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It has long been known that hundreds of thousands of works of art were stolen or looted or otherwise illicitly changed hands in occupied Europe during World War II. However, the documents that would allow us to trace some of these works have only become available in recent years. In 1998, member institutions of the Association of Art Museum Directors, including the Harvard University Art Museums, committed themselves to examine the provenance of works in their collections to determine whether they may have been subject to looting or other improper transactions. The information posted on this site is an interim report on the research being conducted at the Harvard University Art Museums, including a comprehensive list of works under review. WHAT IS PROVENANCE?"Provenance" is a list of the previous owners of a work of art, tracing it from its present location and owner back to the hand of the artist. Provenance has many uses: It can help to determine the authenticity of a work, to establish the historical importance of a work by suggesting other artists who might have seen and been influenced by it, and to determine the legitimacy of current ownership. Provenance information for works of art (with the exception of contemporary art) can vary widely in completeness and accuracy. When a work of art is acquired by a museum or accepted as a loan, the curatorial staff attempts to add to the provenance provided by the donor, dealer, or auction house. Sources for provenance information include exhibition catalogues, catalogues raisonné, and correspondence with other scholars. Information can also be gleaned from labels and other markings on the object itself, which can point to its movement over time. However, even after extensive research, it is not unusual for long periods in the history of an object to remain unaccounted for. |
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