Descendent Seeks Art Nationalized During the Communist Revolution

The great-grandson of a man whose property was nationalized during the Communist Revolution in the former Soviet Union is seeking the return of some of that property.  Specifically, the grandson seeks ownership of a Vincent Van Gogh painting entitled The Night Cafe, which was bequested to Yale University nearly 50 years ago.   

Yale University attorneys have sued in federal court to assert Yale’s ownership rights, arguing that “[i]nvalidating title to the painting would set U.S. courts at odds with the Russian government and cloud title to . . . at least $20 billion of art in global commerce.”  

See John Christofferson, Yale: Suit over Van Gogh work imperils other art, Sacramento Bee, Dec. 26, 2009.

Special thanks to Joel Dobris (Professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law) for bringing this article to my attention.