hmm...other than copyright, what issues are there?
if the work of art is in copyright, there is a reason to say no, not without the artist's permission.
but if the work of art is out of copyright, and someone wants a reproduction to hang on the wall at home, what's to prevent them, or us? museum shops sell this kind of thing all the time (reproductions, calendars, postcards).  you can request that they purchase the reproduction from the shop instead of from you-- as a means of generating more income to the museum's products and confirming how the image is reproduced (meaning, you know it's part of a calendar, postcard, or poster, so you don't have to worry about it being reused or mis'read' as belonging to someone else). 
if, however, you get repeated requests for one specific work, or repeated requests from one client, you might suspect someone is circumventing another source of reproductions, or something worthy of further inquiry. 

hope that helps, i'm curious as to what others, have to say on the topic,
best,

ziva haller rubenstein
dept image resources & copyright management
the israel museum, jerusalem


----- Original Message -----
From: Sarena Deglin <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, December 18, 2002 4:11 PM
Subject: Selectivity in granting rights for reproductions


> I've recently received several requests for high quality reproductions of
a
> major work of art in our collection to be hung in private residences.
> Normally, I receive requests for images to be used in scholarly books or
> journals. Copyright issues aside, how do, if you do, screen what requests
> are appropriate uses of the images of works of art in your collections?
Any
> help is greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Sarena Deglin
> Manager, Office of Rights and Reproductions
> Delaware Art Museum
> Wilmington, DE
> 302-571-9590 ext.639
> 302-571-0220 fax


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