$2.6 million painting ruled fake

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LONDON, July 27 (UPI) -- An English judge ruled Friday the painting purchased by a Russian billionaire for over $2.6 million from Christie's auction house in London was a fake.

The judge ruled Christie's auction house must pay Viktor Vekselberg the $2.6 million he paid for Odalisque, a painting originally thought to be painted by Boris Kustodiev, because the court ruled the painting was not authentic, The Daily Telegraph reported. Christie's must also pay Vekselberg $2.2 million in damages.

The primary evidence against the painting's authenticity was the signature, which allegedly was made with an aluminium-based pigment not available until after Kustodiev had died.

The judge dismissed charges of Christie's negligence or misrepresentation of the painting.

"We welcome the judge's findings that Christie's was not negligent," a spokesman for Christie's said. "We are surprised and disappointed by his view of the painting's attribution. We maintain our belief in the attribution to Kustodiev and are considering our options."