The Art of Grave Rolling

Grave Rolling.  Steve Jobs is rolling over in his grave. Alfred Barnes is rolling over in his, as well. Apple just announced dividends for their stock holders.  Perhaps, you knew Mr. Jobs was dead set against ’em.  I don’t totally understand why, nor do I need to, I just know he’d rather use a stylus than have Apple issue dividends. He also notoriously and indefatigably hated devices that required a ‘stylus”.  Here’s another soul, you perhaps have not heard about, who is also rolling in his grave..Albert Barnes.  His astonishing collection of art (more Cezanne paintings in his home than in all of Paris) which he housed in his own  home outside of Philadelphia is about to open in a gallery closer to Philadelphia with great hoopla.  What’s wrong with that, you might ask?  Here’s what’s wrong. Alfred Barnes took great pains to write a will using the best lawyers that said under no circumstances should his art be taken from his home and placed elsewhere.  So, what has happened?  His art was taken from his home in the past year and placed elsewhere.  In one instance, Apple, it is a public company so the wishes of Steve Job can be overridden. In the latter, it is a private citizen who had amassed at his own expense, a collection of art that is now so valuable, no one could buy it, and it was coveted by powerful folks.  The powerful folks  (surprise, surprise) won the legal fight, and if you want to know more, watch this documentary, called. “The Art of the Steal”.