“The painting is definitely not a fake,” said Knight, who consigned it to Berner’s Auction that day.
Added Berner, “At all times, including today, I have confidence this painting is absolutely not a fake. I stood by it ... and I still do.”
In an action filed Feb. 22, Jason Colier of Cleveland, Ga., alleged that art historians and examiners he hired established the painting he bought for $25,300 at auction was not authentic.
Colier sought damages for having purchased what the suit called a “useless painting” and one that he would not be able to sell to Christie’s for $60,000, as the lawsuit said he had envisioned.
In an answer filed in court, Knight and Berner denied the claims.
The suit was dismissed earlier this week.
Kerrie Matre, a partner in the Cincinnati firm that represented Colier said “both sides are mutually satisfied” with the out-of-court settlement and that “the painting is back in Springfield.”
Knight said he originally bought the work from the widow of Richard Farrish, a local art collector, who had purchased it in Chicago in the 1950s.
Both he and Berner were concerned about how the suit and the publicity associated with it might damage them in a business based on reputation.
Said Berner: “I sell probably 10,000 items a year” and last weekend had an art auction with bidders from 15 countries.
In 10 years of high volume business, “this is the first time I’ve ever had an incident like this.”
Both Knight and Berner said hundreds of people examined the painting at issue in the months before the auction and there were several bidders for the work.
Asked if he was satisfied with the settlement, Knight said he had “mixed emotions.”
“Nobody,” he said, “wins in a lawsuit.”
About the Author