The estate of a Jewish art dealer has sued the Helly Nahmad Gallery over the ownership of a painting that is alleged to have been looted from a Paris gallery by the Nazis in the 1940’s. The work, “Seated Man With a Cane,” by Amedeo Modigliani is worth an estimated $25 million and has been pursued since 1948 by the original owner and his estate. However, the case is complicated by the fact the entity being sued is not the true owner although estate claims it is a shell corporations that controls the current owner the International Art Center. This case is just the latest in the ongoing battle to return to the rightful owners artwork and other valuables looted in WWII. No trial date has yet been set.
See Doreen Carvajal, Estate Sues Nahmad Gallery Network for Modigliani Portrait, New York Times, November 24, 2015.
Special thanks to Joel Dobris (Professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law) for bringing this article to my attention.
