An artist's work is more valuable if they have a short life, a torrid romantic affair or go mad, a leading art expert has said. He suggests it would "not be a bad thing" commercially if certain painters were to die young.
Philip Hook, a senior director at Sotheby's and former Antiques Roadshow expert, said a short life made the price of a piece of art rise, avoiding the tricky "late period" of older artists.
Saying "no-one would want" British artist David Hockney to have died young, he conceded it is likely that it would have made his work more valuable.
