Art dealers accused of selling fake Motherwells

11 July 2011

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One of the allegedly forged Motherwell paintings.

(via New York Post)

Two Manhattan art dealers---formerly with Knoedler Gallery---have been accused of selling fake paintings by abstract expressionist Robert Motherwell, according to the Dedalus Foundation, a group in charge of authenticating the artist's work.

Court papers allege that Ann Freedman, who was a longtime president of Knoedler, and former Knoedler salesman Julian Weissman, received 7 forged Motherwells from a Long Island woman. They then allegedly created provenances for the works.

Weissman is being cross-sued by the foundation for $9 million-plus for "negligent misrepresentation" of one of the works that he sold to Killala Fine Arts, for $650,000 in 2007. Killala has sued the foundation for failing to include the work in the forthcoming Motherwell catalogue raisonne.

Read more at New York Post

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