Another “Dis-Astor”

The Daily News reports Chaos in the Courthouse when Anthony Marshall, Brooke Astor's son, fell today when taking a bathroom break. One can't help feeling sorry for the elderly Marshall. As we've observed before, "The Case of the Astor Will" is woefully miscast.

And yet … Marshall's reported conduct toward his mother could appear mean and avaricious in the extreme. He sold one of her favorite paintings, Childe Hassam's "Flags, Fifth Avenue (1917)," allegedly telling her that she needed the money. A dealer paid $10 million. Marshall awarded himself a $2 million "commission."

Art dealers customarily pay no more than half the price they hope to get for a work. The dealer reportedly resold "Flags, Fifth Avenue" for over $20 million.