Posted on 12/04/2016 10:13:48 AM PST by EveningStar
Two agents from U.S. Homeland Security’s ICE unit arrived at my door in September looking for a Polish lady — not a person, but a painting: Melchior Geldorp’s “Portrait of a Lady.” She had, they informed me, been looted by the Nazis from the National Museum in Warsaw.
Unsure if these gentlemen were indeed who they claimed to be, I didn’t invite them in. But I knew exactly what they were seeking: My partner, David, and I had purchased this very portrait — ostensibly the work of a different artist — a decade earlier from a major auction house in New York.
Upon their leaving, I stood dumbfounded, holding a packet of information about the alleged provenance of our painting. After calling David at work to drop this bombshell, I began a Googling frenzy, eventually bringing me to Poland’s Division for Looted Art website. Seconds later I was gawking at an old black-and-white photo of our beloved lady, a beautiful portrait painted on oak panel in 1628. Tears welled in my eyes with the realization that, without question, if this were true we needed to do our duty and get her safely home.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
ping
At least he understood why he couldn’t keep it.
I wonder if the ex-owner can now sue the auction house.
I remember the Pentagon returning Nazi art to Germany when Cheney was At Defense. They could have at least given it a run at all the U.S. museums before sending it back.
The bigger question is, WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT THAT PAINTING?
Yeah, it looks like really ugly woman dressed up as a poodle.
Why would anyone want that painting?
“Craig Gilmore is an opera singer and actor. He and his partner, artist David Crocker..”
The answer is in the above text from the article page.
They did the honorable thing.
The part that has me scratching my head is that this fell under the auspices of DHS. I am not sure what part of the homeland they are securing, but it seems like overkill.
It’s ART, baby....
‘Whister’s Mother’ is better than this. LOL
Lacking a green card, the Lady was an illegal imiga... oh, wait, then they would not have cared.
Well...that was by an American. Duh. :-)
I went back and re-read the story, and of course you are correct.
I am very pleased with the owners’ handling of the situation.
Good job, men.
It was painted in 1628. What exactly would you wish the artist to have painted in 1628? I would question if any of you could draw a good stick figure. Neil Boortz has said, regarding modern art, “If I can do it, it’s not art”. Well, under that definition I’d say none of you could do it.
Maybe you all need to go work on your stick figures.
My point was: Craig be a little light in the loafers, his artist boyfriend likely knew what they bought, and now they are trying to save face.
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