Owner: Erwin Rosenthal — Paris, France
Collection: (Rost) Erwin Rosenthal--The Rosenthal collection was among the first to be plundered by representatives of the ERR acting in concert with local Gestapo agents in Paris. His apartment was ultimately emptied in the fall of 1942 during the so-called M-Aktion. Although it is impossible to date with certainty when the first thefts took place, some of Rosenthal's belongings were comingled with those of other collections which had been plundered in early 1941. As a result, many of Mr. Rosenthal's art objects are listed as "UNB". Some crates containing his property include the letters "EM" which are the initials of his street address while others are designated by the moniker assigned by the ERR to his collection (ROS or ROST).
Inventory No.: Rost 1
Rosenthal 1-3
Kiste Nr. ROS 1
Kiste Nr. [MODERNES] Chenard-Huche-Chagall-F. Leger-Pascin-Gluckmann [1944]
Artist: 1400, Oberitalienisch [Vivarini]
Medium: Paintings
Title: Maria mit Kind.
Description: Maria in Halbfigur mit eine grüngefütterten, dunklen Mantel bekleidet, der auch ihren Kopf bedeckt. Auf ihrem Schoß steht unbekleidet das Christuskind, das seine linke Hand auf die Linke Marias gelegt hat, während es in der Rechten einen Apfel hält, den ihm Maria reicht. Vor Goldgrund.
34,4 x 26,1 cm
Im alten vergoldeten Rahmen.
Literature:
Provenance and Comments: A handwritten comment on the ERR inventory for the ROST collection suggests that this object was slated for transport to Nikolsburg on 1 August 1944. However, another handwritten information in the ERR inventory contradicts this assertion and indicates that the item ROST 1 went to Buxheim and was repatriated to France from that location. And yet, an item labeled "ROSTERIA 1" appears in a crate with modern paintings assembled at the Jeu de Paume in 1944. There is no ROSTERIA collection. However, there is a ROST 1 items belonging to Erwin Rosenthal. Sometimes, the shipment information to specific ERR depots proves to be erroneous. Hence, we will allow this item "ROSTERIA 1" to be equated with "ROST 1" despite the fact that it is a 15th century Italian painting, not a work produced in the 20th century. Finally, there is a receipt of this object entering Buxheim for restoration on 3 February 1944.
Archival Sources: RG 260 M1943 Reel 25 NARA; Bundesarchiv, B323/279, B323/309; RA 33, RV 103, MAEE, Paris, France
Measurements: 34,4 x 26,1 cm
Framed? Yes
Intake place: 45, rue Emile Menier, Paris
Transfer place: Jeu de Paume
Transfer place: Buxheim
Transfer date: 1944-02-03
Repatriated to France? Yes
Restituted? Yes
Restitution date: 1947-09-27
Images: