month ago ARTinvestment.RU talked about the lawsuit against the New York gallery A.V.A., a Luxembourg company accused Arthur Properties for sale paintings at inflated prices and counterfeit products (« The authenticity and the price of Russian paintings will determine the expertise of the judiciary ... »).

Earlier this week, ABA Gallery's press release, which we offer our readers about the spelling in the source: we decided to just add in brackets missing (no doubt) the word and fix typos, punctuation source maintained.

ABA Gallery filed in court a motion to dismiss the claim, containing unsubstantiated allegations

NEW YORK August 1, 2011. Based in New York City gallery ABA, the largest gallery specializing in Russian art of the 19th and 20th and 21 centuries, today filed a petition in court to terminate consideration of all claims against the ABA Gallery Anatolia and its owner Bekkermanu contained in a lawsuit filed by Arthur Properties SA the Federal Court for the Southern District of New York. Claim not associated with the purchase of Olexandr Savchuk in the gallery at the end of 2006 and in 2007, 18 paintings by famous Russian artists totaling 9.58 million U.S. dollars. Arthur Properties are named in a lawsuit by the plaintiff, represented by Mr Savchuk - the real buyer of paintings.

petition to dismiss the case based on a number of legal defects of the claim, including lack of standing are at Arthur Properties SA, the fact that the charge of "overvaluation" is not provided by U.S. law, and failure to Arthur Properties of his claim in a timely manner. The petition notes that the inability to speak with Arthur Properties legally sound argument reflects the deeper issues on their merits. With respect to these problems ABA Gallery states the following:

«Anatoly Bekkerman - one of the leading experts on Russian art - for over thirty [years] engaged in recognition and valuation of rare and important works of Russian artists. In addition to the placement of numerous works of Russian art in major private collections and museums in Europe and the USA, he helps leading museums of Russia to replenish their collections, finding and identifying them for historically significant works of art that otherwise would be lost forever. He also collaborates with several Western and Asian museums in promoting, finding sponsors and organizing major exhibitions of art and artists of Russia.

Claims Arthur Properties not only deprived of their legal justification, and without precedent - no one ever did not show any such claims, Mr. Bekkermanu for all his more than thirty-year career.

assertion that four of the paintings sold to Mr. Savchuk - fraud is absurd. For example, Ivan Shishkin's painting "At the edge of a birch grove", which was sold to Mr. Savchuk over $ 1 million, is located in the directory, which was published during his lifetime in 1892. After Mr. Bekkerman found and bought the fabric, it has been identified by leading experts as a lost masterpiece Shishkin. The world-renowned expert on Russian art has given expert opinion on the authenticity of "On the edge of a birch grove." He also confirmed the authenticity of the other work referred to in the lawsuit - "The Roman family on vacation," Semiradsky, which is also considered re-open masterpiece. As for the latter two works whose authenticity is questioned, then own expert acknowledged Mr. Savchuk picture Bakalovicha "Friends for Dinner" and the script did not come to the conclusion that "Magnolia" Goncharova - fake. His, however, disturbed that he could not find a signature Goncharova, however, a clear and legible signature of the artist is clearly visible in the lower right corner of the picture.

on the price paid by Mr. Savchuk, we can confidently say that the ABA Gallery paintings sold at prices reflecting the state of the market at that time. For the art market in Russia at that time was characterized by significant growth in demand and rapid expansion. These trends prevail, and to this day. The transaction took place between willing buyer and willing seller, and Mr. Savchuk was free to accept, reject or try to change the price of each painting on your own - and he did so, and consult with any expert of their choice. At the time of purchase, Mr. Savchuk has not expressed any doubts about the quality of work or his own-approved prices.

value of art is always subjective, but objective evidence of fair market value were then readily available. In 2007, Aivazovsky's painting was sold at auction for a record price - about 5.4 million U.S. dollars. In the same year Mr. Savchuk agreed to acquire from Mr. Bekkerman Aivazovsky painting "Peter the Great in Red Hill," a historically important and culturally significant work, and also one of the largest canvases, which appeared on the market over the past 20 years. Postcards with a picture of the picture produced in the late 19th - early 20th century, and preserved picture of the background to Aivazovsky paintings. Now, four years later, Mr. Savchuk says he bought the painting for 80 percent more expensive than its real price, agreeing to pay for the "Peter the Great in Red Hill," Mr. Bekkermanu $ 4 million. This assertion lacks any basis, since much smaller and far less historically significant picture of the same artist was sold at auction in the same year for 5.4 million dollars. As such, it is likely that Mr. Savchuk in fact underpaid for "Peter the Great in Red Hill".

ABA Gallery and Anatoly Bekkerman intend to continue to fight against unfounded and baseless accusations. For more than thirty years in the art business in the U.S. and abroad reputation and dignity of Mr. Bekkerman never been questioned. Mr Bekkerman gallery and ABA are deeply grateful to long-term clients and colleagues in the art world who have supported them during this difficult time ».

Source: press release ABA Gallery, artinvestment. ru