CHRONOLOGICAL OVERVIEW
Get a chronological overview of all our restitutions in this PDF file. (Click to download.)
Photo: Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen
09 MAY 2022
Restitution of the painting “Ulanen auf dem Marsch” (“Uhlans on the March”) by Hans von Marées to the Max Stern Estate
In 2015 the Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen received a request for the restitution of a work by Hans von Marées (‘Ulanen auf dem Marsch’/‘Uhlans on the March’, inv. no. 15010) from the Max Stern Estate, represented by the Holocaust Claims Processing Office (HCPO).
After intensive research and the mutual exchange of information related to the provenance of the work, the Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen suggested submitting the case to the Advisory Commission. Following the hearing of both parties to the case ‘Dr. and Mrs. Max Stern Foundation / Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen’ on 25 June 2019, the Advisory Commission for the restitution of cultural assets seized as the result of Nazi persecution, especially those formerly in Jewish ownership, under the chairmanship of Prof. Hans-Jürgen Papier, agreed to recommend the restitutition of the painting ‘Ulanen auf dem Marsch’ by Hans von Marées, in the ownership of the Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen, to the heirs of Dr. Max Stern, the Dr. and Mrs. Max Stern Foundation, with two provisos.
The first proviso for the restitution is that the Dr. and Mrs. Max Stern Foundation is obliged not to sell the painting within the next ten years so that, if evidence of a primary claimant should emerge, the work can be restituted to that person. In the event that, in the course of further research work on Dr. Max Stern (the deadline begins with the guarantee of unrestricted access to all documents related to the estate), new findings come to light that speak against the restitution of the painting, for example because – retroactively – it emerges that the sale of the painting, or comparable sales of paintings at that time (around June 1936), would, in essence and in all probability, have come about irrespecitve of the National Socialist regime, the Dr. and Mrs. Max Stern Foundation shall be obliged – and this is the second proviso – to return the painting to the Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen. The recommendation can be found on the Advisory Commission’s website.
The Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen have accepted the recommendation in full, and restituted the work to the Max Stern Estate on 9 May 2022, under the provisos stipulated by the Commission.
Oil on wood, 36,1 x 15,5 cm
Photo: Sibylle Forster
27 August 2021
27 August 2021: The Bavarian State Painting Collections restitute Nazi-Looted art to the heirs of former owner Sigmund Waldes
The Bavarian State Painting Collections have restituted the painting "Frühlingslandschaft" by Johann Sperl (1840-1914, inv. no. 12572) to the heirs of the entrepreneur and art collector Sigmund Waldes (1877-1961), following a restitution application by the heirs. As part of broader research into its art holdings of National Socialist origin, the Bavarian State Painting Collections conducted intensive research into the provenance of the painting in question. This confirmed the results of research by representatives of the heirs (report by Dr. Irena Strelow), namely that the work was seized from its owner Sigmund Waldes in 1939/41 as a result of Nazi persecution. This 22nd restitution by the Bavarian State Painting Collections following the Washington Declaration of 1998 is not being marked with a ceremonial handover due to the pandemic. This is both at the request of and in agreement with Sigmund Waldes’s heirs.
Leinwand
50 x 72,8 cm
31 May 2021
31 MAY 2021: RESTITUTION OF NAZI-LOOTED ART TO THE COMMUNITY OF HEIRS OF ITS FORMER OWNER, ALFRED ISAY
The painting „Fishing Boats near Frauenchiemsee“ by Joseph Wopfner was formally restituted to the community of heirs of Alfred Isay in December 2019. It was planned for the work to be handed over in March 2020 in Munich but this was cancelled due to travel restrictions necessitated by the Covid-19 pandemic. This, the 20th restitution made by the Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen in line with the ‘Washington Principles’ of 1998 will now take place without the work being handed over personally because of the continuing pandemic and at the request of the community of heirs.
Nadelholz
125,3 x 65,2 cm
23 April 2021
23 APRIL 2021: THE BAVARIAN STATE PAINTING COLLECTIONS HAVE RESTITUTED NAZI-LOOTED ART ORIGINALLY FROM THE FORMER MUNICH ART DEALER A. S. DREY.
