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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Museum Won’t Hand Over van Dyck Painting, Man Says

NEW YORK (CN) - A California man says the National Museum of Catholic Art and History has ignored his request to hand over the 17th century Anthony van Dyck painting, "The Betrayal of Christ," which he says is his.

Barney Shiotani says a bankruptcy court in Hawaii ruled in November 1998 that he is the rightful owner of the painting. He only discovered that painting was at the National Museum of Catholic Art and History in New York City after seeing it listed on the museum's Web page, according to the federal complaint.

On Feb. 12, Shiotani says he made a formal request to get the painting, but hasn't heard back from the museum.

The Flemish artist van Dyck created four paintings depicting the Roman's seizure of Christ. Each painting is entitled, "The Betrayal of Christ."

The paintings are at the Prado Museum in Madrid, the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and the Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery in Bristol, England.

The fourth version is at the National Museum of Catholic Art and History, where it is described as being on "permanent loan" from an unnamed donor.

Shiotani wants the painting, along with damages of at least $75,000.

He is represented by John Wait with Fox Rothschild.

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