DETROIT — A federal judge Wednesday blocked Detroit Institute of Arts officials from moving or hiding a painting by Vincent van Gogh, less than 24 hours after a company that claims ownership sued the museum, saying the artwork had been missing for nearly six years until it was discovered on display as part of the museum's "Van Gogh in America" exhibition.
The order from U.S. District Judge George Caram Steeh prevents DIA officials from "damaging, destroying, concealing, disposing, moving" or substantially impairing the value of the rare oil painting "Liseuse De Romans" — also known as "The Novel Reader" or "The Reading Lady."
The order came less than 24 hours after Brazilian art collector Gustavo Soter's art brokerage company, Brokerarte Capital Partners LLC, sued the DIA, describing an international hunt for a rare oil painting by the Dutch Post-Impressionist master. Soter is trying to reclaim the painting, which he bought for $3.7 million in 2017, before the exhibition leaves Detroit in 11 days.
