Home / Crime and Justice / Art Heist Drama: Bic Heirs vs. Chauffeur's Legacy
Art Heist Drama: Bic Heirs vs. Chauffeur's Legacy
26 Mar
Summary
- Bic heirs sue over a 15th-century Fra Angelico painting.
- Chauffeur allegedly sold the artwork for a 'fire-sale' price.
- Legal battle hinges on when the statute of limitations began.
A legal dispute in New York involves a 15th-century Fra Angelico painting, heirs to the Bic pen fortune, and a former chauffeur accused of acquiring the artwork under dubious circumstances approximately 20 years ago. Three grandsons of the Bic co-founder filed a lawsuit in New York state court seeking the return of the painting titled "Saint Sixtus."
The painting's current owners, a Chilean businessman and his wife, claim they bought it legitimately from Christie's in 2018. The Bich brothers are also suing the estate of art dealer Richard Feigen, who allegedly purchased the painting from the chauffeur, Roy Morrow, in 2006 for $3 million.
According to the lawsuit, Morrow, who died in 2020, offered no proof of ownership when selling the painting to Feigen. Feigen's estate lawyers state Morrow attested to his ownership via a signed bill of sale. Feigen allegedly insured the artwork for $8.5 million shortly after acquiring it.
Evidence suggests the chauffeur may have obtained the painting from Veronique Bich, the patriarch's ex-wife, who reportedly gave it to Morrow for "safekeeping" around 2007. The current legal challenge may hinge on New York law regarding the statute of limitations for stolen art, which typically begins when a demand for return is made and refused.
