Museum Denies Picasso Painting Was Stolen by the Nazis

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) —
Picasso Nazi
Picasso’s “Seated Woman with a Book/Femme assise au livre.” (Rhode Island school of Design Museum)

The Rhode Island School of Design is denying the claim that a painting by Pablo Picasso at the museum was stolen by the Nazis from a Jewish art collector’s mansion in occupied France.

The Providence Journal reports that the RISD said Monday research has shown while Picasso’s “Seated Woman with a Book” was once in Alphonse Kann’s mansion, the painting was never looted by the Nazis. The museum says it bought the painting for $1,600 in 1951 from a gallery that had dealt with Kann and his estate on other artwork.

The museum says while it is unclear how the gallery acquired the painting, it did pay the gallery a fair price.

The RISD says it has shared its research with Kann’s heirs. The Alphonse Kann Association was unable to be reached for comment.

To Read The Full Story

Are you already a subscriber?
Click to log in!