Spielberg sued over Rockwell / 'new' Titian (Wednesday 25 July 2007)
compiled by Rachel Simmons
A case of Raider of the lost Art, or Catch me if you can?
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| The painting Russian schoolroom, by American 20th-century painter Norman Rockwell, currently the subject of two lawsuits concerning its theft 34 years ago, image held here. |
Two lawsuits currently surround a Norman Rockwell painting, Russian schoolroom, which has been on the FBI's most wanted list for the past 34 years. The first involves Oscar-winning director Steven Spielberg, who avidly collects the 20th-century American painter's works and is the current owner of Russian schoolroom. Spielberg bought it in 1989 for a reported $200,000 (€144,749) from Rhode Island art dealer Judy Goffman Cutler. Unbeknownst to him, the piece had disappeared in 1973 without a trace until 1988, where it showed up at a New Orleans auction, and was sold for $70,000. The work had originally disappeared 17 years before from the Arts International Gallery in Missouri, part of a chain owned by Jack Solomon and it is Solomon who is suing both Spielberg and the FBI, claiming that the work rightfully belongs to him.
Goffman Cutler has filed suit against Solomon and the Art Loss Register (ALR), which according to the London Times is a "British agency with an international database of 200,000 stolen artworks, which Solomon asked to assist in recovering the painting." Goffman Cutler is demanding damages amounting to $25 million (€18 million) for losing Spielberg as a client following the discovery that the painting was stolen and for damage done to her reputation as an art dealer. Goffman Cutler claims to have acquired the painting in good faith, without knowledge that it was stolen. She also notes that because Solomon's business went bankrupt, he no longer retained interest in the painting; Solomon says he never gave up title.
So it would seem everyone is claiming their innocence in the situation, including Spielberg, whose spokesman told the Times, "We are the innocent victim in all of this. [Steven] bought it in good faith." According to ABC News, Spielberg brought the painting to the FBI as soon as he saw an FBI notice of its theft. An FBI statement revealed that Spielberg is not considered a suspect and that he will retain possession of the painting until "its disposition can be determined." Also according to the Times, the estimated value of Russian schoolroom has now escalated to $700,000 (€506,604).
Possible 'Titian' has British art world buzzing
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| The recently sold portrait, suspected to be painted by Titian, image held here. |
This is the stuff an art dealer's dreams are made of. Imagine finding the work of an Old Master at an auction filled with paintings of dogs and country scenes, and you are one of two London dealers who knows. But the identity of the buyer of a painting that was, until recently, unknown, still remains a mystery a week after its sale. The painting had previously belonged to a local Leicestershire woman who, after purchasing it, hung it in her home, keeping it around for 33 years, completely unaware of its potential value. The painting then ended up at an action in Market Harborough, Leicestershire, where it was described by the auctioneer's as an "18th-century continental school, half-length portrait of an aesthete," and valued at £300 - £500. So when lot 403 came up, imagine the auctioneer's surprise when, "The atmosphere in the room became very tense - the bidding just went on and on," as he said. The painting sold to an unknown buyer at £205,000, a price the auctioneers said the previous owner was more than happy with. But now that speculation has led many to believe the portrait is very likely a Titian, its actual value could be closer to £5 million, which makes the buyer very lucky, and its previous owner may not be so happy with its sale price. According to the Guardian UK, Christopher Foley, an art dealer who, like most, was in the dark about this painting, says that he believes the buyer will wait for a while while seeking "cast-iron authentication" and then place the painting back on the market with an enormously increased price tag. For now though, most art experts who have glimpsed the painting are asserting their belief that this actually is a Titian portrait, painted between 1510 and 1520, in Venice.
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