Centre du droit de l'art
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr
Two Souza paintings – Kurtha v. Marks
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/two-souza-paintings-2013-kurtha-v-marks
In 1982, Dr Aziz Kurtha purchased two paintings from the Indian artist Francis Souza. They were stolen years later and their ownership changed a number of times, before Michael Marks purchased them on 10 January 2006. No publisherJudicial claim/action en justiceCriminal offence/infraction pénaleAd hoc facilitator/facilitateur ad hocArtwork/oeuvre d’artMichael MarksFrancis Newton SouzaAziz KurthaUnconditional restitution/restitution sans conditionPost 1970 restitution claims/demandes de restitution post 1970Judicial decision/décision judiciaireOwnership/propriété2015/10/08 02:15:00 GMT+1PageChrist Carrying the Cross Dragged by a Rascal – Gentili di Giuseppe Heirs v. Italy
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/christ-carrying-the-cross-dragged-by-a-rascal-2013-united-states-v-painting
In 1941, the painting “Christ Carrying the Cross Dragged by a Rascal” by Girolamo Romanino was confiscated by Nazi-controlled French authorities from Federico Gentili di Giuseppe – an Italian of Jewish descent living in Paris – and then sold at auction.
No publisherBrera Art GalleryOwnership/propriétéArtwork/oeuvre d’artJudicial decision/décision judiciaireJudicial claim/action en justiceUnconditional restitution/restitution sans conditionItaly/ItalieDiplomatic channel/voie diplomatiqueNazi looted art/spoliations naziesFederico Gentili di GiuseppeState immunity/immunité des EtatsExpropriationUnited States/États-UnisAd hoc facilitator/facilitateur ad hoc2015/08/11 14:25:00 GMT+1PageHopi Masks – Hopi Tribe v. Néret-Minet and Estimations & Ventes aux Enchères
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/hopi-masks-2013-hopi-tribe-v-neret-minet-and-estimations-ventes-aux-encheres
Between 2013 and 2014, dozens of Hopi’s sacred objects were sold at auctions in Paris despite strong protests and legal actions launched by the Hopi tribe. These actions were unsuccessful because French judicial authorities denied legal standing to the Hopis and considered that the sales did not violate French law.No publisherRequest denied/rejet de la demandeNéret-Minet, Tessier and SarrouIndigenous object/objet autochtoneIllicit exportation/exportation illiciteHopi TribeSale/venteJudicial claim/action en justiceInalienability/inaliénabilitéEnforcement of foreign law/applicabilité du droit public étrangerEstimations & Ventes aux EnchèresDiplomatic channel/voie diplomatiqueDonationPre 1970 restitution claims/demandes de restitution pre 1970Ownership/propriétéRepurchase/rachatProcedural issue/limites procéduralesJudicial decision/décision judiciaire2015/08/07 11:35:00 GMT+1PageKa Nefer Nefer Mask – United States v. Mask of Ka Nefer Nefer
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/ka-nefer-nefer-mask-2013-united-states-v-mask-of-ka-nefer-nefer
On July 28, 2014, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals denied the request of the United States Government to take further legal action regarding the St. Louis Art Museum’s ownership of the 3200 year old Egyptian Ka Nefer Nefer funerary mask. No publisherOwnership/propriétéSt. Louis Art MuseumJudicial decision/décision judiciaireJudicial claim/action en justiceCriminal offence/infraction pénaleNegotiation/négociationRequest denied/rejet de la demandeArchaeological object/objet archéologiqueIllicit importation/importation illiciteUnited States/États-UnisEgypt/EgypteProcedural issue/limites procéduralesPost 1970 restitution claims/demandes de restitution post 19702015/07/17 11:45:00 GMT+1PageThe Night Café Painting – Morozov Heirs v. Yale University
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/the-night-cafe-painting-2013-morozov-heirs-v-yale-university
In 1908, Ivan Morozov, a Russian art collector, purchased Van Gogh’s painting “The Night Café”. The 1917 Bolshevik Revolution led to the nationalization of private property, and as such Morozov’s art collection was confiscated and subsequently sold. No publisherJudicial decision/décision judiciaireIvan MorozovRequest denied/rejet de la demandeArtwork/oeuvre d’artExpropriationAct of StateDue diligenceJudicial claim/action en justiceYale UniversityPre 1970 restitution claims/demandes de restitution pre 1970Procedural issue/limites procéduralesOwnership/propriété2015/02/25 10:55:00 GMT+1PageOn the Shore of the Seine – United States v. Baltimore Museum of Art
