Paint Your Own Chateau

The painting of the Loire Valley Chateau de Lassay that was sold by a Paris gallery last month had a price tag of $6,000. It carried the signature of Painter Bernard Buffet. But neither the price nor Buffet's reputation intimidated the flics, who swooped down on the gallery and legally "seized" the painting, forbidding the purchaser from taking it home. They were acting on a court order obtained by Marcel de Marcheville, owner of the 478-year-old chateau. When a man's castle is his home --and is classified a national monument to boot--De Marcheville explained, the law gives the owner the right to say who may paint pictures of it. De Marcheville most emphatically had not granted that permission to Buffet.

De Marcheville's legal grounds seem as impressive as the 430 acres that surround his chateau. The building is not visible from any public vantage point, but the proprietor sells tour tickets for 63-c-. Buffet, who made a preliminary sketch from the edge of the moat, presumably gained entrance by purchasing a ticket--with a warning in both French and English: "Taking pictures outside is tolerated, but unauthorized commercial use of films, negatives or any documents will be legally prosecuted."

Buffet argues that the chateau is "part of the national patrimony" and therefore fair artistic game. But he can hardly be too upset. The publicity has helped his show to sell out completely. As for De Marcheville, his little-known chateau is now a true landmark.

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