You stealin’ from me?
Robert De Niro is raging mad over the alleged theft of 12 of his late father’s paintings – works of art the actor claims were pilfered by bankrupt gallery owner Lawrence Salander.
Lawyers for De Niro announced plans to take legal action against Salander and his embattled Salander-O’Reilly Galleries yesterday to recover a dozen paintings by Robert De Niro Sr.
The paintings were allegedly among 50 pieces of art that Salander-O’Reilly delivered to an Italian gallery this spring in an effort to stem severe financial hemorrhaging.
A statement from De Niro’s lawyers said the actor had entrusted the paintings to Salander-O’Reilly on consignment.
“That gallery, instead of selling the paintings on behalf of De Niro, used the paintings to settle the gallery’s debts with Benucci S.r.l., which operates galleries in Rome,” a statement from the Willkie Farr & Gallagher law firm said.
“Based on documents that have been provided to us, it appears that in June of 2007, Salander-O’Reilly Galleries attempted to settle $5 million in debt that it owed Benucci by delivering over 50 paintings,” the statement said.
The actor was never informed of the deal.
Robert De Niro Sr., who died in 1993, showed his artwork in numerous prominent galleries and drew the attention of the top critics of his time.
The Italy shipment allegedly included 12 of his colorful abstractions, figure paintings and landscapes, which are now owned by his famed actor son.
In a recent bankruptcy filing, Salander estimated his debts at between $50 million and $100 million.
De Niro is just one of dozens of well-heeled collectors, including tennis star John McEnroe, who claim the Upper East Side gallery misappropriated works of art that they had entrusted to his gallery on consignment.
The allegations against Salander are the subject of parallel federal and state investigations.
Lawyers for De Niro declined comment on the value of the artwork.
A call to a lawyer for Salander was not returned.
Attorney Barry Slotnick, who represents Salander’s former business partners in a lawsuit against the gallery, said he recently saw several paintings by De Niro at the now-shuttered Salander-O’Reilly Gallery on East 79th Street.
“I certainly am aware of the fact that there are Robert De Niro Sr. paintings that were at the gallery and hopefully are still there and will be part of the [bankruptcy] proceedings,” said Slotnick, who represents Renaissance Art Investors.
A judge’s order bars Salander from selling or shipping any of the artwork at the gallery without the court’s permission.
In a recent sworn affidavit accompanying his bankruptcy petition, Salander blamed a dispute with one of his fellow investors in RAI for the court-ordered closing of his gallery and a subsequent avalanche of lawsuits.