ART

A Denver art dealer and a former friend are battling in federal court this week over who gets the take from a painting purchased for $550 that brought more than $400,000 at auction. Dealer Jacques Michel says that he purchased “Prospect Park,” a work by American impressionist William Merritt Chase, in October, 1984, thinking it would bring from $5,000-$15,000. Instead, it brought $400,000 at Sotheby’s auction house. Michel claims that the piece is his alone, but antiques dealer Charles Angellucci maintains that he was a partner and wants half the take.