Leopold Museum Announces Favorable Conclusion Over Egon Schiele Painting Dispute

VIENNA.- The Leopold Museum Private Foundation announced that negotiations in the case Jenny Steiner / ”Häuser am Meer” have reached a favorable conclusion: Following strenuous efforts, a settlement has been reached with the only granddaughter of Jenny Steiner. The Leopold Museum Private Foundation has pledged to pay Jenny Steiner’s heir the sum of 5 million dollars for her 1/3 share. The Leopold Museum is delighted that this important settlement in the case “Häuser am Meer” could be reached with the [...]

Painting by Egon Schiele Stolen by Nazis Back in Austrian Museum

VIENNA (AP).- A painting by Austrian expressionist Egon Schiele has been rehung at a Vienna museum after a 12-year possession battle over the artwork stolen by the Nazis. The painting was returned over the weekend after the Leopold Museum agreed to pay $19 million (euro15 million) as part of the settlement. U.S. authorities had refused to return the painting after it was exhibited in New York because heirs of the owners laid a claim to it. The painting was put [...]

Austrian Panel Recommends Restitution of Four Works of Art

VIENNA (AP).- A commission has recommended that four paintings contained in a vast Vienna art collection should be returned because they were either seized by the Nazis or given up against the will of their former Jewish owners, Austria’s Culture Ministry said Monday. The paintings — one by Egon Schiele and three by Anton Romako — belong to the Leopold Museum Private Foundation, which has been criticized by the Jewish community and others for allegedly containing works stolen by the [...]

Rudolf Leopold, Austrian Art Collector, Dies Today at 85

VIENNA (AP).- Rudolf Leopold, who assembled Austria’s largest private art collection, including works allegedly stolen by the Nazis, died Tuesday at the age of 85. Leopold died at a hospital in the Austrian capital after suffering multiple organ failure, said Klaus Pokorny, a spokesman for Vienna’s famous Leopold Museum. Leopold is credited with assembling the country’s largest and most important private art collection that includes more than 5,000 works by artists such as Egon Schiele, Gustav Klimt and Oskar Kokoschka. [...]