What Evil Lurks in the E-mails of Galleries?

In January, Gagosian Gallery was sued by a prominent collector, Jan Cowles, 93, who claimed that Mr. Gagosian sold a 1964 Roy Lichtenstein painting, “Girl in Mirror,” from her collection without her consent. New documents filed yesterday give a glimpse of the profits made and negotiation tactics used by the Gagosian Gallery and its staff.

Via the paper of record:

But by 2009, according to the e-mails, the gallery had offered the painting for considerably less to a collector, Thompson Dean, a managing partner of a private equity firm, telling Mr. Dean that he had an opportunity to get an incredible bargain. “Seller now in terrible straits and needs cash,” said a July e-mail to Mr. Dean from a Gagosian staff member. “Are you interested in making a cruel and offensive offer? Come on, want to try?”

Tags: art, collectors, galleries, law, painting