Guy Wildenstein

Guy Wildenstein (born December 19, 1945) is a French businessman, art dealer, and racehorse owner and breeder.

Guy Wildenstein
Born (1945-12-19) December 19, 1945
New York City, US
Occupation(s)Businessman, art dealer, racehorse owner/breeder
SpouseKristina Hansson
Children4
Parent(s)Daniel Wildenstein
Martine Kapferer
RelativesAlec Wildenstein (brother)

Early life

Born in New York City, Guy Wildenstein is the son of Daniel Wildenstein, an art dealer, racehorse owner and breeder in France. His family fled France following the German occupation during World War II to the United States, where Guy was born. He is a member of the Assembly of French Citizens Abroad.[1]

Career

After his father's death in 2001, Guy Wildenstein assumed managing control of his art business, leaving his brother Alec to concentrate mainly on the horse racing and breeding operations. Alec died in 2008, leaving Guy in charge of both businesses. The size of his share of the family fortune and trusts, estimated from $5 billion to $10 billion, was disputed by his stepmother, Silvia Wildenstein, in 2009.[2][3]

Among Wildenstein's art businesses is the Wildenstein & Company art gallery in New York City, formerly at 19 East 64th Street.[4]

Criticism

The BBC programme Fake or Fortune? criticized Guy Wildenstein in June 2011, after the Wildenstein Institute controversially refused to allow the painting Bords de la Seine à Argenteuil into the Monet catalogue raisonné, despite the programme submitting conclusive documentary evidence to prove its authenticity. The programme's presenter, Philip Mould, called for the Wildenstein Institute to be replaced by a committee of scholars for the purpose of adjudicating whether a painting is an original Monet or not.[5]

In July 2011, Guy Wildenstein was charged by the French authorities with concealing art that had been reported as missing or stolen. The police seized 30 artworks from the vault of the Wildenstein Institute, at least 20 of which, including sculptures by the Italian artist Rembrandt Bugatti, two sketches by Edgar Degas and a pastel by Eugène Delacroix, were claimed to have been originally part of the collection of Joseph Reinach. Daniel Wildenstein had acted as executor of the estate of Reinach's daughter in 1972 and had been charged with responsibility for distributing the collection, which was held at the Wildenstein Institute, among the heirs.[6] Wildenstein was heard by a magistrate in October 2016 and denied all charges.[7] At trial in 2017, Wildenstein was cleared of hiding paintings, the trial judge said that there was a “clear attempt” by Wildenstein and others to hide assets but it was impossible to return a guilty verdict due to shortcomings in the investigation.[8] The prosecutors successfully appealed to the Cour de Cassation, and the case will be rejudged.[9]

In January of 2021 it was announced that Guy Wildenstein and family members will stand again trial for tax fraud charges. They have already been cleared twice previously. This will be France's third attempt to try the case. They are accused of concealing nearly £500 million from French authorities.[10]

Personal life

Guy Wildenstein is a father of two: his daughter Vanessa manages the family's London gallery, and his son David manages the family's real estate assets.[11]

In 2008, he invested $49.2 million to flip five Plaza Hotel apartments and bought 7 Sutton Place for $32.5 million.[12]

References
  1. France-Amerique 5 Feb 2011 Archived 11 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed 26 June 2011.
  2. Sage, Adam (20 June 2009). "Feud over family fortune and $10bn art collection". The Times. Archived from the original on 9 February 2022. Retrieved 26 January 2010.
  3. Samuel, Henry (23 September 2010). "Wildenstein widow launches lawsuit against Sarkozy administration". Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 8 March 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  4. Wildenstein & Company Archived 2011-07-18 at the Wayback Machine. Wildenstein.com. Retrieved on 2011-06-20.
  5. "Reviews". The Arts Desk. 2012-03-23. Archived from the original on 2018-07-13. Retrieved 2012-03-27.
  6. "Ignorance Is Defense in a Case of Lost Art". New York Times. July 20, 2011. Archived from the original on August 29, 2017. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  7. "Affaire Wildenstein: micmacs et toiles de maîtres". L'Express (in French). 2017-01-13. Archived from the original on 2018-07-11. Retrieved 2022-02-09.
  8. "Art dynasty heir Guy Wildenstein cleared of €550m French tax fraud". TheGuardian.com. 12 January 2017. Archived from the original on 7 August 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  9. "Fraude fiscale : La Cour de cassation ordonne un nouveau procès pour les Wildenstein". Le Monde.fr. 6 January 2021. Archived from the original on 6 January 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  10. Kinsella, Eileen (January 26, 2021). "Members of the Art-Dealing Wildenstein Family Will Go on Trial for Tax Fraud—Again—After France's High Court Throws Out Prior Rulings". Artnet.com. Archived from the original on October 21, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  11. Corbett, Rachel (2022-12-19). "When Dominating the Art Market Is the Family Business". Vulture. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  12. "Guy Wildenstein Trades Up - Slideshow - Daily Intel". Intelligencer. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
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