Nazi-looted art update

The latest twist in the tortuous story of restitution for Nazi-era stolen art began in Dusseldorf, Germany, wound through a court in Providence, Rhode Island, and now is giving hope to university officials in Montreal.

Last month a U.S. court ruled that the Nazis forced German dealer Max Stern to sell his inventory of art. Officials at Concordia University in Montreal, one of the beneficiaries of Stern's will, believe the ruling will help them recover artworks owned by more than 20 museums or individuals. . .

The courts have rarely ruled that a sale under duress is a theft, restitution specialists said. In October, actress Elizabeth Taylor kept a Vincent van Gogh painting after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected an appeal by three people who said their great-grandmother was forced to sell the work before fleeing Nazi Germany in 1939.

This case does appear to be more clear-cut than most, however:

Stern, who inherited a Dusseldorf gallery from his father, was ordered to liquidate his holdings through a Nazi-approved dealer in 1937, according to court documents. He never received the proceeds of the sale. . .

Cases involving a forced art sale aren't all bound to win in court. In her ruling, the judge stressed the fact that Stern received no compensation from the forced sale and that he subsequently undertook efforts to recover the art.

From Bloomberg.

Posted by David on January 15, 2008 1:54 PM