Judge Halts Riopelle Auction

A Quebec judge has issued a temporary injunction blocking a planned auction of several dozen works by the late artist Jean-Paul Riopelle, which was to be held tonight. In making the ruling, the judge granted a major victory to Riopelle’s three children, who claim that the hastily organized auction of so many works at once will diminish the artist’s legacy unnecessarily. “Left in the lurch are art collectors who were said to be flying in from around the world for the sale at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel – and Riopelle’s estate, which says it urgently needs to hold the auction to pay off mounting debts.”