This paper advances a decision theoretical foundation for pricing scripts in the primary art market. We argue that while sociological
factors play an important role, pricing scripts may well have economic determinants. We use a simple model of product differentiation
implementing the undercut proof equilibrium concept to analyse the effects of the gallery’s and the artist’s reputation on
the price the gallery charges. The results suggest that prices positively correlate with an artist’s reputation and negatively
correlate with a gallery’s reputation. The model may therefore explain similar findings of recent empirical studies on pricing
in the primary market for fine art.
Keywords Pricing scripts - Art galleries - Visual arts - Undercut proof equilibrium
JEL codes Z11 - L11