Catalogue description Registry Number: CCG 180/19418. Pictures. Correspondence between the German Restitution...

Pictures.

Correspondence between the German Restitution Office and the Military Government of the Land North Rhine Westphalia, the headquarters of the Reparations, Deliveries and Restitutions Division [RDR] and the Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives [MFA and A] Section complete with an 'application for restitution form' regarding restitution claim no 8084, filed by the Dutch government in December 1946 for three oil paintings: 'Harbour landscape' and 'Coast landscape' by E de Vries and 'Lying nude', all sold during the war and transported to Dr Rogge's residence in Wesermuende. Includes investigation forms and two sets of counterclaim correspondence from the current owner providing details of the pictures' acquisition, dated February-May 1947. Bought in Amsterdam in the art galleries of W Pieksma and Frans Buffa in 1943, the paintings had been paid for in cash in Dutch guilders. Encloses a copy [in English and German] of the sworn declaration of Miss Elfriede Doering testifying to the authenticity of the receipts and an enclosed letter from the Pieksma firm, with information on the prices and the method of acquisition.

Further MFA and A and RDR correspondence requesting information on the claim, dated July-November 1948. Includes further correspondence from Dr Rogge setting out his long-standing business connections to The Netherlands since before the outbreak of the war and the way in which he came into possession of the three paintings, with attached MFA and A correspondence recording that 'that the sales did not take place under duress is evident; that an inflated price was paid for the paintings is equally so since they are merely pleasant works of no importance. It is suggested that, since Dr Rogge's business relationships with Holland have in the past been good and it is naturally hoped that they may be revived, this claim which was only brought as a result of Dr Rogge's own report, might well be dropped', dated June 1949. The MFA and A consequently declared the pictures 'not [...] to be part of the National Heritage of Holland' but rather classified them as acquired in the course of a 'normal business transaction'.