John Moore, Convicted Of Tampering With Dali Art, 86

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Madrid, Spain, December 31, 2005 -- John Peter Moore, a close Salvador
Dali aide convicted of tampering with one of the surrealist master's
paintings, has died, according to media reports and funeral officials,
at the age of 86.

He died December 26, 2005, in Port Lligat, a Mediterranean town where
he ran an art gallery yards away from Dali's main studio, according to
the Spanish news agency EFE and the respected daily El Pais. The
Empordanesa funeral agency in the city of Figueres said that Moore's
body had been brought to the funeral home. No cause of death was
reported.

Known as Capt. Moore because of his World War II service in Britain's
Royal Navy, he accompanied Dali on many world tours during his 20 years
as Dali's personal assistant. He was an expert on the artist's work,
putting together important collections of Dali's paintings. Dali died
in 1989 of heart failure.

But before his death, as Dali became ill and bedridden, Capt. Moore's
influence over the artist's activities increased. His connection to the
painter led to scandal.

In October 2004, Capt. Moore and his wife, Catherine Perrot, were
convicted of tampering with Dali's 1969 painting "The Double Image of
Gala." The painting was stolen in 1974 and found in Capt. Moore's
Perrot-Moore Art Center in 1999.

A subsequent search of his home and workshops revealed 10,000 allegedly
fake Dali lithographs. Capt. Moore, who was accused of reducing the
size of the 1969 canvas, denied tampering with or forging any of Dali's
work.

Capt. Moore and his wife were ordered to pay an estimated $1.2 million
in compensation to the Dali-Gala Foundation, which looks after the
painter's heritage. They also were ordered to pay for the restoration
costs of the painting.

A Spanish court did not rule on other accusations against Capt. Moore,
including dealing in stolen art, because of his age and the dementia he
was believed to have.

Capt. Moore is survived by his wife.

Washington Post

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