AI continues to monitor the development of the history of the lawsuit to the AVA Gallery (see previous publications ) and at the request of Anatoly Bekkerman offers its readers an article by Boris Kuznetsov, published on the website runyweb.com.

a new Lawsuit against-йоркской gallery Anatoly Bekkerman. Facts and arguments

• 

Recently in the Russian media I came across a publication about the lawsuit some of the Luxembourg company Arthur Properties, which sued in the court of the southern district of new-Йорка worth more than $ 9.6 million to the gallery ABA Gallery in Manhattan, specializing in Russian art. Lawyer Arthur Properties claims that the company was defrauded when buying 18 works of Russian art XIX — XX centuries: the price of 14 paintings by the plaintiff, has been greatly exaggerated, but four of the canvas were false.

the Purchaser, according to some Newspapers, is a Ukrainian millionaire and MP from the Party of regions, Alexander Savchuk.

these publications I found it interesting for several reasons: the owner of the ABA Gallery Anatoly Bekkerman familiar to me, a few years ago, before exile, I was in his gallery and saw a huge (about 3 x 2 meters) canvas Ivan Aivazovsky "seascape with Peter the Great", which is mentioned as sold at an inflated price over $ 4 million.

it is Interesting that this work was depicted on postcards of the late XIX — early twentieth century under the name "Storm". Mykola Levchenko from Theodosia, who has the most full catalog of works by this artist, reported that in vivo biographer Ivan Aivazovsky — N. N. Kuzmin, a monograph in 1901, this work is mentioned under the name "Peter the Great in the Finnish archipelago, feeding a signal to their ships." Painted in 1899-1900, and was present at the beginning of March 1900 in the house of count olsufiev. There is a photograph of the artist at the time working on this piece.

In comparison with other works by Aivazovsky, this painting is rare. It depicts a real historical event with the character of Russian history, and its significance in the history of Russia. Many years ago, when I started to work at the Leningrad criminal investigation and was engaged in disclosing of thefts of art treasures, I have not once had to deal with counterfeit paintings. All the years I was interested in the techniques of discernment "falshakov" with the help of technical means.

the question of the sale of the paintings at an inflated price looks weird. So, the petition stated that the said Aivazovsky inflated by about 80 percent. The question arises: "Why about 80%, and not 81.5 percent?" Eventually the Roman law known principles of contractual freedom and autonomy rights. This means that the person has the right to decide for themselves whether to join or not to enter into a contractual relationship, and has the right to broad discretion in determining the terms of the agreement, its form, its method of support.

One of the main conditions of the contract-продажи is the price. In other words, I want to buy Aivazovsky at the price offered by the seller, buy. Don't want to buy — free.

While the plaintiff does not motivate the thesis about high prices, but one of the sites I found a message that at the same time (2007) was sold Aivazovsky painting three times smaller, without any historical story, at a price in excess of 5.4 million dollars.

Has a value and the fact that the well-known story of how this picture came to the USA. 40-е years, this work was purchased by an American diplomat and exported to the United States, being the major work of Aivazovsky on U.S. soil. Even in 1994, when demand for Russian art was minimal, this painting could cost more than $ 1 million.

In 2007-2008, prices for works by Russian artists were highest, interest in them is great, and investment perspective. From this point of view, adoption of representatives Arthur Properties, the real price of cloth is $ 800 thousand dollars, it seems ludicrous.

But back to the imitations. According to representatives of the plaintiffs, the picture Ivan Shishkin "In the woods", for which they paid $ 1 million, turned out to be fake. On the pages of Ukrainian Newspapers "Segodnya" 15 Jul 2011 there is a picture of fake paintings signed:

• 

whether the buyer what-то confused, whether the journalists were wrong, but this picture, no Savchuk, neither the company Arthur Properties not sold, and was sold another painting.

• IVAN SHISHKIN
  "On the edge of a birch grove." Illustration from the "Album of Russian painting"

This photograph was taken from me, "Album of Russian painting", which was published during the life of the artist.

I have Seen and the conclusion of experts who examined the painting Shishkin, and representatives of Alexander Savchuk enter into the lawsuit. In conclusion, experts do not have a categorical assertion that the picture is fake.

After Anatoly Bekkerman found and bought the fabric, it has been identified by leading experts as a lost masterpiece Shishkin. World-renowned expert on Russian art expert gave an opinion on the authenticity of "On the edge of a birch grove." He also confirmed the authenticity of the other works mentioned in the lawsuit, — "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 mister Savchuk has recognized the pattern Bakalovicha "Friends for dinner" the original and came to the conclusion that "Magnolia" Goncharova — fake. He, however, embarrassed that he didn't find a signature Goncharova, but a clear and legible signature of the artist visible on closer examination in the lower right corner of the picture.

obviously, this will cause and is already causing harm to the owner of ABA Gallery Anatolia Bekkermanu — one of the world's foremost experts on Russian art, which for thirty-odd years and is known for recognizing and determining the value of rare and important works of Russian masters. In addition to hosting 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. Otherwise, they would have been lost forever.

Bekkerman also collaborates with several Western and Asian museums in promoting, finding sponsors and organizing major exhibitions of art and artists of Russia. Even if you win the lawsuit, to restore the reputation will take time and, frankly, money.

For me, and for me Beckerman opened the artist David Burliuk. Exhibition of paintings by the artist from the collection of ABA Gallery in Moscow produced a cultural shock. Prices on paintings Burliuk increased by orders of magnitude.

In Moscow were also held exhibitions of artists Boris Grigoriev, Konstantin Korovin and Natalia Goncharova. These exhibitions have also become cultural events.

Now I have on the table is a catalog of the gallery Bekkerman, published in 2010, which is not only well-known names: Aivazovsky, Makowski, Korovin Som, Sudeikin and many others, but more importantly, each of these works — Museum level. Next to a photograph of each of the paintings is the price at which similar paintings by the same authors evaluated on auctions worldwide. For the reader, and the buyer is the benchmark price on the world market, as well as evidence of the transparency of the gallery Bekkerman.

That I was unpleasantly surprised, because it is published in Russian Newspapers of America. Here are a few names. The newspaper "Kurier" for July 22, 2011: "Ukrainian MP "divorced" ten million dollars"; "Dаvidzon Newspaper" for July 13, 2011: "Fake Aivazovsky".

in Fairness it should be noted that the journalist Vladimir Kozlovsky, not only recounted the contents of the claim, but also interviewed other persons, for example, one of the owners of Gallery of Russian art in Jersey-Сити Margot Grant, which confirmed the high reputation Bekkerman. And the author who gave the title of this publication seems to be the edition "Davidzon newspaper" because of no false Aivazovsky no claim, nor in the article.

do Not exclude that after the verdict in the court of new-йоркского the southern district there are still several lawsuits on protection of honor, dignity and business reputation and Anatoly Bekkerman ABA Gallery.

as for Alexander Savchuk, who, no doubt, initiated this lawsuit, and then launched the largest scandal in the Russian artistic environment,-моему, the history of recent times, in his place I would have thanked Anatoly Bekkermanu for creating a collection of masterpieces of Russian painting of the late XIX and XX century. But as advisers can recommend him to pick up the consultants just-напросто smart fellow.

Boris Kuznetsov

Source: Anatoly Bekkerman, runyweb.com