John McEnroe Wins Co-Ownership of Gorky Painting in Court
- August 27, 2013 23:00
Tennis legend John McEnroe was awarded co-ownership in a multi-million dollar Arshile Gorky painting by a Manhattan judge, according to a court decision revealed on Tuesday.
McEnroe partnered with the former gallery owner Lawrence Salander to buy Gorky's "Pirate I" and "Pirate II" for $4 million in 2004, states the court records. Without McEnroe's knowledge, Salander also partnered with the Bender Foundation in Washington, D.C., on the works. The crooked dealer then traded them for cheaper art with a collector.
McEnroe and the foundation were named co-owners in the court ruling, but the collector, named Joseph Carroll, is out of luck.
Salander's gallery went bankrupt and closed in 2007. He was charged with theft and fraud in 2010 and sentenced to 6 to 18 years in prison. He is serving time at Rikers Island in New York City.