The ups and downs of bovine carcasses

[LCR]

Washington National Gallery returned by a judicial decision to the heirs of the private collector's famous painting Soutine.

Mitchell Martin
ARTINFO, 1.06.2009

As the court documents, in June 1981, a Canadian citizen Dzhols SHefner during his stay in Paris, bought for 88,000 dollars "bull's carcass - one of 10 paintings depicting the butcher shop, a representative of expressionism in paintings of Chaim Soutine. The picture was sent to her home in Montreal, where she stayed in the living room of Ms. Shefner until the spring of 2004

Over time, the picture has become more expensive, and in May 2004, Ms. Shefner sold it for $ 1 million, and six months later the Washington National Gallery bought it for 2 million

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One of two things: either for 6 months between the two transactions, quote Soutine had soared, or someone made a very bad deal. Heirs of Ms. Shefner argue that after smetri their mother in 2007, they discovered that she had been deceived. They filed a lawsuit against two mediators - the New York expert on Soutine, and Maurice Techmena Truth Dyunou who participated in the sale of paintings by Ms. Shefner and buy its National Gallery, as well as against most of the National Gallery.

Messrs. Techmen and Dyunou are mzvestnymi researchers and authors of the union catalog of Chaim Soutine. Therefore, the heirs Shefnar accused them that they have abused their knowledge of the art market to convince the owner to sell her paintings on the lowered price and receive this benefit.
In addition, the heirs argued that the National Gallery was to blame for that, did not investigate the origin of the paintings and, accordingly, did not find this dubious deal, and therefore it should return the painting to the family Shefner.

A key element of the case discussed in the Manhattan court a month ago, was the fact that in support of their proposed prices for now Messrs Techmen and Dyunou showed Ms. Shefner Soutine list of works sold from 1994 to 2004, which was absent More than a dozen of sales exceeding 1 million

Messrs. Techmen and Dyunou previously never publicly accused of dishonesty, rejected the accusations. They claimed that Ariel Brown, daughter of Ms. Shefner and one of its successors, to request an independent evaluation of their paintings in the auction house, which is also now rated at 1 million.

However, for the termination of the case, they agreed to pay 210,000 dollars and came to a fairly complex agreement between the parties on which picture should go back to the heirs of Ms. Shefner, and the National Gallery - to receive money paid for a painting and a small compensation for the damage to her psychological harm.
With regard to the National Gallery, its interests will not suffer any damage: in addition to the amount paid to Mr. Mi Techmenom and Dyunou she receives from Brautsn Ariel and her brother, Barry Shefner, 1325000 dollars in cash and a promissory note for 650,000 dollars, which should be repaid over 7 years. Thus, the entire museum will pay 2185000 dollars, representing the amount paid to purchase paintings, as well as legal fees.

Gallery will hold a picture with the right to stand her up to the full repayment of debt obligations.

Counsel Techmena Dyunou and stated that his clients agreed to pay the above amount for the termination of a long and costly trial that they were not convicted on any charges.

As defendants in a legal case were identified as two legal entities - the Parisian gallery Cazeau-Beoder and Lontrel Treding - supposedly a Swiss brokerage company.
Messrs. Techmen Dyunou and said that they came in contact with Ms. Shefner commissioned by the gallery Beoder Cazeau-sponsored union catalog Soutine, who wanted "to act anonymously," as it "usually takes place in the world of art." Family Shefner, for its part, argues that the relationship linking experts with the buyer, had been concealed from Ms. Shefner that touch on the sale of paintings bought by the firm Lontrel Treding, and that they were led to believe that Lontrel Treding represents a group of Swiss private collectors .

The heirs claim that the National Gallery has attempted to buy almost simultaneous with its sale of Ms. Shefner, and that even the price of $ 2 million was understated compared to the market price on the product Soutine, citing as proof the fact that at this time a still life Soutine was sold for $ 5 million, and one portrait - for $ 6 million. In their view, the cost of painting from the famous series of "bull carcasses" should surpass the cost of each of the sold works.
Barry Shefner and his sister, Ariel Brown, helped his mother in negotiations with Techmenom and Dyunou, but they said that their participation was limited to simple telephone calls, and the decision she took one.

Manufacturer Lontrel ignored all the charges, simply did not respond to requests from the court. Gallery Cazeau-Beoder sent to the court a letter signed by Daniel Caso, the widow of one of the founders of the gallery. In it she explains that her husband, Jacques Cazaux, died in August 2007, and that it eliminates the gallery lacks the means for legal action in America, concluded his letter thus: "I find it hard to understand how a man sell his now, at a price that was the market at the time of the transaction, may try to place responsibility for this deal to our firm, which has never been in contact with him ».

[vyadem]

Frankly, the feeling that people with fat crazy.
Seller (s), as I understood, was "legally responsible" to self-check everything.
The fact that somebody of something not finished, so where is the crime?! This is a common advantage in possession of information.
Interesting story ...

[gans]

That's really strange story. Let's all going to cancel the transaction if the picture is then sold expensive.

[uriart]

So much for "The Break-Up!"

[LCR]

That anyone who rubs his hands, so that the insurance companies!

For now only bought the painting - there is need to insure it for restitution: shy:

[vyadem]

LCR, or after 5 years of previous owner to call and ask if he would mind if I already selling his picture!!!: Rolleyes:

[dedulya37]

Сообщение от gans

Let's all going to cancel the transaction if the picture is then sold expensive.

