DENVER (AP) - A court in Maryland has ruled the city of Denver can sell four of the 825 paintings destined for its Clyfford Still Museum, which is set to open this year.

The Denver Post reports the court ruled that proceeds be set aside for an endowment and collection-related expenses.

Ethical guidelines established by the American Association of Museums and Association of Art Museum Directors say proceeds of museum holdings should go directly into acquiring other pieces, not to beef up an endowment.

But museum officials argued the museum had not yet officially taken possession of the four pieces, which were bequeathed to the city in 2005 when the abstract expressionist’s widow, Patricia Still, died. The Denver Post reports the sale of the pieces could generate $25 million.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)