Thursday, September 07, 2006

More on the Astor Hassam

The New York Times has more details today on the Hassam painting in the middle of the dispute between Brooke Astor's son and grandson over her care, mentioned earlier here:

"Mr. Barth’s affidavit also notes that Mr. Marshall [the son] collected a $2 million commission for selling his mother’s Childe Hassam painting 'Flags, Fifth Avenue,' for $10 million in February 2002. The document explains that the commission was paid according to Mr. Marshall’s written instructions to his mother’s bank to transfer $1 million to his account. He himself signed two $500,000 checks for the other million. Mr. Warner, one of Mr. Marshall’s lawyers, has said that Mrs. Astor came up with the $2 million figure for her son."