The Sotheby’s trial revealed the art market’s unsavoury practices
But the outcome suggests not much will change
The horror of it dawned on Dmitry Rybolovlev in paradise, of all places. Over lunch in St Barts in 2014, conversation turned to a painting by Amedeo Modigliani, an Italian artist, that the Russian billionaire had bought several years before in a private sale. At the table happened to be an art adviser for the previous owner, who revealed Mr Rybolovlev paid around $25m more than what the seller had made.
This article appeared in the Culture section of the print edition under the headline “Painted into a corner?”
Culture February 3rd 2024
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- The Sotheby’s trial revealed the art market’s unsavoury practices
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- A new “Mr & Mrs Smith” is about more than action, money and sex
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