Facts

The Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America sued The J. Paul Getty Museum and The J. Paul Getty Trust, over eight pages, the canon tables, from the Zeyt'un Gospels, a medieval Armenian gospel manuscript. The Zeyt'un Gospels are the first signed work of T'oros Roslin, considered by scholars to be the most accomplished master of Armenian manuscript illumination. The Getty acquired the canon tables from an Armenian family in 1994.

PLAINTIFF'S CONTENTIONS:
Plaintiff claimed that the Canon Tables were the property of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and that the Canon Tables were illegally separated and kept from the complete gospel manuscript during the events of the Armenian Genocide. Plaintiff asserted causes of action for replevin, conversion, damages under Penal Code Section 496, quiet title, and declaratory relief.

DEFENDANTS' CONTENTIONS:
The Getty asserted that the Armenian family lawfully had acquired the Canon Tables, and that the plaintiff's claims were barred by the statute of limitations and the doctrine of laches.

Result

The parties ultimately reached a settlement. The Getty acknowledged that the provenance of the art would reflect that the Church was and had been at all times the rightful owner of the Canon Tables since the Thirteenth Century. In turn, the church agreed to donate the pages to the Getty Museum, allowing the Getty to exhibit the artwork.

Other Information

FILING DATE: June 1, 2010.