In April 2021 a late medieval wooden panel depicting Saint Florian, formerly in the ownership of the art dealer A. S. Drey, was restituted to the legal successors, i.e. to the community of heirs of the art dealer A. S. Drey. The work is to be handed over to a legal representative of the art dealer’s on behalf of the community of heirs. This, the 21st restitution made by the Bavarian State Painting Collections in line with the ‘Washington Principles’, will take place in the Pinakothek Museum without a personal meeting due to the pandemic.
Oil on canvas
66,8 x 42,3 cm
05 August 2019
05.08.2019: Restitution of nine works of art of the couple Julius and Semaya Franziska Davidsohn
Bavarian State Minister of the Arts Bernd Sibler returns together with the Bavarian State Painting Collections,
the Bavarian National Museum and the State Collections of Prints and Drawings, Munich, works of art,
which were confiscated by the Gestapo, to the community of heirs from Europe, Asia and Africa.
Read about the restitution on our blog
Oil on canvas, 66.8 x 42.3 cm
25 July 2018
25.07.2018: Restitution of a painting by Ernst Immanuel Müller
As a result of proactive research in 2017/2018 the Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen are restituting a work by Ernst Immanuel Müller to the community of heirs of Ludwig Friedmann (30.10.1880-07.03.1943).
Softwood (Abies alba), 107 x 160.2 cm
From the estate of James von Bleichröder (1859–1937)
Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen, Staatsgalerie at Schloss Johannisburg Aschaffenburg
Inventory No. 13269
21 JULY 2017
21.07.2017: Restitution of a work from the collection of James von Bleichröder
The Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen has restored the painting 'The Raising of Lazarus' by a south-German master to the joint heirs of the Berlin lawyer Dr. James von Bleichröder.
Watercolour and pencil, 14 x 11 cm
15 May 2013
15.05.2013: The Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen announces that just and fair solutions have been reached with the descendants of Professor Curt Glaser and the descendants of George Behrens.
The Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen has agreed to return two watercolours by Max Pechstein from the collection of Curt Glaser and one painting by N. V. Díaz de la Peña from the collection of George Behrens.
Oil on oak panel, 70 x 52 cm
10 July 2012
10.07.2012: Restitution of a still-life of flowers from the workshop of Jan Brueghel the Elder
The Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen has returned the painting Flowers in a Stoneware Vase from the workshop of Jan Brueghel the Elder to the descendants of the Viennese business-owner Julius Kien.
12 MAY 2010
12.05.2010: Restitution of works from the collection of August Liebmann Mayer
The Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen restitutes four pictures from the collection of August Liebmann Mayer: The Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen will return a portrait of a woman by Wilhelm Thöny, a painting of the Madonna by Cristoforo de’ Moretti, a painting of the Apostles from Cologne and a portrait of Christ from the 19th century to the daughter of the Jewish art historian August Liebmann Mayer (1885–1944), who now lives in Los Angeles.
Oak panel, 44.9 x 35.7 cm
23 JUNE 2008
23.06.2008: Restitution of a still-life by Willem Kalf
The Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen will return a still-life by Willem Kalf to Peter Block from Hamburg, the grandson of the painter and art collector Josef Block.
Oil on canvas, 32 x 36.5 cm
Max Meirowsky collection
14 September 2005
14.09.2005: Restitution of a painting by Fritz Schider
The painting Musical Entertainment by Fritz Schider was returned by the Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen to Dr. Jost von Trott zu Solz, the representative of the heirs of the original Jewish owner. The painting belonged to the art collector Dr. Max Meirowsky prior to the Nazis coming to power.
Oil on card, 68.2 x 84 cm
Ottmar Strauss Collection
05 October 2004
05.10.2004: Restitution of a painting by Hans Thoma
The painting Dusk at Lake Garda by Hans Thoma was restituted by the Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen to the heirs of the former Jewish owner Ottmar Strauss.
Oil on canvas, triptych, 162 x 147 cm
Elisabeth Glanville Collection Julius Kien
13 March 2000
13.03.2000: Restitution of a triptych by Leopold Graf Kalckreuth
The director-general of the Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen, Dr. Reinhold Baumstark, will return the triptych The Three Ages of Life by Leopold Graf Kalckreuth (1855–1928) to the surviving descendants of Elisabeth Glanville in London.