The World War II-Era Provenance Research Project
Following the American Alliance of Museums' (AAM) release of the Standards Regarding the Unlawful Appropriation of Objects During the Nazi Era, found on its Collections Stewardship web page, the DAM is conducting research to identify artworks that were created before 1946, and acquired after 1932, and that changed hands in continental Europe during 1933-1945.
The list is being updated as research progresses and items are posted on our website as well as on the Nazi-Era Provenance Internet Portal, a registry of objects in museum collections in the United States that changed ownership in Continental Europe during the Nazi Era (1933-1945). The portal was the result of a collaboration between the American Association of Museums (AAM) and the American Association of Museum Directors (AAMD), of which DAM is an active member.
We will be listing works here that have or may have changed hands in Europe during the Nazi Era. Their inclusion does not mean we believe the works were looted or improperly acquired. The gaps in their history are being researched and we will post any new findings as they become available.
Read more about our efforts in provenance research and archaeological materials and ancient art provenance research specifically. Should you have any provenance-related inquiries or information, please contact us at provenance@denverartmuseum.org.
Alfred Sisley
British artist (active in France), 1839-1899
La Seine à Grenelle
1878
oil on canvas
18 3/4 x 21 1/2 in. (47.62 x 54.60 cm), image
24 x 27 1/4 in. (60.95 x 69.21 cm), framed
Funds from Helen Dill bequest, 1936.60
Purchased 26 Jan. 1884 from the artist by (Durand-Ruel, Paris). Jean d'Alayer, Paris. Purchased 10 May 1897 at the sale P. Aubry, Paris (Galeries Georges Petit; lot n. 28; auctioneer: Chevallier) by (Durand-Ruel, Paris) [stock 4219]; purchased 28 Aug. 1936 from (Durand-Ruel, Paris) by (Durand-Ruel, New York) [stock 5314]; purchased 28 Aug. 1936 from (Durand-Ruel, New York) by the Denver Art Museum.
Maurice Utrillo
French, 1883-1955
Church of Montmagny
c. 1909-14
oil on cradled artists board
20.75 x 28.25 in. (52.70 x 71.75 cm), image
29.75 x 37.188 in. (75.56 x 94.45 cm), framed
Funds from Helen Dill bequest, 1937.5
Purchased 1937 from (Marie Harriman Gallery, New York) by the Denver Art Museum.
George Romney
British, 1734-1802
Contemplation
c. 1772
oil on canvas
18.875 x 14.625 in. (47.94 x 37.14 cm), image
31 x 25.25 in. (78.73 x 64.13 cm), framed
Gift of Ella Mullen Weckbaugh in memory of John Kernan Mullen and Catherine Smith Mullen, 1943.2
New York art market, 1928-29. (Thomas Agnew & Sons). Ella Mullen Weckbaugh [1875-1971] by 1943; gifted 1943 by Ella Mullen Weckbaugh to the Denver Art Museum.
Unknown Maker
Madonna and Child
limestone
13th century
height: 46.5 in. (118.10 cm)
Museum Purchase for the Ina S. Hobbs Bequest, 1945.45
Cathedral of Laon (Aisne)? In Paris by 1937? Purchased 1945 from (Paul Drey, New York) by the Denver Art Museum.
Master of the Bracciolini Chapel
Italian (Pistoia), late 14th-early 15th century
Madonna and Child Enthroned Surrounded by Four Saints
Early 15th century
tempera on panel
40.125 x 20.75 in. (101.91 x 52.70 cm)
Gift of Robert Lehman, 1947.29
Elia Volpi collection? Gifted 1947 by Robert Lehman to the Denver Art Museum
Follower of Hieronymus Bosch
The Vision of Tundale
Late 15th century
oil on panel
27 x 33.375 in. (68.57 x 84.77 cm), framed
Funds from Helen Dill bequest, 1948.37
French Collections [unidentified marks on the back]. Unknown collection, Paris. Acquired in Paris by (Paul Drey gallery, New York) by 1946; purchased 1948 from (Paul Drey gallery) by the Denver Art Museum.
Alonso Sánchez Coello
Spanish, 1531/2-1588
Anne of Austria
c. 1578
oil on panel
26.25 x 22.75 in. (66.67 x 57.78 cm), framed
21.25 x 17.75 in. (53.97 x 45.08 cm), image
Funds from Helen Dill bequest, 1950.39
(T. Agnew's, London) by 1926 [sale]? Mrs. Joshua Montgomery Sears [Sarah Carlisle Choate, 1858-1935], Boston; Mrs. James Donald Cameron Bradley [Helen Sears, daughter of Mrs. J. Montgomery Sears, 1889-1959], Boston by descent. (M. Knoedler & Co., Inc., New York) by 1946; purchased 1950 from (M. Knoedler & Co., Inc., New York) by the Denver Art Museum.
Paolo Veronese [Caliari]
Italian, 1528-1588
Portrait of the Architect Scamozzi
c. 1580
oil on canvas
46 x 41.25 in. (116.83 x 104.77 cm), framed
Charles Bayly, Jr. Collection, 1951.85
Caiselli Collection, Udine (Italy), by 1909 [the collection was sold in Rome in 1934]. (Adolph Loewi, Los Angeles). Charles Bayly, Jr. [1897-1954]; gifted 1951 by Charles Bayly, Jr. to the Denver Art Museum.
Ambrosius Benson
South Netherlandish [Italian birth], late 15th c. - before 12 Jan 1550
Portrait of Jean de Dinteville
c. 1540
oil on panel
28 x 24.5 in. (71.11 x 62.22 cm), framed
Gift of Charles Bayly Jr., 1953.82
Collection of Dr. Oskar Friedeberg, Berlin, by 1935. Hanna Katz, New York? (M. Knoedler and Co., New York), by 1953. Charles Bayly, Jr. [1897-1954]; gifted 1953 by Charles Bayly, Jr. to the Denver Art Museum.
Sano di Pietro
Italian, 1405-1481
Madonna and Child with Saints
c. 1450
tempera on panel
29 x 19.875 in. (73.65 x 50.48 in.), framed
20.5 x 14.875 in. (52.06 x 37.78 cm), image
Gift of the Simon Guggenheim Memorial Collection, 1958.100
The Sansedoni Family collection, Siena; the Marquis Joseph-Jules-Marie-Pierre de Grolée-Virville, Lyons and Florence [in 1895 he marries Piera Pucci Sansedoni of Siena]? Purchased 1933 from (Luigi Grassi, Florence) by Mr. Simon [1867-1941] and Mrs. Olga [1877-1970] Guggenheim, New York; gifted in trust 1958 by Mrs. Olga Guggenheim to the Denver Art Museum.
Jules Adolphe Breton
French, 1827-1906
The Gleaner
1900
oil on canvas
43 x 39 in. (109.21 x 99.05 cm), framed
37.5 x 31 in. (95.24 x 78.73 cm), image
Gift of the Lawrence C. Phipps Foundation, 1958.112
Gifted 1958 by the Lawrence C. Phipps Foundation to the Denver Art Museum.
Isack Jouderville
Dutch, 1612/13-1645/48
Minerva in her Study
c. 1631 oil on panel
27.375 x 24 in. (69.53 x 60.95), framed
17 x 13.625 in. (43.17 x 34.60 cm), image
Gift of the Bonfils foundation, 1959.114
(C. Sedelmeyer, Paris) by 1896 [Catalogue of 100 Paintings, III, 1896, n. 32]. M. Pol-Charbonneaux Collection, Reims by 1897- at least until 1908. (F. Kleinberger, Paris), by 1916. The Hon. Breckinridge Long, Laurel, Maryland [1881-1958]? (Wildenstein & Co., Paris and New York), by 1936-1959; purchased 1959 from (Wildenstein & Co.) by the Denver Art Museum.
Jan van Scorel
Netherlandish, 1495-1562
Portrait of a Young Man
c. 1518-1524
oil on panel
23.6 x 20.5 in. (59.94 x 52.06 cm), framed
Anonymous Gift, 1960.63
Antici Mattei Collection [cat. 52]. (Wildenstein and Co., New York) by 1952. Gifted 1960 anonymously to the Denver Art Museum.
Neroccio de' Landi
Italian, 1447-1500
Madonna and Child
Late 15th century
tempera and oil paint on panel
23.75 x 17.375 in. (60.32 x 44.13 cm), framed
15.875 x 9.375 in. (40.32 x 23.81 cm), image
Gift of The Simon Guggenheim Memorial Collection, 1962.97
Acquired between 1817 and 1842 [probably between 1832 and 1842] by Johann Anton Ramboux, Germany [1790-1866, painter and collector]; sold [23 May?] 1867 in the auction of the Ramboux Collection. Munich art market? Purchased [1920s] by Mr. Edward Hutton, London; purchased 1938 from Mr. Edward Hutton, London by Mr. Simon [1867-1941] and Mrs. Olga [1877-1970] Guggenheim, New York; gifted 1962 by Mrs. Olga Guggenheim to the Denver Art Museum.
Eugène Carrière
French, 1849-1906
Young Girl with Flowers
c. 1890-1895
oil on canvas
29.25 x 24.5 in. (74.29 x 62.22 cm), framed
23.25 x 18.875 in. (59.05 x 47.94 cm), image
Gift of Mrs. Dan Thornton, 1969.220
Gifted 1969 by Mrs. Dan Thornton to the Denver Art Museum
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
French, 1864-1901
Repos Pendant le Bal Masqué (Respite from the Masked Ball)
c. 1899
oil and gouaches on board
37 3/4 x 30 1/2 in. (95.88 x 77.46 cm), framed
21.375 x 15.5 in. (54.29 x 39.36 cm), image
Gift of T. Edward & Tullah Hanley Collection, 1974.359
Manzi, Paris? Roy, Paris? by 1930 (M. Knoedler and Company, New York and Chicago)? Purchased 7 June 1935 from (Georges Bernheim, Paris) by M. Schoeller. Purchased 1 June 1936 from (Durand-Ruel, Paris) by (Durand-Ruel, New York); purchased 4 Jan. 1937 from (Durand-Ruel, New York) by Thomas Edward Hanley [1893-1969] [stock 5309]; gifted 1974 by Tullah Innes Hanley [d. 1992] to the Denver Art Museum.
Jules Dupré
French, 1811-1889
Landscape
c. 1850-1865
oil on panel
16.5 x 22 in. (41.90 x 55.87 cm), framed
10 x 15.375 in. (25.39 x 39.05 cm), image
Edward and Tullah Hanley Memorial Gift for the People of Denver and the area, 1974.361
Gifted 1974 by Tullah Innes Hanley [d. 1992] to the Denver Art Museum.
George Romney
British, 1734-1802
Miss Catherine Maria Holford, later Lady Smythe
1781
oil on canvas
38.5 x 34 in. (97.78 x 86.35 cm), framed
Funds Contributed By Charles E. Stanton In Memory Of His Mother, Mary Howie Stanton, 1979.335
Sir Edward Smythe, London. (John Levy Galleries, New York). Donald G. Geddes, Glen Cove, NY; Grace Geddes, Glen Cove, NY. Purchased February 1979 at sale Sotheby's Parke Bernet, New York by (Newhouse Galleries, New York) in partnership with Thomas Agnew (Agnew's Gallery, London), Richard Green (Richard Green Gallery, London) and Norman Hirschl (Hirschl and Adler Gallery, New York); purchased 1979 from (Newhouse Galleries, New York) and partners [see above] by the Denver Art Museum.
Ippolito Scarsella, called Scarsellino
Italian, c. 1550-1620
Christ Healing the Lepers
c. 1605
oil on panel
17.25 x 19.25 in. (43.81 x 48.89 cm), framed
Gift of the Estate of William Jacob Bean by Mary Bean East, 1993.86
P. Crozat, Paris. Purchased 20 or 26? March, 1967 from (P. & D. Colnaghi, London) by D. P. Gurney. Gifted 1993 by Mary Bean East to the Denver Art Museum.
Thomas Barker of Bath
British, 1769-1847
"Figures by Lake Albano" with Castel Gandolfo
1795
oil on canvas
44 X 55 in. (111.75 x 139.69 cm), framed
35 x 45.75 in. (88.89 x 116.20 cm), image
Collector's Choice XV, 1993.331
English private collection [descendants of the Earl of Portsmouth, acquired from a private educational institution]. (Valery Taylor Gallery, New York); purchased 1993 from (Valery Taylor Gallery) by the Denver Art Museum.
