Hughes Hubbard Advises Aso O. Tavitian Foundation on Gift of 330+ Works of Art to the Clark Art Institute

October 2024 — As reported in The New York Times, the firm advised the Aso O. Tavitian Foundation on its gift to the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute of an extraordinary collection of 331 works of art. The gift also included more than $45 million to build a new wing for the collection, and to fund a new curator’s position.

Hughes Hubbard advised the foundation on the drafting and negotiation of the agreement, by which this collection of paintings and sculptures was donated to the Clark.

The gift includes 132 paintings, 130 sculptures, 39 drawings and 30 decorative art objects by revered European artists of the 15th through the 19th centuries, including Hans Memling, Peter Paul Rubens, Parmigianino, Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun, Jean-Antoine Watteau and Gian Lorenzo Bernini.

Tavitian, a philanthropist who died in 2020, began collecting art in 2004 and developed a deep relationship with the Clark, having served on its board of trustees and showed some of his personal holdings there in a 2011 exhibition.

The Clark is an art museum and research institution located in Williamstown, Mass. Its collection consists of European and American paintings, sculpture, prints, drawings, photographs, and decorative arts from the fourteenth to the early twentieth century.

Scott Naturman led the Hughes Hubbard team with assistance from Candace Beinecke, Jerry Harrison, Meaghan Gragg, Patrice Jean, Justin Cohen, Carol Remy, Jason Lee, paralegal Yukari Oshita and librarian Ann Green.