New York Public Library's Durand Proceeds: $33.81 million

We journalists should read nonprofits' publicly available tax returns more often. Had I done so, I'd already know that the net proceeds received by the New York Public Library from Alice Walton's purchases of Asher B. Durand's "Kindred Spirits" amounted to $33.81 million, as reported on last year's Form 990.

I found this out today from Anthony Calnek, the library's new vice president for communications and marketing, who was replying to my request of last November for information on what has happened to the works that the library had consigned in 2005 to Sotheby's but that failed to sell.

We found out earlier this month what had happened to Gilbert Stuart's Munro-Lenox portrait of George Washington. Calnek filled in the rest, including the take from the Durand, in today's e-mail:

Shortly after the auction, Sotheby's sold John W. Alexander's "Anna Palmer Draper" in a private sale. John Singleton Copley's "Hannah White Cowell Hooper" remains unsold. One theory I heard is that although the Copley is a fine painting, the subject is a rather unattractive person, resulting in no takers.

All proceeds have gone into an endowment strictly for acquisitions by the Research Libraries.

The Durand had reportedly sold for about $35 million (from which Sotheby's may have taken a commission). The Alexander had been estimated at $400,000 to $600,000.

Can we put the homely Mrs. Hooper back on display at the library now? She might look good next to the portrait of Truman Capote!