Renowned wildlife photographer Peter Beard’s wife, Nejma, is “hell-bent” on recovering scores of valuable artworks the hard-partying artist gave to his many friends.
We’re told that as 74-year-old bon vivant Peter’s work becomes more collectable and valuable, Nejma has further tightened the reins on his estate and work he generously gave friends during wild parties at his New York apartment and Montauk house.
Sources tell us that Nejma has gone as far as to register his work on the Art Loss Register, so they cannot be quietly resold, and to threaten to call police on those who won’t return pieces.
A source tells us, “I’ve witnessed Peter give away countless amounts of art to many people over the past 25 years. Now his wife is asking hundreds of people for the gifts he gave them. But he was known for eating and drinking all over the world at the best establishments, and fellow restaurateurs and club owners always took care of him, and he gave many of those owners gifts of artwork in return.”
Aristocratic Peter owns a ranch in Kenya, and for years photographed wildlife in the Serengeti while also discovering talent like Iman. He was once nearly killed by an elephant that charged and crushed him in 1996.
Nejma, the daughter of an Afghan diplomat, has managed his career since 2001. Sources tell us she has challenged scores of people who own Peter’s work — but many New York society figures including Jay McInerney, wife Anne Hearst and banking heir Matthew Mellon have been able to prove that the work they own was purchased legitimately.
Sources said Nejma even recently demanded that a photo of the Beard pieces owned by Mellon and his wife, Nicole Hanley Mellon, be taken down from Vogue.com after they posted a feature on their plush Upper East Side apartment.
An Art Loss Register rep said six works by Beard had been reported lost or stolen. Beard’s lawyer, Michael Stout, did not return calls.
Nejma Beard told us in a statement, “Anyone who owns Peter’s work legitimately has nothing to worry about.”