The Highest Bidder

In the estimation of Hollywood, at least, Henry Kravis is a man of culture and sophistication. When British actor Jonathan Pryce played Kravis in Barbarians at the Gate, a TV film based on the epic 1980s takeover battle for RJR Nabisco that solidified Kravis' reputation as the master of the leveraged buyout, he didn't even bother to shed his English accent. This, presumably, was meant to convey that Kravis, an American, is a very classy guy. He is also very rich and powerful. So the art world is atwitter over his decision to sell two prized Renoirs from his extensive art...