Romania has secured a long-term hold on an El Greco painting, "Saint Sebastian," at Christie’s New York, amidst a legal battle for its restitution. The painting, estimated to be worth $7 million to $9 million, was withdrawn from a Christie’s sale in February after Romania claimed it was unlawfully removed from its national collection. Court filings have since revealed Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev as the painting’s owner.

The Contested Masterpiece

The painting, "Saint Sebastian" (around 1610-14), has become the center of a significant international art dispute. Romania asserts that the artwork was illegally taken from its national collection in 1947 by King Michael I as he fled the country during the Communist takeover. This claim directly challenges Christie’s published provenance, which stated the transfer of ownership to King Michael I was with the accord of the Romanian government.

Key Revelations and Legal Maneuvers

  • Owner Identified: Dmitry Rybolovlev, known for his involvement with the "Salvator Mundi" sale and legal disputes with art dealer Yves Bouvier, has been identified as the owner. He reportedly acquired the El Greco from Bouvier in 2010.
  • Disputed Provenance: The Romanian government argues that Christie’s provenance is misleading, omitting Bouvier’s involvement and falsely claiming direct purchase from another dealer. They unequivocally deny any governmental consent for the painting’s transfer in 1947.
  • Christie’s Role: Christie’s withdrew the painting upon learning of the potential issue and is holding it until the dispute is resolved. The Romanian government has agreed to dismiss Christie’s as a defendant in the lawsuit.
  • Historical Context: From 1977 to 1997, Romanian officials pursued legal action to recover this and other artworks allegedly taken by King Michael I, implicating figures like the gallery Wildenstein & Co., which bought the El Greco from the King around 1975.
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Romania’s Stance

Barna Tánczos, Romania’s deputy prime minister, emphasized the country’s determination to reclaim the masterpiece. "As it is missing from the national collection, the painting must be returned to Romania and reunited with the national collection at the National Museum of Art of Romania in Bucharest," Tánczos stated. The Romanian Finance Ministry maintains that there is no record of a valid governmental accord for the painting’s transfer in 1947, rendering any subsequent sale unlawful in New York.

Sources

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