An Italian real estate investor is at the center of an art world scandal for buying an 18th century painting at a record price and allegedly refusing to pay for it.
Art News reports that the Christie’s auction house filed a lawsuit in Paris against Nanni Bassani Antivari, who placed a winning $28 million bid in June for Jean Siméon Chardin’s 1760 painting “Cut Melon.” The painting went up for auction at Christie’s France on an estimate of $8.4 million to $12.6 million, and the auction house declared Antivari’s bid represented “a world record for a Chardin,” “the most expensive 18th-century work of art ever sold in France,” and “the most expensive Old Master painting ever sold in France.”
However, Antivari has yet to put forth any money on his winning bid, despite multiple promises that money was on the way. The newly filed lawsuit stated the invoice for the winning bid was due to be cleared one week after the auction.
Christie’s is demanding the full price from Antivari’s bid plus interest and penalty fees that bring the total due to $28.7 million. However, the auction house may need to stand in line when it comes to collecting from Antivari – he is also reportedly being sued by his former business partner, ION Group CEO Andrea Pignataro, for millions in an unpaid debt. Pignataro’s lawyers reportedly said in court filings that Antivari has “done a runner” when confronted with that overdue sum.
Photo: Jean Siméon Chardin’s “Cut Melon,” courtesy of Christie’s
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