Australia’s leading art couple are splitting up: Geoffrey Smith, a former curator of the National Gallery of Victoria and current chairman of auction house Sotheby’s Australia, and his former lover, art dealer Robert Gould, owner of Gould Galleries:

Mr Smith is suing Mr Gould in a de facto property dispute worth millions of dollars, after the break-up of their 14-year relationship in 2004. About $7 million worth of assets are being contested, including interests in real estate and an art collection featuring more than 100 works by some of Australia’s most esteemed artists, including Brett Whiteley, John Brack, Fred Williams, Arthur Streeton and Sidney Nolan.

Attempt to stifle de facto dispute fails as art world awaits trial (The Age)