Pissarro Painting Stolen by Nazis Sparks Legal Battle at US Supreme Court
The US Supreme Court is set to rule on the restitution of Camille Pissarro's 1897 painting "Rue Saint-Honoré, dans l'après-midi. Effet de pluie," seized by Nazis in 1939 from Lilly Cassirer, a Jewish heir forced to sell it for about $300. The work later passed through American galleries and entered the Thyssen-Bornemisza collection, acquired by Spain in 1993 for the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza in Madrid. David Cassirer, Lilly's heir, initiated legal action in the early 2000s. The case hinges on whether US federal law (Foreign Sovereign Immunity Act) or California state law applies, determining if the Spanish foundation is a sovereign entity or a private buyer. Under Spanish law, the foundation's acquisition was deemed in good faith; under California law, professional buyers must verify provenance. The Supreme Court's decision will decide ownership. The case raises profound questions about whether moral principles from international conventions can override national statutes of limitations, echoing Antigone's conflict between divine law and human law.
Key facts
- Camille Pissarro painted 'Rue Saint-Honoré, dans l'après-midi. Effet de pluie' in 1897.
- The painting was purchased by Paul Cassirer in 1900 from Paul Durand-Ruel.
- In 1939, Nazis forced Lilly Cassirer to sell the painting for about $300.
- The work reappeared in the 1950s in American galleries.
- It later entered the Thyssen-Bornemisza collection.
- Spain acquired the entire collection in July 1993 for hundreds of millions of dollars.
- David Cassirer began his legal battle for restitution in the early 2000s.
- The case is now before the US Supreme Court, which must decide applicable law.
- Under Spanish law, the foundation's acquisition was deemed not a knowing purchase of stolen art.
- Under California law, professional buyers must exercise due diligence in provenance verification.
Entities
Artists
- Camille Pissarro
- Paul Cassirer
- Bruno Cassirer
- Lilly Cassirer
- David Cassirer
- Paul Durand-Ruel
- Hans Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza
Institutions
- US Supreme Court
- Fundación Colección Thyssen-Bornemisza
- Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza
- BSF Italy
- Artribune
Locations
- Berlin
- Germany
- California
- United States
- Spain
- Madrid