Owner: Paul Rosenberg — Paris, France
Collection: (BoR) Botschaft Rothschild--The largest collections stolen in France mostly by specialized elements of the German occupation forces belonged to the Rothschild family. The German Embassy in Paris guided by Ambassador Otto Abetz, oversaw the plunder of property belonging to various members of the Rothschild family, including Maurice, Alexandrine, James-Armand and Edmond. These early removals of Rothschild property occurred in the summer and fall of 1940 and were greatly aided by the Devisenschutzkommando (DSK), a securities and financial fraud police organization that had jurisdiction over bank vaults and safe deposit boxes where thousands of art objects were stored for safekeeping.
Inventory No.: BoR 68
B2
II, 3,4
Kiste Nr. B 48
Artist: Ende 18. Jh., Französisch Umkreis des David
Medium: Paintings
Title: Bildnis eines Revolutionärs [Portrait d'un Conventionnel]
Description: Barhaupt, grauhaarig, offener Kragen, leicht nach rechts bleickend. Unter der Linken Hand ein braunes Buch.
Öl auf Leinwand.
Aus der Slg. Rosenberg-Bernstein, Bordeaux.
G.
Öl auf Lwd.
65 x 49 cm eingerahmt
Zugangstag, In Paris: übernommen von der Botschaft.
Literature:
Provenance and Comments: This item was packed in a crate at the German Embassy, then transferred to the Louvre from where it was taken to the Jeu de Paume. This work by David or attributed to David was mislabeled as a work coming from the Rothschild family. In fact, the work belonged to Paul Rosenberg. Its recovery ensued after a bitter exchange between the Rothschild heirs and Paul Rosenberg's son, Alexandre.
Archival Sources: RG 260 M1943 Reel 2 NARA; Bundesarchiv, B323/293; RV 103, MAEE, Paris, France
Measurements: 65 x 49 cm
Framed? Yes
Intake place: Bordeaux, France
Transfer place: German Embassy, Paris
Transfer place: Louvre
Transfer place: Jeu de Paume
Transfer date: 1941-05-02
Restituted? Yes
Restitution date: 1961-00-00
Images: