Provenance research on selected paintings and sculptures from the Museum of Fine Arts Leipzig

As part of work on the scholarly inventory catalog of Dutch painting 1430–1800 at the Museum of Fine Arts (published 2012), a group of “suspicious” acquisitions of Dutch paintings from the so-called Kummerlé collection was investigated by an external provenance researcher. In addition, two sets of possibly questionable acquisitions from the fields of painting and sculpture between 1935 and 1945 were examined.

The aim was to scientifically investigate a selection of 71 objects as regards their provenance, with the inclusion and analysis of specialist literature, databases, archive material, etc. This involved the identification of objects that possibly needed to be restituted and positive indications concerning Jewish/non-Jewish origin. It also involved the identification of previous owners or the search for previous owners/heirs.

In particular, the investigation into the Kummerlé collection led to concrete research findings and resulting restitutions. Following the investigations, a total of 11 17th century Dutch paintings from this set of artworks were restituted to the Dutch government on March 4 and November 27, 2012. Another painting was restituted to the Austrian government in 2013.

With regard to the second set of works (26 paintings, 13 sculptures), only sporadic success was achieved in obtaining new findings to clarify the objects’ provenance. Former Jewish ownership could be conclusively proven for one painting and one sculpture. The question of whether this involved a sale due to persecution still needs to be clarified and evidence provided.

(c) Museum der Bildenden Künste Leipzig