It is sad indeed that Sisley was so poorly treated, but not, alas, unique. Whether it reflects great artists or personal relationships, you often only realise their true value once they are irretrievably lost.
I think there is (certainly in UK general populus ) a complete lack of regard for creative endeavour. Is it lack of eye-opening education, being fed a constant stream of pap on mainstream TV, or a cynicism about all those "great works" (eg, a crack in the floor at Tate Modern)?
Probably a mix of all those things. I was photographing a live music event this week, and a third of the audience in the bar listenened, and two thirds laughed, talked, shouted, and generally behaved as if this was a rugby club bar. That there were young people on stage giving it their all got little respect or even recognition.
This is after all the Tesco Generation, they wanted choice, sadly they haven't the intellect to use that choice wisely.
As you see, Grumpy Old Man mode tonight.
Photographed some Sickert paintings once... dark grey and darker green. He must have been a bundle of laughs...

:)

N

f8; and be there...