The estate of Quebec artist Jean-Paul Riopelle has announced plans to sell 43 of the abstractionist’s works at auction this month, sparking controversy over the issue of who is calling the shots in the preservation of Riopelle’s legacy. At the center of the debate are Riopelle’s daughters, who are not executors of his estate; Riopelle’s longtime companion, who is an executor; and the director of the Musee de Quebec, who is also an executor, and therefore in a potential conflict of interest regarding the sale. The announcement of the auction, which came only ten days before the auction itself, has many observers questioning whether the market value of Riopelle’s work could be lowered by such a hasty selloff.