Art News. Vasari Codex

epstein files leon black antiquities smuggler douglas latchford

Newly released documents from the Jeffrey Epstein files suggest a direct link between billionaire collector Leon Black and the disgraced late antiquities dealer Douglas Latchford. An inventory titled "Leon Black/ Narrows South East Asian Art Inventory" found in Epstein’s emails lists 12 Southeast Asian works purchased by Black for $23.85 million. Among these is a $7 million bronze Shiva that matches the description of a piece featured in Latchford’s 2004 book, raising significant questions about the provenance of Black's collection.

gavel restitution schedule Jun 20, 2025 visibility 9 link 1 artist

spanish court franco heirs return cathedral statues santiago

Spain's Supreme Court has ordered the heirs of former dictator Francisco Franco to return two 12th-century religious statues depicting Isaac and Abraham to the city of Santiago. The sculptures, originally part of the Portico of Glory at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, were removed under Franco's administration in the mid-20th century and transferred to the Meirás Palace at the request of Franco's wife. The court ruled that the transfer was illegal and that the statues remain the property of the city, rejecting the family's claim that they were purchased through an antique dealer in 1954.

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