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/on-the-shore-of-the-seine-2013-united-states-of-america-v-baltimore-museum-of-art
In 1951, Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s painting “On the shore of the Seine” was stolen from the Baltimore Museum of Art in the United States. Over fifty years later, Marcia Fuqua bought this painting for US $7 at a flea market and tried to auction it off after learning of its value. No publisherJudicial decision/décision judiciaireBaltimore Museum of ArtArtwork/oeuvre d’artUnited States/États-UnisDue diligenceJudicial claim/action en justiceUnconditional restitution/restitution sans conditionMarcia FuquaPost 1970 restitution claims/demandes de restitution post 1970Ownership/propriété2015/02/17 18:15:00 GMT+1PageMatisse Painting – Jeanneret v. Vichey
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/matisse-painting-2013-jeanneret-v-vichey
A painting by Henri Matisse was unlawfully exported from Italy to New York because its owner, Anna Vichey, never acquired the mandatory export license in 1970. The painting was then sold to a Swiss art dealer named Marie Jeanneret and delivered to Geneva, Switzerland. After discovering the cloud on the title of the painting, Mme. Jeanneret was unable to sell the painting. No publisherIllicit exportation/exportation illiciteAnna and Luben VicheyArtwork/oeuvre d’artJudicial claim/action en justiceBreach of contract/violation du contratMarie Louis JeanneretItaly/Italie2015/02/17 18:15:00 GMT+1PageSchiele Drawing – Grunbaum Heirs v. David Bakalar
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/schiele-drawing-2013-grunbaum-heirs-v-david-bakalar
In 1938, the Nazi expropriated the art collection of Fritz Grunbaum while he was detained in Dachau concentration camp. In 1963, David Bakalar purchased a Schiele drawing that had belonged to the Grunbaum family from a gallery in Bern.No publisherJudicial decision/décision judiciaireRequest denied/rejet de la demandeArtwork/oeuvre d’artExpropriationDavid BakalarJudicial claim/action en justiceProcedural issue/limites procéduralesFritz and Elizabeth GrunbaumChoice of law/droit applicableNazi looted art/spoliations naziesOwnership/propriété2014/09/15 17:50:00 GMT+1PageManuscrit du Marquis de Sade – Héritier Nordmann et héritier de Noailles et Gérard Lhéritier
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/manuscrit-du-marquis-de-sade-2013-heritier-nordmann-et-heritier-de-noailles-et-gerard-lheritier
Les « Cent Vingt Journées de Sodome » du Marquis de Sade avait été dérobé à la famille de Nouailles puis acquis par un collectionneur suisse – Gérard Nordmann – qui a toujours refusé de la rendre. C’est grâce à un accord entre l’héritier des Nouailles et l’héritier Nordmann que le manuscrit a pu retourner en France, où il a été classé trésor national en 2017.No publisherJudicial decision/décision judiciaireCriminal offence/infraction pénaleArtwork/oeuvre d’artDue diligenceIllicit exportation/exportation illiciteJudicial claim/action en justiceFinancial compensation/indemnisationNegotiation/négociationPost 1970 restitution claims/demandes de restitution post 1970Sale/venteSettlement agreement/accord transactionnel2014/08/27 16:40:00 GMT+1PageKhmer Statue – Cambodia and Sotheby’s and the United States
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/khmer-statue-2013-cambodia-and-sotheby2019s-and-the-united-states
In March 2011, Sotheby’s offered at auction in New York a Khmer statue. The statue was pulled out of the sale as a result of Cambodia’s request for its restitution. Cambodia claimed that it was illegally removed from the site Koh Ker during the 1970s and should be returned to them. No publisherOwnership/propriétéCambodia/CambodgeJudicial claim/action en justiceRuspoli Di Poggia SuasaNegotiation/négociationUnited States/États-UnisSotheby'sArchaeological object/objet archéologiqueUnconditional restitution/restitution sans conditionCriminal offence/infraction pénaleSettlement agreement/accord transactionnelAd hoc facilitator/facilitateur ad hocPost 1970 restitution claims/demandes de restitution post 19702014/06/30 16:35:00 GMT+1PageBuste d’un jeune garçon – Héritiers Gentili di Giuseppe et Art Institute de Chicago
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/buste-d2019un-jeune-garcon-2013-heritiers-gentili-di-giuseppe-et-art-institute-de-chicago
