Art World
German Museum Restitutes Nazi-Looted Ernst Ferdinand Oehme Works to Jewish Heirs
by
Henri Neuendorf
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The museum restituted a drawing by Ernst Ferdinand Oehme—similar to this one—to Berolzheimer’s heirs.
Photo: Shepherd/W & K Galleries, New York
The German museum Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz has restituted two works by the Dresden Romantic painter Ernst Ferdinand Oehme to the heirs of the Jewish industrialist Michael Berolzheimer.
After extensive research the museum was able to prove that the drawing Aus dem großem Gehege Dresden (From the Large Enclosure Dresden) and the watercolor Bauerngehöft (Farmstead) were looted by the Nazi regime, Die Welt reported.
Michael Berolzheimer fled his Bavarian home in 1938 and settled in Mount Vernon N.Y.
Photo: Anita Sheridan via USA Today
According to the museum’s provenance research, the artworks were sold at a Nazi-initiated art auction in Munich, in 1938 and 1939, after Berolzheimer was forced to leave behind the vast majority of his belongings when he fled Nazi Germany and emigrated to the United States.
USA Today reported that when Berolzheimer fled Germany in 1938, he was able to take a small number of his favorite etchings by masters such as Rembrandt, as well as a small Auguste Rodin sculpture. However, the avid art collector was unable to take the bulk of his 800-strong collection with him.
Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz, Germany.
Photo: Sachsen Tourismus
The artworks found their way into the Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz’s collection after they were acquired by the institution from private collections in 1949 and 1980, respectively. According the the museum, the artworks were considered lost or destroyed until they reappeared in private ownership.
Related stories:
Germany Restitutes Nazi-Looted Hans Wertinger Painting to Heirs
Berlin Restitutes Eight Looted Artworks to Jewish Heirs
Austria Rules Against Restituting Klimt’s Beethoven Frieze to Heirs
Juan Gris Painting Embroiled in Restitution Dispute
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