UPRAVIS'a them not. : D

[Кирилл Сызранский]

Сообщение от gans

Let's all going to cancel the transaction if the picture is then sold expensive.

A similar story happened with the sale of one of Repin Gelos.
It was a strange work-fresco on the stove 51H45 13th, the
"Christ Crowned with Thorns.
Noisy history.

[Кирилл Сызранский]

very revealing history of modern Russia's antique market.
  The fact that the day before the auction, March 15, from the Department of Conservation of Cultural Property in the Ministry of Culture of Russia Gelos received a letter signed by Deputy Head of Department, Victor Petrakova, which Gelos recommended suspending the sale of the frescoes and keep it in your own store "to clarify the circumstances case. Of course, representatives of Gelos did not fail to heed the recommendations of the State supervisory authority, and the thing was removed from the auction.

As a result - the owner Repin in shock, but the auction house, as well as the aforementioned landlord, lost profits from a possible deal and received a significant blow to his reputation. Ministry of Culture, on the contrary, as in the famous joke, "all in white" and serves as an arbitrator in "clarifying the circumstances of the case." What is this thing through which you can remove the legal tender is officially adopted by the commission of the country's largest auction house of art?

It turned out that on 15 March Nikulinskaya same district prosecutor's office in Moscow issued a statement from a resident of St. Petersburg citizens Kochetova that on auction Gelos Moscow resident Oleg D-nym paintings by Repin's "Christ in the Desert" is it, Kochetov, possession and was they handed over a citizen of the D-Well, in November last year through an intermediary known to both Demushkina for art-examination. From Oleg D-on was obtained by a pledge of $ 500. The painting was transferred without the right to sell. So now, when Oleg D-n put it in Gelos evaluation of 120-150 thousand dollars, Kochetov demands of justice, that is, restore it to its heritage. And he really, Kochetov, then sell the painting in the Tretyakov Gallery for a reasonable amount. Whew!

Almost everything in this story is clear. The collector, known to all Moscow organizer of several exhibitions in the early to mid-90's, Mr. Oleg D, relying on his collecting, znatocheskoe vision of art works, bought in November 2001 of a friend's broker (the gray dealer ") for Demushkina 500 conventional units, the cement layer with the image of Christ and the signature, similar to the signature of Ilya Repin. We know how many fakes (and mainly St. Petersburg origin) is now walking on the Moscow market. Moreover, in the history of art there is no mention of the fact that Repin ever wrote in the fresco technique. Therefore it can be argued that bought Mr. Oleg D work, stylistically similar to the paintings of Repin and signed by Repin, but no more. Then - a few months of expert work of highly respected professionals and magazines in the first decades of XX century, sought the story of how in 1913 Professor of the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts Kiplik offered his venerable colleague, Repin and a young professor Lancere write on the frescoes in the new reservoirs, a recent Technology Tempera letter. (As we just said, in order to move goods to market.) They agreed. Lancere wrote a self-portrait, whose traces are lost, and Repin - Christ. The whole story is described in the journals, moreover, has photos of these two works. There Repin, and there is now a scientific discovery!

After this picture "moving" on the market through auction Gelos. Unsuccessful traders see its assessment, and it becomes "excruciatingly painful for the wasted years." They have been in the hands of a hundred thousand bucks, and they exchanged it for 500 USD The logic of "new ball" is clear: to be shared. They call Oleg D-well home and offer to return the painting in exchange for once received 500 units. And when such a blatant option fails, submit an application to the prosecutor. Ministry, using the fact that now supposedly going to send (to sell) in the state museum, blocks its auctioning and is taken for "finding the right property." That is now Kochetov, Demushkin and the company will try to prove that they are the owners of Repin, a true master of the things Mr. Oleg D must defend and assert their substantive rights and its honor.

This situation is a human being unpleasant and dangerous as a precedent for the operation of antique market in Russia. Until now, such as property disputes between dealers and collectors have been encountered. Usually, all disputes are over the inheritance. And here the man who sold the picture, in fact, challenges the right of the buyer to resell it more expensive due to the fact that the buyer, applying their knowledge and ability, was able to determine the true author of the picture. On the question of who interfered with the previous owners to undertake these studies and open a new world Repin, no answer. Laziness, lack of professionalism, thirst for quick and easy money - but you never know the reasons, most important, if not managed to make myself Take away a comrade, so convenient. The road on which stood the initiators of the application to the prosecutor, could lead to a complete blockade antique market. If a fair deal can be challenged in court "on the new circumstances, such as: expert studies, restoration work, the involvement of works in exhibition projects - anything that increases the value of the object of art - our market will rise. Therefore in this case is very important the role of the Ministry of Culture, which should act as a guarantor of the rights of owners of works of art in the legal (auctions and shops) selling. And the concept of "honor antiquary" (a dealer, collector, dealer) should be protecting. (c)
http://www.troglodit.ru/node/26987
AD "Gelos" collector's auction number 39.
Lot 100. Ilya Repin (1844-1930). Christ Crowned with Thorns. 1913. Fresco, stove, plaster, paint «Kunsterfarben». 51x45 cm. Signature and date lower left: "I. Repin 1913. 120000-150000

[Pavel]

They wanted to cheat the old lady but it was not there.