Just another Russian shakedown (albeit a French citizen today) and I do hope that the court upholds Yale's suit and dismisses the counter suit by the great grandson of the one-time owner. There has to be an end to these claims including those of WWII with art museums and private collectors that works need to be returned without compensation - only to be immediately auctioned off by these heirs.

What's next - the heirs of Vermeeer filing claim that they lost their unsold paintings because of bankruptcy and were forced to give them up? Every action in history should not have to be "corrected". I suppose the native tribes of Manhattan would like to get back Central Park too.

I know the family very well who acquired the work and donated it and forty other works to Yale plus hundreds to other institutions. Stephen C. Clark Sr's actions with purchase, assumption of clean title, and ultimately the donation were totally above board and beyond reproach.

The work has been on display since 1960 so the statute of limitations of even a valid claim has long since expired. See a similar type of suit:

http://www.fineartregistry.com/articles/hill_cindy/georgia-okeeffe-paintings.php

Reply