The Matthiesen Gallery in London has filed a lawsuit in the Southern District of New York alleging fraud, breach of contract, and other counts over a Gustave Courbet painting, *Mother and Child on a Hammock*. The gallery claims that Thomas Austin Doyle, a convicted con man, orchestrated a scheme to defraud director Patrick Matthiesen, selling the painting—valued at $650,000—through artist and dealer Shalva Sarukhanishvili to Jill Newhouse Gallery for $115,000, which then sold it to top collector Jon Landau for $125,000. The lawsuit also alleges Landau viewed the painting multiple times at TEFAF fairs knowing its retail price but now refuses to return it. Doyle has a lengthy criminal history, including prior convictions for art fraud and theft.
This case highlights persistent vulnerabilities in the Old Masters market, where high-value works can be sold far below market price through opaque dealer networks. It underscores the risks galleries and collectors face when relying on intermediaries with criminal backgrounds, and the legal complexities of recovering art once it changes hands. The involvement of a prominent ARTnews Top 200 Collector and multiple galleries raises broader questions about due diligence and accountability in private art sales.