Pace Gallery tricked into buying $2 million worth of fake Seurat, new lawsuit alleges

Pace Gallery was duped into buying a fraudulent drawing by Georges Seurat for $2 million last November, the contemporary art miner claims.

On May 10, the gallery sued seller Jean-Pierre Seurat and others allegedly working on his behalf, saying Seurat, whom Pace discovered after the sale had taken place, was wrong. when claiming to be the artist’s grandson, using misleading, irrelevant and outright fraudulent materials. to convince Pace of the painting’s authenticity.

With “willful intent and abuse and intent to cause harm,” the lawsuit says, Seurat secured the settlement with the assistance of art consultant and agent Constance H. Schwartz, former Director and Executive director of the Nassau County Museum of Art in Port Roslyn and a professional “involved in all phases of museum operations.” The Daily Beast has reached out to Seurat and Schwartz for comment.

The work at the heart of the dispute is Followers [Le Suiveur], an 1882 crayon drawing of a man and woman in an evening boulevard scene, the document sent to Pace asserts. On its website, the seller introduces himself as the “distant cousin” of the artist; Pace alleges that he claimed to them to be the artist’s grandson with apparent fraudulent intent.

Courtesy of Aaron Richard Golub on behalf of Pace Gallery

Schwartz, also known as the defendant, contacted Pace last summer with a tempting offer, the lawsuit claims: Schwartz said she was in contact with an anonymous collector in France, People may want to part with a Seurat, and if the gallery “hands it right,” other treasures could soon be obtained.

When the settlement was made, Schwartz sent a PDF file to Pace containing forged images and documents to verify the authenticity of the drawings, the lawsuit states. Among the documents, Pace claimed, were entries that falsely proved that the artwork originated in the collection of Félix Fénéon, a renowned collector and critic who staunchly supported Seurat. Fort.

The documents provided by Schwartz “mimic museum documents,” said attorney Aaron Richard Golub, representing Pace. “What is unique about this case is that the fake was sold by someone we believe is forging an idea that is even related to Seurat,” Golub said. “Not only is the painting a fake, but the seller seems to be a fake Seurat as well.”

The alleged counterfeit certificates sent to the gallery included a typed message that was said to be “Ms. Smeets Sand Dudevant, niece of Fénéon. ”

The note reads: “I certify that I possess an inheritance from my father Pierre La Brely, expert in French customs, this charcoal painting by Georges Seurat (1859-1891) –The Follower — A man man in the landscape at night, in a top hat, is following a young woman wearing a hat. This part is framed, the 23 x 18 cm part is visible. On the back of the frame, my father handwritten two lines in pencil: ‘Seurat. Followers. Original signed charcoal at bottom left — pasted — old collection (Félix Fénéon)” and another expert appraisal note: “I certify that this charcoal drawing comes from the collection volume by Felix Fenéon. It has not been included in any public sale. It has always been in the family. LA BRELY-FENEON, French customs specialist. ‘

“My father owns this work through an inheritance from Félix Fénéon, art critic, director of La Revue Blanche and later a famous art dealer. Félix Fénéon is my grandfather’s cousin, on my mother’s side. ”

Art dealer Fabian Dournaux, attorney Mark B. Goldstein, his professional association Mark B. Goldstein, PA and 10 others of John Does are also named in the lawsuit as defendants. The Daily Beast has reached out to Dournaux and Goldstein for comment.