Seattle Art Museum sues over Matisse painting

Monday, March 27, 2000 | 11:17 a.m.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SEATTLE -- A federal judge cleared the way for the Seattle Art Museum to sue a New York art gallery over a painting by artist Henri Matisse that was briefly on display at the Bellagio.

Last year, the Seattle museum returned Matisse's "Odalisque" to the heirs of Paul Rosenberg, a French Jewish art dealer. The Nazis stole the painting from Rosenberg during World War II.

Following its return, the heirs promptly sold the painting to Steve Wynn, who placed the art work on display in the Bellagio's Gallery of Fine Art. Though the purchase price was not revealed, the painting is estimated to be worth $2 million.

The painting was acquired by Prentice Bloedel from New York art gallery Knoedler & Co. in 1954. Bloedel gave the painting to the Seattle Art Museum in the early 1990s.

Federal Judge Robert Lasnik previously ruled that the museum did not have the right to sue Knoedler & Co. on behalf of Bloedel and his heirs. Last week, however, Lasnik said the lawsuit could move forward after the museum proved the Bloedels had transferred their legal rights on the painting to the museum. The museum is attempting to recover the fair market value of the painting.

Neither Wynn nor Mirage Resorts are parties to the lawsuit.

"Odalisque" is no longer a part of the Bellagio's art collection, Mirage Resorts spokesman Alan Feldman said. He did not know who owns the painting at this time.

"It was only with us for a fairly short period of time," he said.