Restoration of 16th-century artworks handed back to their legitimate owners in Bremen
In a significant development, the Museums Böttcherstraße in Bremen, Germany, has expressed its intention to repurchase a historically significant painting, "Departure of Saint Ursula," which was looted during the Nazi era.
The painting, a masterpiece by an unnamed artist, was originally part of the collection of Jacques Rosenthal, a known collector whose artworks were displaced during World War II. Forced to sell the painting in January 1936 due to Nazi persecution, it later came into the possession of Ludwig Roselius in the same year.
In 1988, Ludwig Roselius Jr. sold the core of his father's collection to the City of Bremen, and since then, the painting has been in the museum's care. The museum has been a one-third co-owner of the painting since 1989.
Dr. Frank Schmidt, Director of the Museums Böttcherstraße, acknowledged the fluid nature of collections and emphasized that the acquisition history of artworks is an integral part of their current mediation. He expressed gratitude to the heirs of Jacques Rosenthal for keeping the painting in Bremen, allowing them to secure the necessary funds for its permanent stay.
The repurchase process is currently underway, with the museum actively raising funds for the acquisition. For the time being, the painting will remain at the Museums Böttcherstraße as a loan.
This repurchase aligns with a joint agreement reached between 44 states and 13 non-governmental organizations to identify artworks confiscated and looted during the Nazi era. The agreement aims to locate original owners or heirs and find a "just and fair solution" for the artworks.
Dr. Schmidt stated that it is a friendly gesture by the heirs that the Museums Böttcherstraße can repurchase the painting and keep it in the Bremen collection. He also highlighted that the painting's return to its rightful owners is a crucial step towards rectifying the past and ensuring justice.
This development is part of a larger global movement to restore artworks stolen during the Nazi era to their rightful owners or heirs. The Museums Böttcherstraße's commitment to this cause underscores its dedication to ethical and historical accuracy in its collections.
- The Museums Böttcherstraße's repurchase of the historically significant painting, originally part of Jacques Rosenthal's collection, is a part of a larger global movement in politics, aiming to restore artworks stolen during the Nazi era to their rightful owners or heirs.
- The acquisition of the painting, looted during World War II, by the Museums Böttcherstraße aligns with the joint agreement in general-news, seeking a "just and fair solution" for artworks confiscated and looted during the Nazi era.
