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Denney Collection

Lessons from the Denney Collection : 11

"The City of Toulouse is not in any way involved..." 
Dominique Baudis
 
              "Is the City paying the widow Denney's Spanish Lawyers' fees?"  
Jacques Levy
 The Mayor of Toulouse, M. Dominique Baudis, claims that:
Letter from 
M. Dominique Baudis, 
Mayor of Toulouse
 "La contestation soulevée par les enfants sur la succession est un litige d’ordre privé dans lequel la Ville ne s’est en aucun cas immiscée, pas plus que l’Etat ou le Conseil Régional…"(51) 

"the contestation raised by the children over the succession is a private litigation in which neither the City nor the State nor the Conseil Regional are in any way involved…"(51) 
 
 A City press release of 30 November 1993 says that the City of Toulouse : Appealing against the decision in the Spanish Court of First Instance - that recognised the children’s rights under Spanish Law - the Widow claimed that the Mayor of Toulouse should have been called to the proceedings. She argued that he had a right to have his say because he had an interest in the outcome.(53) The corner-stone of the argument was the quality of the title that the Mayor had to the pictures, which takes us back to the points made earlier about the Act of Donation.

It is clear that the Act of Donation, as drafted, while imperfect at the time of enactment, becomes perfect later, either by default, or by a process of subsequent self improvement. It is exploited, in its imperfect form, as if it is perfect, to block the legal process whereby the Denney heirs seek to have their case decided under Spanish Law, and thereby it perfects itself. Is it legitimate for a Museum to draw up an act of donation in such a form in order to acquire a donation in this way? The Mayor of Toulouse M. Dominique Baudis publicly admits that the City is paying the legal expenses of Denney’s widow in the Spanish proceedings on the grounds that she is defending the City’s interests. (See Note 54 below)

Supposing that instead the MOMAT had followed the ICOM Code of ethics from the outset:

Until the donor’s claim to full title had been substantiated or rejected, they would have been "serenely awaiting the outcome of justice". They would have been rewarded at the end with either a full title or nothing, depending on events, but they would never have been in the invidious position of defending a doubtful title in order to improve it.
 
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 Comment from the Toulouse Press

Section 10  - Index  - Section 12 

Section 11: References

51 Letter signed by Dominique Baudis, Mayor of Toulouse, Marc Sensi Président du Conseil Regional, Alain Bidou, Le Préfet de la Haute-Garonne 

Letter to A. F. Anderson 6 December 1993: 

 
"Monsieur, Dans un projet d’article de presse qui nous a été communiqué, vous mettez gravement en cause notre honorabilité. Cette attitutde est inacceptable dans la mesure où aucun acte répréhensible ne pas nous être reproché dans cette affaire. La Ville de Toulouse a en effet accepté une donation faite par Madame DENNEY Célia, légataire universelle de son défunt mari, Monsieur DENNEY. Cettte donation qui porte sur 26 oeuvres contemporaines qui doivent enrichir le Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de TOULOUSE a été acceptée avec gratitude parce qu’elle permettra en effet à la Région entière de profiter d’une partie d’une collection de grand renom. La contestation soulevée par les enfants sur la succession est un litige d’ordre privé dans lequel la Ville ne s’est en aucun cas immiscée, pas plus que l’Etat ou le Conseil Régional. Nous vous demandons instamment de cesser vos attaques personnelles à notre encontre, car, dans le cas contraire, nous saisirions la justice pour diffamation à l’égard des répresentants d’Autorités Publiques." 

51 -Translation: 

" Sir, in a draft of a press article that has been communicated to us you seriously call into question our honourability. This attitude is inacceptable in the measure that we cannot be reproached with any reprehensible act in this affair. The City of Toulouse has in effect accepted a donation by Mme Celia Denney, universal legatee of her deceased husband M. DENNEY. This donation which relates to 26 contemporary works which will enrich the Museum of Modern Art of the City of Toulouse has been accepted with gratitude because it permits the whole Region in effect to profit from a part of a collection of great renown. The contestation raised by the children on the succession is private litigation in which the neither the City nor the State or the Regional Council are involved. We demand that you instantly cease your personal attacks on our account or else we will seize justice for defamation with respect to representatives of Public Authorities." 
 
