Bernardo Ferrandiz Y Badenes, “The Connoisseurs”

Painting Stolen from Manhattan Gallery Returned to Victim’s Estate

May 18, 2007

This painting was one of three stolen from The Schweitzer Gallery on Madison Avenue in New York.

The painting was offered for sale at Christie’s (19th Century Art, NY, 26 October 2005. Lot 84) but, in the course of their due diligence procedures, proved to be a match with a listing from the Stolen Art Alerts prepared by the International Foundation for Art Research.

Christie’s recovered the work from their consignor and Chris Marinello was asked to locate the owner.

Marinello discovered that the theft victim had died several years ago and closed his art gallery. He later tracked down the wife of the owner who directed him to The Estate of Max Schweitzer as the legal title holder.

The parties agreed to sell the work at Christie’s where it sold for $50,000.