Maria van Oosterwyck
Dutch, 1630-1693
Bouquet of Flowers in a Vase
c. 1670s
oil on canvas
39.375 x 32.5 in. (100.01 x 82.54 cm), framed
29 x 22 in. (73.65 x 55.87 cm), image
Funds by exchange from T. Edward and Tullah Hanley in honor of longtime director, Otto Bach and his wife Cile Bach, 1997.219
Jacques-Andre-Joseph Aved [portrait painter and collector in Paris], by 1760; purchased 1760 from Jacques-Andre-Joseph Aved by Princess Karoline Luise von Baden [1723-1783, wife of Carl Friedrich; she gave the painting on loan to the Staatliche Kunsthalle, Karlsruhe, where it remained until 1932]. Collection Beets, Amsterdam, 1932. (Kunsthandel P. de Boer, Amsterdam), by 1935. Private Collection, Amsterdam. (Jack Kilgore & Co., Inc., New York), by 1997; purchased 1997 from (Jack Kilgore & Co., Inc.) by the Denver Art Museum.
Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione, called Il Grechetto
Italian, 1609-1664
Deucalion and Pyrrha
1655
oil on canvas
70.75 x 56.25 in. (179.70 x 142.87 cm), framed
61 x 47.5 in. (154.93 x 120.64 cm), image
Funds from T. Edward and Tullah Hanley and Mr.and Mrs. Carl M. Williams by exchange, 1998.39
Private collection, France. Purchased 1998 by the Denver Art Museum.
Cristofano Allori
Italian, 1577-1621
Saint Francis in Prayer
early 17th century
oil on copper
19.5 x 17 in. (49.52 x 43.17 cm), framed
14 x 11.375 in. (35.55 x 28.89 cm), image
Funds in honor of William M.B. Berger with funds from Carl M. and Lisa Williams, Helen Krieble Foundation, Bob & Judi Newman, James and Mary Beth Vogelzang, and Friends of Painting and Sculpture, 1999.77
Purchased at auction by (Mia N. Weiner, Connecticut); (Valery Taylor Gallery, New York); purchased 1999 from (Valery Taylor Gallery) by the Denver Art Museum.
Pierre Mignard
French, 1612-1695
Time Clipping Cupid's Wings
1694
oil on canvas
32.25 x 27.5 in. (81.91 x 69.84 cm), framed
26 x 21.25 in. (66.03 x 53.97 cm), image
T. Edward and Tullah Hanley by exchange and Mr. and Mrs. Charles P. Gallagher, 2000.201
Defferre family by the 1920's; Jacques Defferre [1910-?] by inheritance [from his great-uncle]; purchased Dec. 1995 at (Eric Beaussant & Pierre-Yves Lefèvre, Paris) from Jacques Defferre by (Stiebel, Inc., New York); purchased Nov. 2000 from (Stiebel, Inc.) by the Denver Art Museum.
Jan van Goyen
Dutch, 1596-1656
Dune Landscape
1636
oil on panel
23 11/16 x 32 3/16 in. (60.16 x 81.75 cm), framed
Gift of Bernard Polak, 2011.359
Wesselhoeft family, Hamburg for fifty years. (C. G. Boerner, Düsseldorf); purchased January 1953 from (C. G. Boerner Gallery, Düsseldorf) by (P. de Boer Gallery, Amsterdam); purchased August 1953 from (P. de Boer Gallery, Amsterdam) by Jacob Polak [1885-1971], Sarasota, FL; bequeathed by Jacob Polak to his son Bernard Polak, Middletown, NY and Englewood, CO; gifted 2011 by Bernard Polak, Englewood, CO to the Denver Art Museum.
David Teniers the Younger
Flemish, 1610-1690
Old Woman Holding a Flagon
c. 1650
oil on panel
8 7/8 x 7 3/4 in. (22.54 x 19.68 cm), framed
5.125 x 3.825 in. (13.01 x 9.71 cm), image
Gift of Bernard Polak, 2012.270
Lord le Despencer collection. Mrs. S.L. Barnard, Cave Castle, South Cave, Yorkshire. (Netherlandish art dealer), before 1945. Sam Polak, Amsterdam, by 1951; purchased October 1951 from Sam Polak, Amsterdam by Jacob Polak [1885-1971], Middletown, NY; bequeathed by Jacob Polak to his son Bernard Polak, Middletown, NY and Englewood, CO; gifted 2012 by Bernard Polak, Englewood, CO to the Denver Art Museum.