Nazi-looted artwork surfaces with Dutch collaborator's heirs

[dognose]

A Nazi-looted painting from a famed Dutch collection has surfaced in the home of decendents of a senior Nazi collaborator. The painting’s wherabouts became known after a relative discovered the truth.

Hermann Göring leaves the Goudstikker building in Amsterdam after taking a look at the collection.

A Nazi-looted painting has resurfaced in the Netherlands after being identified in the possession of descendants of notorious Dutch Nazi collaborator Hendrik Seyffardt.

Seyffardt's descendants are believed to have displayed the painting in a private home for decades. It was stolen from the famous collection of the Jewish art dealer Jacques Goudstikker.

How did the painting come to light?​

A family member who uncovered its origins has spoken out and called for its return to Goudstikker's heirs.

Dutch art detective Arthur Brand said he could confirm that the work, "Portrait of a Young Girl” by Toon Kelder, came from the famed Goudstikker collection. It was looted during World War II.

Brand says he was approached months ago through an intermediary by the Seyffardt family member.

The relative had discovered to his horror that his family had been concealing some uncomfortable secrets — that he was a descendant of Seyffardt, who was associated with the Waffen-SS, and that the painting could demonstrably be traced to the Goudstikker collection.

"It is true that I discovered my family possesses the looted painting and does not want to return it," he told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf. "I was stunned speechless. That is why I am now bringing it into the public eye. I feel deep shame about the family past and am furious about the years of silence. The painting must return to the Jewish rightful heirs," the family member told the newspaper.

Brand traced the piece to a 1940 auction of looted works, identifying it via a label and catalog number. Lawyers for the Goudstikker heirs have confirmed the artwork was stolen and are seeking restitution.

What is the history of the painting?​

Kelder's work formed part of Goudstikker's art collection. Before the Second World War, he owned more than twelve hundred artworks and was the Netherlands' leading dealer in Old Masters.

His entire collection was looted during the war and remains to this day the largest collection claim for missing Nazi-looted art.

"Portrait of a Young Girl" came into the possession of Seyffardt, who was shot in his home in The Hague by the resistance in February, 1943, and died several days later.

The painting was probably inherited by his son, who ran a marketing company that screened antisemitic propaganda and promoted his father's volunteer legion and the Hitler Youth.

A granddaughter reportedly told a family member that the painting must never be sold and that it had been looted.

A female family member of SS commander Seyffardt, who currently has the painting, denied being aware that it was looted art.

Authorities have limited options, as legal time limits have expired and restitution bodies cannot compel private owners to return such works.

Authorities in Argentina last year recovered an 18th-century Italian portrait believed to have been looted by a fugitive Nazi officer 80 years ago.

The Nazi officer is also believed to have stolen the painting from Goudstikker.

SOURCE: https://www.dw.com/en/nazi-looted-artwork-surfaces-with-dutch-collaborators-heirs/a-77115569

 

[russau]

Why hasn't this been covered by Nation news coverage! This sounds strange that it isn't !

 

[russau]

and the American authoritys at the time turned a blid eye to this fact and they absolutly knew what the Nazis had planned in their secerat move to S.America and that S.American country knew and still dose know what was going on at the time ! The old saying holds true, "money talks and B.S. walks"!!!

 

[AU Seeker]

Why hasn't this been covered by Nation news coverage! This sounds strange that it isn't !

It's only been on the news for around 2 hours, give it time.

 

[mtdoramike]

You most likely will not see it covered by the major news outlets because it deals with Jews and the Holocaust and they don't want to show the Jewish People in any favorable or sympathetic light.

But thank God there is at least one person in that morally bankrupt family had the courage to do the right thing, no matter the outcome or how hard it must have been.

 

[Red-Coat]

Why hasn't this been covered by Nation news coverage! This sounds strange that it isn't !

It's only been on the news for around 2 hours, give it time.

BBC News four hours ago:

Portrait looted by Nazis found in home of Dutch SS leader's descendants

The painting is believed to have been plundered by high-ranking Nazi Hermann Goering during World War Two.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[ToddsPoint]

During the closing days of WW2, my grandfather was an airplane mechanic that volunteered for combat. He was placed with the 6th Corps, Combat Engineers. They swept across Germany and passed by Lake Ammersee SW of Munich. They entered a cabin on the lake that was owned by SS General and Reichsleiter Walter Buch. He said it was loaded with stolen loot from museums. Paintings removed from their frames and rolled up and placed in barrels. Box after box of antique dueling pistols. The soldiered took what they could carry and proceeded to Innsbruck Austria. My grandfather brought back a US 45 pistol from WW1 the Germans had captured and engraved between the wars. He also got Buch’s personal photo album and numerous uniform patches. He disassembled the pistol and taped it to his ankles. The photo album was taped to his chest. That’s how he smuggled them aboard the ship to return home. I inherited everything in the early seventies and have owned them many yrs. I’m getting old and recently sold the entire collection to an advanced collector.

 

[newnan man]

The United States used Wernher von Braun to develop the Saturn rockets for NASA. His Nazi past was well known by the US but was conviently ignored. The fact he was NASA's 1st director is a little disturbing.