Art Dealer Accused of Knowing Selling Forged Joan Miró Prints Acquitted

It was reported recently that Pasquale Iannetti, who ran a Sutter Street gallery bearing his name for 37 years was acquitted of knowingly selling fake prints of paintings by Joan Miró.

According to SF Chronicle,

Pasquale Iannetti said he had been unaware he was selling counterfeit prints. A federal court jury in San Francisco found him not guilty of 15 felony counts of mail and wire fraud after 2 1/2 days of deliberations.

Iannetti, 70, was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2009 for allegedly shipping counterfeit prints that bore the name of Miró, the Spanish painter and sculptor known for his surrealist and expressionist works.

Iannetti closed his gallery shortly after he was indicted but is still selling art from his office and his trying to rebuild his career and his reputation, Dressler said.

"He still has a loyal following," the attorney said.

When his indictment came to light, I reported it in my blog A Sad Story and an Argument for Buying Living Artists' Works, that I had a very heart-warming encounter wit Mr. Iannetti.  When visited the Gallery for a special exhibit of works by the great German artist Käthe Kollwitz. Apparently impressed by my admiration for Kollwitz, Mr. Iannetti gave me a copy of their beautifully produced catalog, which still sits amongst my treasured artbooks on my shelf.

I am glad that he has proved not guilty and that he still has a loyal following.  Best of the luck, Mr. Iannetti.


from Bauernkrieg: Losbruch, 1902
( Peasants' War: Charge )