really likes it, it could potentially add another $20 million.

However, the starting bid is only $1800 million, and the price won't go much higher, so it's a steal.

And since they dare to sell, it means they've got everything sorted out.

Even if the FBI director were sitting here right now, he would choose to ignore it.

"$3100 million, Mr. Number 37, you've offered $3100 million. Is there any higher bid? This is Brenlan's only seascape painting."

"Are you interested in this painting?" Jobs asked curiously when he saw Ernst holding up his sign.

"This is the work of one of the greatest painters of the 17th century. As the only seascape painting in the collection, it is worth collecting."

When it comes to collecting art, scarcity is key.

The word "unique" already represents a lot.

Ernst had expected a fierce competition, but to his surprise, no one raised the price.

"That man is trying to make a move on you." Jobs glanced at the seemingly insignificant man.

Ernst frowned slightly, wondering which family the other party represented.

The man had previously offered the highest price; everyone else had basically given up.

Unexpectedly, after I raised the price once, the other party actually gave up the competition.