World · Europe · 1 hr ago
Jewish heirs challenge planned Sotheby’s sale of $180 million Van Gogh
Jewish heirs are challenging Sotheby’s planned sale of Vincent van Gogh’s 1890 painting “Blossoming Chestnut Trees.”
The heirs, who live in the United States, say their family sold it in Amsterdam in 1936 under pressure linked to Nazi persecution.
They connect the sale to financial losses suffered by their family’s publishing company under the Nazis.
The painting is estimated at $180 million, the highest estimate among this season’s auction lots and above any price previously paid at auction for a Van Gogh.
The heirs’ lawyer has asked Sotheby’s to show that the sale was at market value and would have happened even without Nazi rule.
They want the work withdrawn unless that can be proved, and say they are open to a fair solution under international guidelines for Nazi-era art claims.
Sotheby’s says it is working toward a resolution, but the painting was scheduled to lead its Manhattan auction the following week.
The heirs of the Jewish former owner of a Van Gogh painting have asked Sotheby’s to withdraw it from an upcoming auction.
They say “Châtaigniers en Fleurs (Blossoming Chestnut Trees)” was sold under duress in 1936 because of Nazi persecution.
The painting is estimated at $180 million and is set to be the centerpiece of Sotheby’s fall auction in Manhattan.
The heirs’ lawyer asked Sotheby’s to establish that the sale was made at market value and would have happened without Nazi rule.
Sotheby’s said it is committed to working toward a mutually satisfactory resolution.
- Who
- The heirs of the painting’s Jewish former owner and Sotheby’s.
- What
- The heirs have asked Sotheby’s to withdraw the Van Gogh painting from sale, saying it was sold under Nazi-era duress.
- When
- The auction is planned for the following week; the painting was sold in 1936.
- Where
- Sotheby’s auction in Manhattan; the earlier sale took place in Amsterdam.
- Why
- The heirs say their family’s publishing company suffered financial losses under the Nazis, leading to the sale.
The heirs of the former owner
Sotheby’s
Reason for sale
The heirs of the former owner
The heirs say the painting was sold under duress after their family’s publishing company suffered financial losses under Nazi rule.
Sotheby’s
Sotheby’s says it is committed to working toward a mutually satisfactory resolution.
Requested action
The heirs of the former owner
The heirs have asked Sotheby’s to withdraw the painting unless it can establish that the 1936 sale was at market value and would have happened without Nazi rule.
Sotheby’s
Not stated
The painting was sold in Amsterdam, which the heirs say happened under duress linked to Nazi persecution.
The heirs’ lawyer emailed Sotheby’s, asking it to establish that the sale was made at market value and would have happened without Nazi rule.
The heirs asked Sotheby’s to withdraw the painting from the upcoming auction.
Sotheby’s planned to auction the painting in Manhattan.
- Artist
- Vincent van Gogh
- Painting
- Châtaigniers en Fleurs (Blossoming Chestnut Trees)
- Year painted
- 1890
- Auction estimate
- $180 million
- Earlier sale
- Amsterdam, 1936
- Auction location
- Manhattan
What people are saying
no auction may take place.
committed to working toward a mutually satisfactory resolution.