Heir force swoops in to save museum’s Rockwells

Norman Rockwell’s three sons were among several people who went to court on Friday seeking to halt a museum’s plans to sell 40 works of art, including two by him.

A complaint seeking a temporary restraining order filed in Berkshire Superior Court alleges the board of trustees at the Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield contracted with Sotheby’s for a public auction of the works before it announced its plans publicly, acted in breach of its fiduciary duties and trust, and acted without legal authority to sell the art .

The planned sale is against Massachusetts laws establishing the museum, which requires the museum to maintain any gifts it receives “for the people of Berkshire County and the general public,” ac- cording to the complaint.

“Once sold, it is highly unlikely that any of the pieces will remain in Berkshire County or in a public institution where they can be seen and enjoyed,” the complaint says.

Besides Thomas, Jarvis and Peter Rockwell, the plaintiffs include two local artists and several members of the museum.

The museum has consistently stood by its decision to sell the art.

“We believe we have strong legal grounds for our deaccessioning and we are confident in our new vision plan which will allow this important local museum to continue to contribute to the educational and cultural life of this region for another century,” trustees president Elizabeth McGraw said in a statement on Friday.