Van Gogh Museum threatened with legal action over contested sketches

Our daily round-up of news from the art world

Le Seuil threatens to sue Van Gogh Museum over ‘lost’ sketches | Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum has been threatened with legal action after rejection the attribution of a recently ‘rediscovered’ Van Gogh sketchbook. According to AFP, The suit is being threatened by Le Seuil, which published Vincent van Gogh, the Fog of Arles: The Rediscovered Sketchbook earlier this year, and the anonymous owner of the contested sketchbook. In a statement, the publisher said that it ‘intends to obtain compensation for the damage they have suffered as a result of an insidious and unfounded campaign [by the museum]’.

Rijksmuseum acquires major Liotard painting | The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam has announced the acquisition of A Dutch Girl at Breakfast by Jean-Etienne Liotard, an celebrated oil painting that complements the museums holdings of works in pastel by the Swiss artist. The museum recently purchased the painting for nearly €5.2 million at auction in London, and the British government has now granted an export license for it.

San Francisco Academy of Art University ordered to pay compensation | San Francisco’s Academy of Art University has reached a settlement with the city after allegedly acquiring property and failing to comply with zoning rules and affordable housing policy. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the settlement involves $60 million worth of concessions: the Academy must put ‘scores’ of apartments it acquired as student accommodation back on the rental market and pay the city $20 million to allow it to buy property, which will be converted into affordable housing.

Case against Dedalus Foundation dismissed | The New York State Supreme Court has dismissed a lawsuit against the Dedalus Foundation brought by its former employee and board member, who claims she was wrongfully dismissed from her position eight years ago. Joan Banach had cited gender discrimination as one of the reasons for which the foundation, which represents the interests of the late Robert Motherwell, had dismissed her in 2008. The Foundation, however, argues that Banach’s contract was terminated after she abused access to Motherwell’s studio and allegedly stole his work.