With his masterpieces of classical modernism, including works by Paul Cézanne, Claude Monet, Pierre Bonnard, Henri Matisse and Paul Gauguin, the “Collection Morozov” exhibition at the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris welcomes visitors for free of load to allow a wider access. the show is officially set to finish on April 3.
The collection of the Russian Morozov brothers have attracted more over 1.3 million visitors to date. But since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, there have been calls on social media for the show close early – and even for the works to be confiscated.
The exhibitions are on loan from russian public and private collections. Like Paris art show comes to an end, the question of what will happen at the exhibitions becomes a more and more controversial subject.
It is a subject that many museums across Europe and beyond deal with with as they fill their halls with art From Russia.
Beyond the political debate, there is even challenges when it comes to transporting art to and from Russia, due to the closure air space.
Turned down ready
In Germany, some museums, such as the Städel in Frankfurt, have decided to forego loans in light of the war in Ukraine.
Among the approximately 70 Impressionist works in son Pierre-Auguste Renoir show which opened at the beginning of March, were two upcoming paintings from Russia.
Because of current geopolitical situation, the exhibition was canceled at short notice for logistical reasons, Städel director says Philipp Demandt. Other establishments in Germany, including the Friedenstein Castle Foundation in Gotha, put their cooperation with Russian museums on hold.
According to its own information, the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris is set return the Monets, Bonnards, Matisses, Gauguins, Cézannes to Russia in April.
At this stage, the insurance contracts will be also will expire, as will the Alienation Order, which protected cultural property assets of foreign and foreign states public seizure and forced sale collections since 1994.
The works in the Morozov collection are on next to public institutions such as the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts and State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow. But there is also works of russian private collections excluded from this law.
A menace of confiscation?
Can works be confiscated, many are now wondering. Theoretically, yes. But the mechanism of protection may be extended provided the duration of the loan is also extendedAntoine de Baecque, lawyer and art market expert, explained in the daily Le Figaro.
The situation is clearer in the case of private works for that the law of unseizability does not apply. One of these paintings is the self-portrait of the painter Piotr Petrovich Konchalovsky (1876-1956).
It belongs to billionaire Piotr Olegovich Aven, one of the oligarchs on European Union sanctions list. The lawyer and art market specialist Olivier Fournil told the weekly Marianne that the French ministry of The economy had not initiated any proceedings so far.
There are more more than 500 individuals and businesses on ministry sanctions list. Some yachts have already was held by France.
Russian collectors and patrons shaped the art world from the beginning of 2000, but in in recent days, several have resigned from museum boards.
Vladimir Potanin has stepped down as trustee of the Guggenheim Museum. The billionaire was a major supporter of exhibitions. In 2016 he also donated around 250 works to the Center Pompidou in Paris.
As trustee of the Royal Academy of Arts in London, Piotr Olegovich Aven also take a step down. In 2017 he financially supported the exhibition “Revolution: theart Russian (1917-1932). As a patron, he also contributed to the current exhibition “Francis Bacon: Man and Beast”. Awen is on punishments list. The institution now wishes to return son Don.