 

52 Press Release Marie de Toulouse Nov 30 1993. 

    "Monsieur Julien ANDRES, Adjoint au Maire chargé des Musées, communique: ‘Madame Veuve DENNEY, fidèle à la volonté de son époux, a proposé à la Ville de Toulouse un don de 23 oeuvres. La Ville de Toulouse, après avoir pris l’avis d’experts juridiques, a accepté cette génereuse donation qui s’inscrit parfaitement dans les axes artistiques du projet de Musée d’Art Contemporain de Toulouse. Les dispositions du testament en faveur de Madame DENNEY, instituée légitaire universelle, sont contestées par les enfants d’un premier marriage de Monsieur Denney. La Ville de Toulouse n’est pas habilitée à se prononcer dans un tel litige qui oppose des personnes privées. Elle attend sereinement la décision de justice…’ "
52 Translation of Press Release Marie de Toulouse Nov 30 1993. 
    "Mr. Julien ANDRES, Adjoint to the Mayor with responsibility for Museums, communicates: The Widow Mme. DENNEY, faithful to the wish of her husband, has offered a gift of 23 works to the City of Toulouse. The City of Toulouse, after have taken the advice of legal experts, accepted this generous donation which fits perfectly within the artistic framework of the projected Museum of Contemporary Art of Toulouse. The dispositions of the will in favour of Mme. DENNEY, instituted universal legatee, are contested by the children of a first marriage of Mr. DENNEY. The City of Toulouse is not accustomed to pronounce in such a litigation between private individuals. The City serenely awaits the decision of justice."
53 The Regional Appeal judge agreed with her and overturned the decision of the Court of First Instance on a technicality, without going into the heart of the matter. This has resulted in the case going to the Spanish Supreme Court as a matter for Cassation. At the time of writing this paper (April 1996) the outcome is not known. (Note: Still the case in May 1999) 

54 La Dépêche du Midi 28 October 1995 report of City Council Meeting  

    -Deney - <<Est il exact que la Ville prend en charge les honoraires des avocats espagnols de la veuve Denney>> questionne Jacques Lévy. <<Effectivement>> répond Dominique Baudis. <<La procédure engagée par l’epouse de M. Deney vise à faire respecter la volonté de son époux qui avait fait donation d’une partie de sa collection à la Ville. Donation contestée par ses autres héritiers. <Cette personne défend donc les intérêts de la Ville. [! Équitable d’en supporter les frais>>, precise le maire. Ce dossier titille M Jaques Lévy55 <<La Ville n’a-t-elle pas acheté pour 3 MF un tableau à la veuve Deney>>?<<D’un point de vue artistique, ce tableau était intéressant. Mais nous avons renoncé à son acquisition car les deux opérations (la donation et l’achat) aurait pu paraître liées. Je n’ai pas voulu qu’il y ait de confusion>> explique Dominique Baudis. 
  Report of an exchange in a City Council Meeting in La Dépêche du Midi 28 October 1995 : Maitre Jacques Levy is questioning the Mayor, Mr. Dominique Baudis    (Free translation of above, with clarification of punctuation)  
    Q :"Is it a fact that the City is paying the fees of the Spanish lawyers of the widow Denney?" asks Jacques Lévy. 
    A : "Effectively" replies Dominque Baudis. 
      (The procedure engaged in by the wife of Mr Denney with the aim of having the wish of her husband respected, who had made a donation of part of his collection to the City. Donation contested by his other heirs.) 
    Q : "This person therefore defends the interests of the City?" 
    A : "..equitable to support the costs" explains the Mayor. 
    Q : "This dossier...", titillates Jacques Lévy. "Hasn’t the City bought a picture from the widow Denney for three million Fr. Francs?" 
    A : "From an artistic point of view, this picture was interesting. But we have given up its acquisition because the two operations (the donation and the purchase) could have appeared to be linked. I would not have wished that there should be any confusion." explains Dominique Baudis. 

    Note: It would appear from the Act of Donation that the City undertook to pay all the costs of acquisition. 

    Further Press comment

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