Pace Gallery’s dis-entanglement from the Wildenstein family couldn’t have been better timed. The Los Angeles Times covers the long-simmering problems that boiled over for the international art-dealing family at the beginning of this month when it was discovered that the Wildensteins were storing works of art that had previously been reported stolen from estates that were under their supervision.
The newspaper quotes a Paris dealer who intimates that knives are coming out for the Wildensteins:
“Until now people in the business wouldn’t say anything because the Wildenstein family is so powerful,” said one Paris gallery owner, who wanted to remain anonymous. “If you wanted a painting authenticated you often took it to them. Plus, they had influence. I can see a lot of personal scores being settled in the next few months.” […] It was while investigating accusations that Guy and his late brother Alec had squirreled away part of the family fortune in offshore trusts […] anti-trafficking experts discovered that 30 of the works were listed missing or stolen, including “La Chaumière en Normandie” (The Cottage in Normandy) by French impressionist Berthe Morisot valued at around $1.1 million, bronzes by Rembrandt Bugatti and drawings by Edgar Degas.”
Cultural Exchange: Wildenstein Art Dealers Scrutinized (Los Angeles Times)
