News

Provenance – the history of ownership – is important for verifying the attribution/authenticity of an artwork and also for determining legal title in the case of ownership and restitution disputes. At an IFAR Evening on April 20, 2021 devoted to Provenance Research: Where Scholarship Meets Diligence, six distinguished speakers addressed provenance from a variety of vantage points, including catalogues raisonnés, scientific evidence, digital resources, and the law.

Lynn H. Nicholas, author of the pioneering book The Rape of Europa, provided an overview and historical perspective regarding Nazi-era provenance research. Marc Masurovsky focused on digital resources and a new initiative to create a comprehensive, holistic database of looted objects. Thomas R. Kline, Esq. addressed legal issues surrounding provenance. Dr. Jennifer Mass described scientific means of verifying provenance. Dr. Lisa Duffy-Zeballos, IFAR's Art Research Director, discussed catalogues raisonnés as aids to provenance research, and Dr. Sharon Flescher, IFAR's Executive Director, addressed some of the challenges in provenance research.

You can watch the video by clicking on this link www.ifar.org/programs_events.php. The videotape is one of several programs we have made available on our website for all to view.

IFAR gratefully acknowledges LUND HUMPHRIES for its help in supporting this program.