D. Bathurst; Ex-Chairman of Christie’s

David Bathurst, who resigned as chairman of the British auctioneers Christie’s in 1985 after admitting he lied about the sales of two Impressionist paintings, has died at age 54, the company said Tuesday.

Bathurst died of a heart attack Sunday while sport shooting on the moors in Scotland, the auction house said.

A member of the nobility and a prominent figure in the art world in London and New York, Bathurst was president of Christie’s branch in New York from 1978 until 1984.

In 1981, a consignment of eight Impressionist paintings did not sell well at a Christie’s auction in New York. Bathurst falsely claimed in a news statement that three had been sold. In fact, only one sold, a Degas for $2.2 million.

The other two--a Van Gogh which Bathurst said sold for $2.1 million and a Gauguin which he said sold for $1.3 million--did not reach their owner’s minimum price in the bidding and were withdrawn from the sale. Bathurst was accused of “bidding off the chandelier,” pretending that he was calling several apparent bids although no one in the audience had made any. He had promised the seller the eight paintings would fetch $10 million at auction. In a court settlement announced in 1987, Christie’s paid the art investment corporation Cristallina S.A. an undisclosed amount.

An earlier settlement with New York City cost Christie’s $80,000 in penalties and costs and Bathurst surrendered his New York auctioneer’s license. The company was allowed to continue trading in New York, but the scandal cut into its business there.

In 1984, Bathurst returned to Britain to become chairman of Christie’s parent company in London, but his admission in 1985 that he had lied about the 1981 sale cost him that job.

He said he had lied because he wanted to avoid depressing the prices of the art market.