En 1999, les héritiers de l’important collectionneur d’art de confession juive Federico Gentili di Giuseppe ont contacté l’Art Institute de Chicago afin d’obtenir la restitution d’un buste de Francesco Mochi (« Buste d’un jeune garçon »). Ce buste avait été vendu en France lors d’une vente par la suite annulée par les juges français car constitutive de spoliation.No publisherJudicial decision/décision judiciaireSettlement agreement/accord transactionnelArtwork/oeuvre d’artSymbolic gesture/geste symboliqueDue diligenceJudicial claim/action en justiceRepurchase/rachatDonationStatute of limitation/prescriptionNegotiation/négociationFederico Gentili di GiuseppeNazi looted art/spoliations naziesOwnership/propriétéArt Institute de Chicago2014/03/07 16:30:00 GMT+1PageCollection japonaise de Netsuke – Winkworth c. Christie’s
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/collection-japonaise-de-netsuke-2013winkworth-c-christie2019s
Une collection de Netsuke est dérobée en Angleterre, vendue à un collectionneur de bonne foi en Italie et finalement proposée aux enchères en Angleterre. William Winkworth, le propriétaire originaire, reconnaît les objets sur le catalogue de la maison de vente aux enchères Christie’s et agit en justice à Londres afin de voir reconnaître sa propriété sur les biens.No publisherRequest denied/rejet de la demandeJudicial decision/décision judiciaireCriminal offence/infraction pénaleOwnership/propriétéArtwork/oeuvre d’artItaly/ItalieJudicial claim/action en justicePost 1970 restitution claims/demandes de restitution post 1970William WinkworthChoice of law/droit applicableChristie’sRoyaume-Uni/United Kingdom2014/02/03 18:35:00 GMT+1Page14 Artworks – Malewicz Heirs and City of Amsterdam
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/14-paintings-2013-malewicz-heirs-and-city-of-amsterdam
In 2003, 14 artworks by the Russian artist Kazimir Malewicz were exported to the United States by the Stedelijk Museum of Amsterdam to be part of a temporary exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum in New York and the Menil Collection in Houston. Shortly before the end of the loans, the heirs of Malewicz brought an action against the City of Amsterdam seeking to recover the value of the artworks or, in the alternative, the artworks themselves.No publisherCity of AmsterdamNegotiation/négociationNetherlands/Pays-BasJudicial claim/action en justiceKazimir MalewiczSpoils of war/butins de guerreConditional restitution/restitution sous conditionArtwork/oeuvre d’artSettlement agreement/accord transactionnelAnti-seizure legislation/garantie de restitutionStedelijk MuseumState immunity/immunité des EtatsJudicial decision/décision judiciaireOwnership/propriétéUnited States/États-Unis2013/12/17 12:35:00 GMT+1PageElmali Hoard – Turkey and OKS Partners
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/elmali-hoard-2013-turkey-and-oks-partners
In 1999, OKS Partners, a consortium comprised of, among others, the American businessman William Koch, returned to Turkey nearly 1700 ancient coins. The coins were part of the Elmali Hoard, a precious and rare collection of ancient coins, also called the “Hoard of the Century,” that had been illegally excavated and smuggled out of Turkey in 1984. No publisherSettlement agreement/accord transactionnelUnconditional restitution/restitution sans conditionNegotiation/négociationArchaeological object/objet archéologiqueStatute of limitation/prescriptionOwnership/propriétéJudicial claim/action en justiceOKS PartnersPost 1970 restitution claims/demandes de restitution post 1970Illicit excavation/fouille illiciteTurkey/Turquie2013/10/18 10:55:00 GMT+1PageThree Grosz Paintings – Grosz Heirs v. Museum of Modern Art
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/three-grosz-paintings-2013-grosz-heirs-v-museum-of-modern-art
In April of 2009, after a decade-long search for artworks lost during Nazi persecution, George Grosz’s legal heirs brought action against the Museum of Modern Art, seeking declaration of title and replevin as to three of the artist’s paintings in the Museum’s possession, and requesting damages for their unlawful conversion. Holding that the action was time-barred by the statute of limitations, the District Court granted the museum’s motion to dismiss. The Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in New York affirmed the order on appeal, and the United States Supreme Court denied the Heirs’ writ of certiorari.No publisherJudicial decision/décision judiciaireGeorge GroszRequest denied/rejet de la demandeArtwork/oeuvre d’artJudicial claim/action en justiceProcedural issue/limites procéduralesNegotiation/négociationUnited States/États-UnisStatute of limitation/prescriptionNazi looted art/spoliations naziesOwnership/propriétéTort /acte illicite2013/08/30 08:50:00 GMT+1Page