Consignor Family Member Sues Over Rembrandt Sleeper
February 8 2021
Picture: Leiden Collection
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Art Newspaper have published an intriguing story regarding a law suit surrounding a Rembrandt Sleeper that made $870,000 over its $800 estimate in 2015.
Jay Rappoport, a member of the family who consigned the painting to auction in 2015, accuses his own relatives and the provincial auction house who sold the work of deception, fraud and conspiracy to deceive him. Rappoport, whose grandfather bought the painting prior to the 1920s, claims his aunt consigned the work to auction after the death of his grandmother without consulting him or gaining his permission as 'heir'.
The claimant is also suing the painting's new owner Thomas Kaplan who acquired the picture for $4m for the Leiden Collection. However, the article also draws attention to Rappoport's previous lawsuit against Steven Spielberg and Paramount pictures for 'stealing his ideas'. Curious.
