[MSN] Goudstikker Collection: Painting's tragic history uncovered at the Stamford Museum

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Goudstikker Collection: Painting's tragic history uncovered at the Stamford
Museum
December 6, 2007 - 8:21 am
Dec 5, 2007


Greenwich\'s Marei and Charlene von Saher view John Singer Sargent\'s
\'Portrait of J.P. Wolff,\' which was once owned by their relative, the
famous art dealer Jacques Goudstikker. Greenwich's Marei and Charlene von
Saher view John Singer Sargent's 'Portrait of J.P. Wolff,' which was once
owned by their relative, the famous art dealer Jacques Goudstikker.

During the Stamford Museum & Nature Center ' s ongoing review of its
permanent art collection, it was discovered that in the collection is a
painting left behind by famous art dealer Jacques Goudstikker when he left
Holland to escape the Nazis.

The painting is John Singer Sargent ' s "Portrait of J.P. Wolff," which has
been in the museum's collection since 1955.

Mr.Goudstikker's heirs have been trying for decades to locate the missing
artworks with the help of the dealer's "black book," a hand-written tally of
his collection.

"It was an extraordinary moment," says Rosa Portell, the museum's curator of
collections. "The Sargent painting is very important to us, probably one of
the most important in the collection. We knew about its artistic
significance. Its association with the Holocaust gave it historical
significance and tremendous poignancy."

Upon discovering the association, the museum set about locating Mr.
Goudstikker's heirs to ensure that its title to the artwork was beyond
reproach.

"There was never any doubt in our minds that we wanted to reach out to
Goudstikker's surviving heirs to let them know we had the Sargent painting,"
said Executive Director Melissa Mulrooney. "The American Association of
Museums mandates prompt ethical responses that assist in locating artworks
appropriated during the Holocaust, with an eye to possible restitution. The
Stamford Museum & Nature Center Board of Directors rightfully wanted
complete transparency in this matter."

Museum staff located Mr. Goudstikker's only surviving heirs in Greenwich.
Marei von Saher, the dealer's daughter-in-law, was pleasantly surprised by
the museum's openness. She and her daughter, Charlene, promptly made an
appointment to see the painting when they found out it was their relative's.

"We already knew that it was legitimate," Ms. von Saher said. "We were just
very curious to see a painting that did belong to my father-in-law that was
sort of tucked away in a lovely museum and we had no idea that it was there.
And what a beautiful picture it is."

A review of the Goudstikker family records showed that it was one of the few
restored to Mr. Goudstikker's widow by the Dutch government after the war
and sold by her in the early 1950s and, therefore, that the museum owned it
outright.

"I truly, truly respect and honor the museum because they did the right
thing. I wish other museums would follow suit," said Mrs. von Saher.

During their visit, the von Sahers gave the museum a copy of the page of the
dealer's "Black Book" listing the Sargent painting. Maria Nakian,
co-president of the museum's Board of Directors and chairwoman of its
Collections and Exhibitions Committee, said that the meeting between the
heirs and museum officials was moving and gratifying.

"Contacting Mrs. von Saher was not only the right thing to do, but it
resulted in identifying for us the missing link in the painting's
provenance," she said. "Its history reflects one of the most tragic events
in the 20th Century. We can't help looking at it differently now. We are
honored to have the work in our collection."

Ms. von Saher said she liked the idea that the painting would remain in the
collection of a museum that is so close to her home.

"I have a granddaughter who is 4," she said. "I think she is a little young
to appreciate it now, but in a few years from now I can take her there and
tell her, 'Your great grandfather used to own these paintings.'

"I think that's kind of nice," she added.

The painting will be on display in the museum ' s Bendel Mansion this
spring.

For more information, visit Stamfordmuseum.org.

http://www.acorn-online.com/