EVER since the 1870s, when a group of French landscape painters produced work deemed unacceptable for the Paris Salon but went on to sell rather well, malnourished artists have comforted themselves with the thought that the market would one day put a proper value on their work.。For many (mostly long-dead) artists, this finally appears to be happening. Investors in financial assets may have had a jumpy few weeks, but salesrooms have notched up record prices in May.

　　19世纪70年代，一群法国风景画家的作品被认为登不了巴黎画展的大雅之堂，可销路却一直很好。从那以后，“营养不良”的画家们就总是想“市场早晚会给他们的作品一个合适的估价”，聊以自慰。对于许多画家而言，最后好像确实梦想成真了（大多数是在去世多年以后）。过去几周，金融资产投资者们的日子也许过得心惊肉跳，可拍卖行却拍出了5月份的最高成交价。