The article reports that a Paris court denied a restitution request by Claire Touchard, a descendant of the Jewish French dealer René Gimpel, regarding three Derain paintings. The court found insufficient evidence that the works were looted, and the paintings will remain at the Modern Art Museum of Troyes and Marseille’s Cantini Museum. The works involved are A View of Cassis, Chapelle-Sous-Crecy, and Pinewood in Cassis, all by André Derain, created around 1907–1910. Gimpel died at the Neuengamme concentration camp after attempting to safeguard his collection during WWII.
Sotheby’s documents the market development behind Shirin Neshat Partners With Ornellaia to Offer 'A Moment of Social Sharing'. Its account reports that lot 6: 1 Imperial (6l) Ornellaia, Vendemmia D’artista, ' La Tensione ' By Shirin Neshat 2016 & 1 Imperial (6l) Ornellaia Archivio Storico 1995.
The Paris court ruled there was too much uncertainty about whether the three André Derain paintings were looted or sold during World War II, keeping the works at the Modern Art Museum of Troyes and Marseille's Cantini Museum; Claire Touchard and her family intend to appeal.
Natsuko Yoshimoto, the current custodian of The Adelaide Guadagnini violin, discusses discovering its limitless colours and sounds. The article mentions her Amati violin, the instrument’s loan to her, previous custodians, and an upcoming Ukaria concert featuring Adelaide Virtuosi.
The article reports that renowned violinist Janusz Wawrowski will perform on a Stradivarius valued at about 20 million zł in Kostrzyn nad Odrą on September 1, 2019. The instrument, nicknamed Polonia, was purchased in 2018 by Roman Ziemianin for FutureNet, and is described as one of the best-preserved Stradivarius violins, with original components and certificates of authenticity.
Christie’s will auction the majority of architect I. M. Pei and his wife Eileen Pei’s art collection, comprising 59 works valued at over $25 million, including works by Barnett Newman and Jean Dubuffet.
The Final Knoedler Forgery Lawsuit, over a $5.5 million fake Rothko, has been settled. The case involved the Hilti Family Trust and multiple defendants connected to Knoedler Gallery, including Ann Freedman, Michael Hammer, 8-31 Holdings, and Glafira Rosales, among others. The settlement concludes more than eight years of litigation surrounding forged Abstract Expressionist artworks sold through Knoedler Gallery.
The release discusses Christie’s plan to offer The Collection of Eileen and I.M. Pei, including paintings, drawings, works on paper and sculpture gathered over their 72-year marriage, with upcoming sales in New York, Hong Kong, and Paris across multiple departments. Highlights include works by Barnett Newman, Jean Dubuffet, Zao Wou-Ki, Franz Kline, Zhang Daqian, Qi Baishi, Willem de Kooning, Henry Moore, Jacques Lipchitz, Xu Shiqi, and Isamu Noguchi; the full collection is expected to exceed $25 million.
Orazio Gentileschi's The Finding of Moses is likely to be acquired by London's National Gallery. The painting is currently on loan to the National Gallery from an anonymous private collector, reportedly Graham Kirkham. The article notes previous sales and valuations related to Kirkham and mentions Gentileschi's Danae as a high-priced comparable, suggesting The Finding of Moses could be worth several tens of millions of pounds.
Anna Agafia Egholm from Denmark won the first prize at the 2019 Tibor Varga International Violin Competition, with Adam Koch Christensen (Denmark) taking second and Roksana Kwasnikowska (Poland) taking third. The event featured multiple rounds and a special prize for the best interpretation of Ri-tratto from Heinz Holliger’s 4 Homages pour violin solo.
Gustave Caillebotte’s Iris Bleus, Jardin du Petit Gennevilliers, dating from around 1892, was acquired by the Art Gallery of Ontario with a federal Moveable Cultural Property Grant after a legal dispute over its national importance. The purchase involved funding from the Canadian government, the R. Fraser Elliott estate, and a bequest from F.W.G. Fitzgerald; the work will be unveiled publicly on 24 August at AGO.
The article discusses Christie’s acquisition of the tech startup Collectrium and a subsequent $50 million lawsuit filed by Heritage Auctions alleging theft of proprietary data and copyrights related to the Collectrium platform, with examples including Prince’s guitar and Hermès Birkin bags.
Gustave Caillebotte's 1892 Iris Bleus, Jardin du Petit Gennevilliers was acquired by the Art Gallery of Ontario for a price tag of more than $1-million, with a $540,000 federal grant helping fund the purchase. The painting, which had been at the centre of a dispute over export permits since a 2016 sale to a British dealer, joins the AGO’s collection as a noted example of Caillebotte and 19th-century Impressionism.
Gustave Caillebotte’s 1892 painting Blue Irises, Garden at Petit Gennevilliers was acquired by the Art Gallery of Ontario with a federal grant of 540,000 Canadian dollars, after a years-long export dispute that had barred the work from leaving Canada.
The article discusses Stephen Junkunc III, a prominent collector of Chinese art, and his background, collecting activities, and the Junkunc Collection. It references an item: an 87. A green jade pine tree and lingzhi vase from the Qing dynasty, Qianlong period, with an estimate of $40,000–$60,000.
Sotheby’s documents the market development behind Property from the Remarkable Collection of Antoinette and Patrick Murphy. Its account reports that in September’s Made In Britain Sotheby's is delighted to be offering a selection of works from the collection of Patrick and Antoinette Murphy.
From the Archives, 1986: Stolen Picasso found at Spencer Street Station reports the recovery of Pablo Picasso's Weeping Woman, stolen for US$2 million and found undamaged in a locker at Spencer Street railway station in Melbourne. The painting had been authenticated by marks and photographs, and the NGV stated it was bought for US$1.6 million in 1985 as its highest priced acquisition.
The article profiles Marcus Klimke, a luthier born in 1968 in Weimar who runs his own atelier in Trélazé, France, detailing his training, early career, and influences. It notes his time in Chicago with Michael Becker and highlights his status as a highly acclaimed luthier of the new generation.
Sotheby’s documents the market development behind Portfolio of Impressionist Prints Owned by Revolutionary Dealer Vollard to be Offered at Sotheby’s. Its account reports that during his lifetime Vollard had provided many painters with their only opportunity to sell their works, supporting and encouraging artistic development and experimentation.
Ruedi Staechelin v Aclbdd Holdings Ltd concerns the Court of Appeal (Civil Division) of England & Wales with a judgment dated 14 May 2019, neutral citation [2019] EWCA Civ 817, Case No A3/2018/0265. The case involves appellants Ruedi Staechelin, Martin David Paisner, and Carlyn McCaffrey, and respondents Aclbdd Holdings Limited, De Pury & De Pury LLP, Simon De Pury, and Dr Michaela De Pury. The judgment discusses fiduciary duty and the commission awarded to Mr de Pury in relation to the sale of a painting by Paul Gauguin titled Nafea faa ipoipo for $210 million, including related conduct and trial findings.
Lee Krasner’s painting The Eye is the First Circle (1960) sold for $11.6 million at Sotheby’s, but its 1990 theft remains unsolved. The thefts involved multiple paintings including a 1962 Willem de Kooning, with two of the four paintings recovered so far.
Timothy Sammons, a British art dealer, was sentenced in New York to four to 12 years after pleading guilty to fraud and grand larceny for defrauding clients of tens of millions of dollars. Works named in the case include Pablo Picasso’s Buste de Femme, Marc Chagall's Reverie, and Paul Signac's Calanque de Canoubiers.