As used in this title:

(a) “Artist” means the person who creates a work of fine art or, if that person is deceased, that person’s heir, legatee, or personal representative.

Ask a litigation question, get an answer ASAP!
Thousands of highly rated, verified litigation lawyers.
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

Terms Used In California Civil Code 1738

  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Fine art: means a painting, sculpture, drawing, work of graphic art (including an etching, lithograph, offset print, silk screen, or a work of graphic art of like nature), a work of calligraphy, or a work in mixed media (including a collage, assemblage, or any combination of the foregoing art media). See California Civil Code 1738
  • Legatee: A beneficiary of a decedent
  • Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
  • Person: means an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, association or other group, however organized. See California Civil Code 1738

(b) “Fine art” means a painting, sculpture, drawing, work of graphic art (including an etching, lithograph, offset print, silk screen, or a work of graphic art of like nature), a work of calligraphy, or a work in mixed media (including a collage, assemblage, or any combination of the foregoing art media).

(c) “Art dealer” means a person engaged in the business of selling works of fine art, other than a person exclusively engaged in the business of selling goods at public auction.

(d) “Person” means an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, association or other group, however organized.

(e) “Consignment” means that no title to, estate in, or right to possession of, fine art, superior to that of the consignor shall vest in the consignee, notwithstanding the consignee’s power or authority to transfer and convey to a third person all of the right, title and interest of the consignor in and to such fine art.

(Amended by Stats. 1994, Ch. 1010, Sec. 31. Effective January 1, 1995.)