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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPainting stolen by Nazis found in New York museum by FBI
The artwork - entitled Winter, by American artist Gari Melchers - was on display at the Arkell Museum until it was recognised last month. Before being taken by the Nazis, it belonged to German-Jewish publisher and philanthropist Rudolf Mosse. The painting was purchased by Mr Mosse in 1900 at the Great Berlin Art Exhibition.
It was seized by the Nazis along with the rest of the Mosse family collection when they fled Germany. The family was persecuted by the Nazis for being Jewish and because they were affiliated with Berliner Tageblatte, a newspaper critical of the Nazi party.
In 1934, the work was acquired by American industrialist Bartlett Arkell from a New York City gallery. It was part of his personal collection before becoming part of the museum that bears his name.
The museum's executive director and chief curator, Susan D Friedlander, said that the museum was "very upset" to learn the painting's history. The museum waived all rights to the painting.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-50166562
yortsed snacilbuper
(7,944 posts)I'll bet.
JudyM
(29,294 posts)stopdiggin
(11,418 posts)it looks like this work had real provenance .. being in an American collection at this date. Is it fair to "assume" that the museum knew something was awry here?
(claiming no real expertise here. just an opinion.)
More_Cowbell
(2,192 posts)Some museums don't.
DURHAM D
(32,619 posts)stopdiggin
(11,418 posts)by an American (so this had to have been fairly early?)
Docreed2003
(16,907 posts)Ilsa
(61,721 posts)I see they fled, but that doesn't necessarily mean they escaped.
If you haven't seen Woman in Gold starring Helen Mirren and Ryan Reynolds, see it. Great, true story.
keithbvadu2
(37,062 posts)Who did Arkell buy it 'from' in 1934?
His museum would know that.