"Like a bolt from the blue..."
May 8 2014
Picture: Kunst Museum Bern
That's how the Bern Art Museum, above, described the news that Cornelius Gurlitt, who died on Tuesday, has left the institution his entire estate. Here's their statement:
Despite speculation in the media that Mr Gurlitt had bequeathed his collection to an art institution outside Germany, the news came like a bolt from the blue, since at no time has Mr Gurlitt had any connection with Kunstmuseum Bern. The Board of Trustees and Directors of Kunstmuseum Bern are surprised and delighted, but at the same time do not wish to conceal the fact that this magnificent bequest brings with it a considerable burden of responsibility and a wealth of questions of the most difficult and sensitive kind, and questions in particular of a legal and ethical nature. They will not be in a position to issue a more detailed statement before first consulting the relevant files and making contact with the appropriate authorities.
So Bern has, potentially, an institution-changing bequest, but also a migraine-inducing set of legal issues to resolve. The German government, however, must be left wondering if they might have handled things rather differently. It's good, though, that most of these pictures, whose true ownership might never be established, are likely to end up on public display.
Update - a reader writes:
I too feel extremely sorry that Gurlitt was given the rather unfair title of ‘Nazi Looter’ by artnet. Additionally on news of his death I was concerned that the German gov, having made a hash of it all in the first place, might try something sneaky and sell it off to line their own pockets so I’m glad to see its going to a public institution (albeit hopefully where they, the german gov, won’t interfere any further).
